Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Aspostles (XXV) (Acts 18:24–19:40).» filologia-neotestamentaria, Vol. 26 (2013) 127-163 page 128

Vol 26 (2013)

Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Aspostles (XXV) (Acts 18:24–19:40).», Vol. 26 (2013) 127-163

In the text of Acts according to Codex Bezae, a fourth and final part of the book begins at 18.24. It is Paul’s ultimate goal of Rome that separates it from the earlier missionary phases and confers unity on the remainder of the book. In this opening section (Section I), his activity will be centred for three years in Ephesus, the main city of Asia, where he will meet with some success despite hostility from some of the Jews. In his dealings with the Gentiles, opposition will also be encountered because of the threat posed by his teachings to the trade of the city. The Bezan narrator indicates plainly that Paul’s travel to Ephesus should have been the initial stage of his journey to the imperial capital. Additional references in Codex Bezae to the directions given to Paul by the Holy Spirit make clear that his visit had been prepared for by the work of Apollos; however, it was contrary to his own intentions, which were rather to go back to Jerusalem. The struggle against the divine leading is seen as Paul terminates his stay in Asia once he has carefully prepared for his return to Jerusalem.

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128 Josep Rius-Camps and Jenny Read-Heimerdinger [A] 18:24–19:7 The baptism of John [A-A] 18:24-28 Apollo(niu)s and the baptism of John [A-A'] 19:1-7 The twelve and the baptism of John [B] 19:8-22 Paul in Ephesus [B-A] 19:8-10 Summary of Paul’s two-year stay [B-B] 19:11-17 Exorcisms [B-B '] 19:18-20 The renunciation of magic [B-A'] 19:21-22 Paul’s extended stay in Asia [C] 19:23-40 The protest of the silversmiths [A] 18:24–19:7 The Baptism of John The sequence is made up of two episodes, [A] 18:24-28 and [A'] 19:1-7, that depend on each other for the message the narrator communicates through them. The common theme is the baptism of John and the spir- itual limitations resulting from not going beyond John’s message to grasp the teaching of Jesus. The first episode, in which Paul is absent, introduces a new charac- ter, Apollos (AT)/Apollonius (D05), and prepares for Paul’s arrival in Ephesus at 19:1 when he becomes the protagonist of the second episode. The link between the episodes is not necessarily chronological but rather thematic – it may be, according to the reading of 19:1 D05, that Apollo- nius was still in Ephesus when Paul arrived there. Equally, Paul’s meeting with the 12 disciples (19:2-7), and his return to the synagogue (19:8) may not be intended to follow each other in chronological sequence. [A-A] 18:24-28 Apollo(niu)s and the baptism of John [a] 18:24a The arrival of Apollo(niu)s in Ephesus [b] 18:24b-25 His teaching from the Scriptures about Jesus [c] 18:26a His boldness in the synagogue [d] 18:26b His instruction by Aquila and Priscilla [a'] 18:27a An invitation to go to Corinth [d'] 18:27b The letter of recommendation [c'] 18:27c His assistance in the churches of Corinth [b'] 18:28 His teaching from the Scriptures about Jesus [A-A'] 19:1-7 The twelve and the baptism of John [a] 19:1a The instructions of the Holy Spirit to Paul [b] 19:1b Paul’s arrival in Ephesus [c] 19:2a His question about the Holy Spirit [cc] 19:2b The disciples’ response [d] 19:3a His question about baptism