Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XXIV) (Acts 17:1–18:23).», Vol. 25 (2012) 119-160
In these final sequences of Part III of the Book of Acts, the second phase of Paul’s missionary journey continues through Macedonia before moving on to Greece where he spends a brief time in Athens before a more extended stay in Corinth. Despite the divine intervention in Philippi in the previous sequence, which focused attention on the evangelisation of the Gentiles, Paul fails to follow this up but reverts to his earlier practice of devoting his energy first and foremost to the Jews in the synagogues. In Athens, his wellknown attempt to speak to the Gentiles meets with little favour; it is only in Corinth, after fierce opposition from the synagogue, that Luke records more successful efforts to include the Gentiles as well as the Jews in his preaching activity.
The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles 129
εἰϛ αὐτήν to make explicit that they undertook the action of going to
Beroea.
(σαλεύοντεϛ) καὶ ταράσσοντεϛ τοὺϛ ὄχλουϛ B P74 a A 33. 69. 81. 104.
323. 614. 945. (1175). 1270. 1505. 1611. 1739. 1837. 1891. 2147. 2344.
2412. 2495 lat | τ. ὄχλ. κ. ταρ. Ψ | τ. ὄχλουϛ P45 E L P 049. 056 M aeth;
Chr | τὸν ὄχλον H | κ. ταράσσοντεϛ (τασσοντεσ D*) τοὺϛ ὄχλουϛ οὐ
διελίμπανον DB (et turbantes multitudinem non cessabant d syp).
D05 reinforces the action of the Jews from Thessalonica, suggesting
that their troubling of Beroea continued over a period of time.
[C'] 17:14-34 Greece I: Athens
A first episode serves as a transition passage, linking the new sequence
to the previous one [D'], and providing a degree of overlap between the
two sequences. There follow a second and third episode that correspond
to each other, as Paul speaks first in an informal setting, and secondly in
a more formal one.
[C'-A] 17:14-15 Journey to Athens
[a] 17:14a The brethren send Paul away
[b] 17:14b Silas remains in Beroea with Timothy
[c] 17:15a Men accompany Paul to Athens
[d] 17:15b They are forbidden to speak in Thessaly
[e] 17:15c Those accompanying Paul go away
[C'-B] 17:16-18 Paul in the synagogue and in the Agora
[a] 17:16 Paul in a city full of idols
[b] 17:17 Paul in the synagogue and in the Agora
[c] 17:18a Epicurean and Stoic philosophers
[b'] 17:18b The Epicureans’ opinion of Paul
[a'] 17:18c The Stoics’ opinion of Paul
[C'-B'] 17:19-34 Paul’s Areopagus speech
[a] 17:19-20 The philosophers take him to the Areopagus
[b] 17:21 Information about the philosophers
[c] 17:22-31 Paul’s speech
[c'] 17:32 Contrasting reactions
[b'] 17:33 Paul leaves them
[a'] 17:34 Certain people believe
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