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 133
The relationship between the brethren and Paul is indicated in D05 by
the juxtaposition of his name and the noun οἱ ἀδελφοί, the latter thus
being fronted as the subject of the verb.
The difference in the infinitive reflects a difference in the intention
of the brethren in each text: in the AT, they send Paul to continue his
journey (πορεύεσθαι, pres.) as far as the sea, ἕωϛ ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν,
whereas in the D05 they send him to go away (ἀπελθεῖν, aor.) to the
sea (ad mare versus d). In both cases, the goal of the journey is the sea;
however, with the adverbial modifier ἕωϛ, B03 seems to insinuate that
Paul will not actually travel on the sea but, once at the coast, will rather
turn south and travel overland to Athens (cf. Ropes, Text, p.164). D05,
in contrast, makes no such insinuation and thereby anticipates a journey
by sea.
ὑπέμεινάν τε B P45.74 a 81. 1270*. 2344 (ἐπ- 69. 88. 104. 1837 | ἀπ- E 33.
2344) | ὑπ- δέ 547. 945. 1739. 1891 | ὑπέμενον δέ H L P 056. 1. 226. 330.
440. 618. 927. 1243. 1245. 1646. 1828. 2492 || ὑπέμεινεν δέ D, substinuit
autem d (τε A 614. 1505. 1611. 2147. 2412. 2495 | -μενεν δέ 049. 323.
1854).— ὅ τε (Σιλᾶϛ) B P45 a rell || ὁ D P74 6. 326. 1837 pc.
The surprising third person singular of D05 indicates that it was Silas
who was principally responsible for the decision to stay in Beroea. He
nevertheless is not portrayed as forming a united team with Timothy
(both names are articular; see Heimerdinger and Levinsohn, ‘The Use of
the Article’, p. 29). In the AT, the verb is plural and, at the same time, the
togetherness of Silas and Timothy are indicated by the use of τε ... καί.
The phonetic confusion between τε and δέ has given rise to a number
of vll in the conjunction linking this clause to the previous one.
17:15 (οἱ δὲ) καθιστάνοντεϛ B P74 A 104 | καθιστῶντεϛ a2 (-στάντεϛ
a*) DH E H L P Ψ 049. 056. 33vid. 1739 M || καταστανόντεϛ D* P45.
The variation in the verbal form reflects a difference in tense of the
verb καθιστάνω (late form of -ίστημι, Zerwick, Biblical Greek, §493).
B03 has the present participle, and D05 the future (derived from the
contract form καταστανῶ, cf. ἀποκαταστανεῖϛ, future, Acts 1:6 D05;
ἀποκαταστανεῖ, future, Mk 9:12 D05). The meaning is ‘appoint’, ‘put in
charge’ (B-A-G, 2; ‘Ceux à qui l’on confiait la charge de Paul l’amenèrent
jusqu’à Athènes’, Delebecque, Les deux Actes, p. 107).
The participle has the force of a purpose clause (cf. Zerwick, Biblical
Greek, §284: ‘The question may be raised, whether the present participle
may not at times stand for the future one indicating the end in view’). Cf.
15:27 where the present participle is also used in B03 in place of a future
to express purpose.
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