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 131

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.

See more by the same author

Page 131/164
‹
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
›

The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles 131 where in Acts and in his Gospel, Luke always has the order ὀνόματι + name (cf. Mt. 27:32; Mk 5:22 [om. ὀνόματι Ἰάϊροϛ D05 it]), which is read here by D05 with the name Apollonius. The effect of disrupting the usual order in B03 is to underline the name of Apollos, drawing attention to this character who, in Paul’s correspondence with the Corinthian church, assumes no little importance (see 1 Corinthians 1–4, esp. 1:12; 3:4-6.22; 4:6; 16:12). The attestation of another variant name, Apelles, by the first hand of ‫א‬01 with a variety of support, suggests considerable uncertainty as to the identity of the person introduced here. Ἀλεχανδρεὺϛ τῷ γένει B P74 ‫ א‬rell || γένει Ἀλ. D, natione Alexandrinus d gig syp aeth. A second variation in word order occurs in the presentation of the new character. The order of B03, which places the racial identity in first position before τῷ γένει, underlines Alexandria as the place of origin of Apollos, a Jew (Ἰουδαῖόϛ τιϛ), in other words, from the Diaspora. The order country–race parallels that of name–ὀνόματι in the previous phrase. The order is the same as that adopted for the introduction of Barnabas (4:36 Κύπριοϛ, Λευίτηϛ [D05]/Λευίτηϛ, Κύπριοϛ [AT] τῷ γένει) and Aquila (18:2, τινὰ Ἰουδαῖον ὀνόματι Ἀκύλαν, Ποντικὸν τῷ γένει). D05 retains the unmarked word order, again paralleling the previous phrase in that text (ὀνόματι–name//race–country). By virtue of the omis- sion of the article, however, attention is drawn to the race of Apollonius: although he is a Jew, he is of Alexandrian race, that is, a proselyte. At- tention will continue to be focused on his origin by the reference to his fatherland in 18:25 D05 (see below). 18:25 οὗτοϛ B P74 ‫ א‬rell, hic d || ὅϛ D (gig). By means of the demonstrative pronoun, B03 begins a new sentence at this point, the preceding participial phrase δυνατὸϛ ὤν qualifying the previous verb κατήντησεν. In D05, the relative clause is presented as a narrative aside and the participial phrase δυνατὸϛ ὤν, in conjunction with the participle ζέων, anticipates the pair of finite verbs ἀπελάλει καὶ ἐδίδασκεν. (κατηχημένοϛ) ἐν τῇ πατρίδι D, in patria d (gig) || om. B P74 ‫ א‬rell. The importance of Apollonius’ place of origin in Alexandria has al- ready been signalled in D05 by the omission of the article before γένει, as commented on above.