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 149

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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The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles 149 19:20 D05; cf. 2 Cor. 9:10; Heb. 6:14 × 2) as well as the middle, ‘multiply’ (Acts 6:7; 7:17; 9:31; 12:24; cf. Gen. 1:28 lxx). 19:21 Ὡϛ δὲ ἐπληρώθη ταῦτα B P74 ‫ א‬rell || τότε D, Tunc d. B03 moves on here to a new sequence, linking it with a subsidiary time clause and a change of topic. In D05, this episode is viewed as bringing to a close the preceding sequence, before opening a new sequence at 19:23. ἔθετο ὁ Παῦλοϛ B P74 ‫ א‬rell || Παῦλοϛ ἔθ. D, Paulus adposuit d (+ ὁ E). Despite the temporary change of subject in the previous episode, B03 reintroduces Paul as the subject who has remained in focus; the subject follows the verb and the name is arthrous. The front-shifting of the name and the omission of the article are two devices D05 employs to bring Paul clearly back into focus as the narrative picks up the story of his itinerary once more (cf. 19:1). διελθών B P74 ‫ א‬rell || -θεῖν D, transire d A E P 226. 330. 927. 1311 pc a c gig vgmss syp.— τὴν (Ἀχαΐαν) D P74 A E 33. 181. 242. 440. 522. 945. 1739. 1837. 1891. 2298. 2344 || om. B ‫ א‬Ψ M.— καὶ (πορεύεσθαι) D (et sic ire d) c gig vgmss || om. B P74 ‫ א‬rell. With the participle διελθών, the only infinitive dependent on the main verb ἔθετο in B03 is πορεύεσθαι. Paul’s travel through Macedonia and Achaia before the journey to Hierosoluma is thus of a preliminary nature, which accounts for the single article before the pair of names. Ac- cording to D05, Paul takes a decision about two journeys that are viewed as separate stages, expressed with two infinitives linked with καί. The first stage has two distinct objectives, indicated by the repeated article before Achaia. 19:22 ἀποστείλαϛ δέ B P74 ‫ א‬rell || καὶ ἀπ. D, et misit d gig syp. Having begun a new sequence in the previous verse (see above), B03 continues by means of δέ to present a sentence that develops from the previous one. In D05, this sentence is joined by καί to the previous one, the two forming the concluding episode of the sequence [B]. τὴν (Μακεδονίαν) B D P74 A Ψ 33 M || om. ‫ א‬E 056. 36. 69. 323. 440. 614. 1175. 1243. 1891. 2147. 2344. 2412 al. The article in B03 and D05 is anaphoric, looking back to the mention of Macedonia in the previous sentence. (χρόνον) ὀλίγον D || om. B P74 ‫ א‬rell, (tempus) d. D05 qualifies the time Paul stayed on in Asia as short.