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.
136 Josep Rius-Camps and Jenny Read-Heimerdinger
the historical present [HP] is used ‘to mark as significant the information
associated with the HP and to give prominence to what follows’).
19:1-2 καὶ εὑρεῖν τιναϛ μαθητὰϛ εἶπέν τε (δὲ 1739. 1891) πρὸϛ αὐτούϛ
B P74vid אA 33. 36. 453. 945. 1175. 1739. 1891 al vg co || καὶ εὑρών τιν.
μαθ. εἶπεν πρ. αὐ. D, et cum invenisset quosdam discipulos dixit ad eos
d E H L P Ψ 049. 056. 614 M gig syh boms | καὶ εἶπεν τοῖϛ μαθηταῖϛ P38vid
(syp).
The syntactical differences between B03 and D05 are a result of the re-
spective wordings of the previous clause. With τε, B03 views Paul’s speak-
ing to the disciples as the specific action that leads into the development
of the story (which is their response at 19:2b; see Levinsohn, Discourse
Features, pp. 106–108). In D05, the verb εἶπεν is naturally prominent
since the other verbs are subordinate, preceding participles (Discourse
Features, pp. 183–190).
οὐδ’ εἰ B P74 אDB rell || οὐδέ D*, neque d.— ἔστιν B P74 אDD rell ||
λαμβάνουσίν τινεϛ D*, accipiunt quidam d P38.41vid syhmg sa.
The response of the disciples to Paul’s question about the Holy Spirit
is again significantly different in the two texts. Whereas according to B03
they answer that they had not heard if there was a Holy Spirit, according
to D05 they respond that they had not heard whether anyone was receiv-
ing the Holy Spirit.
19:3 εἶπέν τε B 36. 226c. 453. 614c. 1175 pc, dixitque d | εἶ. τε πρὸϛ αὐτούϛ
H L P 049. 056. (614c) M vgmss (syp sa) || εἶπεν δέ D Ψ 945. 1175. 1739.
1891. (2495) pc | εἶ. οὖν 614*. 1505. 1611. 2495 pc syh | ὁ δὲ εἶ. P41vid.74 א
A E 33 pc bo | ὁ δὲ Παῦλοϛ πρὸϛ αὐτούϛ P38.
The reading of τε in B03 presents Paul’s second question as the one
that leads into the subsequent development (see on the same variant at
19:2 above). D05 views it rather as a new development in itself, signalled
by δέ.
(οἱ δὲ) εἶπαν/ον B P74 אrell, dixerunt d || ἔλεγον D P38.
The aorist of B03 is the usual tense for a narrative sequence. The im-
perfect of D05 expresses the idea of the 12 disciples talking one after the
other, or with some degree of hesitancy.
19:4 ὁ Παῦλοϛ D 36. 242. 323. 453. 522. 945. 1505. 1739. 1891. 2495 pc;
Chr || Παῦλοϛ B P38.74 אrell.
The absence of the article before Paul in B03 prepares for a speech of
particular importance. B03 typically omits the article before the name
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