Acts of the Apostles Research Papers (original) (raw)

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- Acts of the Apostles

Journal of Biblical Literature 141 (2022): 337–57.

- by Michael Kochenash
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- Classics, Homer, New Testament, Early Christianity

Travel in Asia Minor during the Roman period was ubiquitous. The apostle Paul is used as a heuristic model of the ideal ancient traveller. His first journey in provincial Galatia—geographical Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Phrygia—is examined, particularly as it relates to suggested routes and time of travel. It will utilise Bekker-Nielsen’s pioneering 3D
methodology that applies Naismith’s rule to produce more objective outcomes. Practical issues related to ancient travel, such as equipment, load, and weather, will also be explored. This investigation will help to refine travel times and itineraries, and thus hopefully produce more accurate Pauline chronologies.

This essay offers insight into Luke's concept of God by analysing three sections in which God is explicitly a topic of discussion. These sections are Stephen's apology (Acts 7:2-53), the account of Paul's and Barnabas' mission in Lystra (Acts 14:8-18), and the Areopagus speech (Acts 17:22-31). Because these texts share similar motifs, they can be said to constitute an argumentative series. In these sections, Luke provides a coherent concept of God comprised of many motifs from Luke-Acts. The central motif is that God created the world, which results in God's self-sufficiency. Therefore, a worship with neither sacrifices nor temple is the appropriate response to God as a self-sufficient, transcendent, spiritual, and perfect being that is completely different from every mortal being on earth.

- by Torsten Jantsch
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- Doctrine of God, Luke-Acts, New Testament Theology, New Testament Studies
- by Pasi Hyytiäinen
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- Manuscripts & Material Culture, Scribes, Acts of the Apostles
- by Pasi Hyytiäinen
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- New Testament, Acts of the Apostles, Codex Bezae

New Testament textual critics have long maintained that the earliest textual tradition of the Acts of the Apostles is bipolar, transmitted in two early textual forms. This conviction is now being challenged, with recent studies suggesting that the tradition is more complex than the two-text concept had proposed. How should we then approach Acts? This article approaches Acts from an evolutionary point of view, applying phylogenetic methods to its manuscripts. Scholars have been using computer-assisted phylogenetic methods for years to produce trees and networks that describe the relationships among manuscripts within a textual tradition. These methods were originally developed for evolutionary biology, but studies have shown that they can also be applied to manuscript traditions. Here, these methods are applied to selected manuscripts to test their applicability, since Acts has never been subjected to such a study. Chapter 5 of Acts is used as a test case to demonstrate how phylogenetic analysis can be conducted. The preliminary results point to a complex set of relationships among manuscripts, concurring with recent hypotheses about the complexity of the tradition. At the same time, however, these methods do recognize the two early textual groups of Acts. While it seems that the tradition in Acts 5 is too complex to be fitted into a single tree, a network is capable of depicting the complexity of the tradition.

- by Zafer Duygu
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- Early Christianity, Apostle Paul and the Pauline Letters, Jesus, Pauline studies

Resumen
En este artículo la autora se propone estudiar la dinámica relacional que envuelve un discipulado
misionero de iguales a partir de la obra adjudicada al apóstol Lucas y más específicamente
al libro de Hechos de los Apóstoles. La autora argumenta que la comunidad cristiana
primitiva era una comunidad igualitaria, una comunidad del Espíritu, donde varones y mujeres
tenían acceso a los diferentes dones otorgados por el Espíritu.
Palabras clave: Casa, comunidad, mujeres, discipulado misionero, Divinidad.
Abstract
In this article, the author intends to study the relational dynamic that involves a missionary
discipleship of equals from the work awarded to the Apostle Luke and more specifically the
book of Acts. The author argues that the early Christian community was an egalitarian community,
a community of the Spirit, where men and women had access to the different gifts bestowed
by the Spirit.
Keywords: House, community, women, missionary discipleship, Divinity.

- by Maricel Mena López
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- Gender Studies, New Testament, Early Christianity, Acts of the Apostles

In the Acts of the Apostles, there are two quotations from the Book of Amos: Am 5:25-27 in Acts 7:42-43 and Am 9:11-12 in Acts 15:16-18. Both of them were taken from the Greek version of the Septuagint, and in several places reworked in order that they might better suit Luke’s theological-rhetorical aims.
The quotation from Am 9:11-12 LXX was supplemented in Acts 15:18 with a literary echo of Gal 2:9a-c for a rhetorical characterization of the character of James as giving his consent to the mission among the Gentiles (cf. Gal 2:9), but in fact having grave reservations concerning the exceptional grace, whose reception was declared by Paul (Gal 2:9ab; cf. 2:12c.f). Such a particular use of the quotation from Am 9:11-12 LXX in Acts 15:16-18 additionally confirms the fact that Luke in his narrative used the letters of the Apostle, and not only general Pauline traditions or ideas.

- by Bartosz Adamczewski
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- Galatians, Book of Amos, Acts of the Apostles, Jews and Gentiles

Early Christian Rhetoric: Selected Apocryphal Acts and Speeches in the Context of Rhetorical Analyses

- by Kerri Gates Rowland
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- Religion, Christianity, Biblical Studies, Old Testament
- by Brian J Tabb
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- New Testament and Christian Origins, Acts of the Apostles

Frederick Douglass appeals to Acts 17:26 in his famous letter, "What to the slave is the Fourth of July?" He intends to gain legitimacy to his argument by citing the beliefs of his opponents, when he says, "You profess to believe 'that, of one blood, God made all nations of men to dwell on the face of all the earth.'" This paper will look at receptions of Acts 17:26 by abolitionists, multiculturalists, and segregationists. Abolitionists, even with good intentions, divide humans into races that elide racial differences and mask power dynamics. Likewise, multiculturalists equate all races as same and fail to address systemic issues. Segregationists demonstrate the proximity of racial exclusion made possible by abolitionists and multiculturalists. Through this analysis this paper will consider race, like Kotsko's neoliberalism, as its own legitimizing political theology. Race legitimates all into a sameness that erases difference.

- by Adam F Braun
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- New Testament, Critical Race Studies, History of Christianity, Neoliberalism

This paper argues for the essential historical reliability of the account of the community of goods amongst the early believers in Jesus in Jerusalem given in the Acts of the Apostles (2:42–27, 4:32–5:17 and 6:1–6). It summarises some of the exegetical and historical research of the author's doctoral dissertation (PANTA KOINA: Early Christian Community of Goods in its ancient Jewish and hellenistic contexts, PhD, Cambridge University, 1986). It argues that, while Utopian stylising is evident in Acts 2:44 and 4:32/34, there is clear evidence on an early tradition which used the vocabulary of the Essene yachadh community form known from the Rule of the Community from Qumran Cave 1. The paper also argues that the phased entrance procedure to the yachadh community form was employed in the earliest Jerusalem community of believers in Jesus. It is especially argued that Peter's words in Acts 5:4, 'Is it not the case that while it remained, it remained yours, and sold/handed over it remained in your power' reflect the 'blocked account' of 1QS VI:20. It is further argued that the probable presence of an Essene community near both the 'Gate of the Essenes' on the south west hill of Jerusalem and the traditional site of the 'upper room' (the 'Cenacle' of Christian tradition, part of the fourth century church of Hagia Sion), location of the events of Pentecost and the community of property amongst Jesus' post-Easter followers, explains the passage into the community of Essene language and legal forms relating to the community of goods, and with other evidence suggests the probable presence amongst the many converts to the Jesus movement at this time of Essenes who were already participating in community of goods arrangements and of others from the Essene movement who were intending to enter upon this form of religious social life.

- by Brian Capper
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- Early Christianity, Monasticism, Luke-Acts, Intentional Communities

Migration has brought substantial and rapid demographic change to Aotearoa New Zealand. The most recent national census (2013) reveals 25.2% of NZ’s population, and 39.1% of residents of Auckland, NZ’s largest city, was born overseas. For new migrant communities and more established local populations alike this changed landscape is experienced as a liminal space of discomfort, uncertainty and fear of loss, but also potential for transformation.
The narrative of Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10-11 illustrates the role of liminality and communitas in the transformation of the church that was necessary for it to participate in God’s mission as it crossed new boundaries. What are the possibilities of transformation for New Zealand’s churches if we were to accept invitations from the new margins of immigration to enter liminal space and embrace the potential for change in communitas with those who are already there?

- by George M Wieland
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- Migration, Liminality, New Zealand, Acts of the Apostles

Il percorso di analisi che ha condotto alla stesura del presente lavoro si muove a partire da una chiave biblica di orientamento e ha come obiettivo l’individuazione di alcuni tratti della sinodalità di una comunità parrocchiale nella individuazione di nuove ministerialità attraverso un’analisi qualitativa dell’esperienza e delle prassi di diverse parrocchie distribuite in varie regioni del nostro paese.

- by Fabrizio Mandreoli
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- Ministers, Christian Community, Catholic Church, Acts of the Apostles

Ben Witherington discovered the hand-written manuscript of this long-forgotten commentary on Acts by J. B. Lightfoot in the spring of 2013. The introduction to the commentary explains how Witherington had an opportunity to examine Lightfoot’s papers during a sabbatical visit at St. John’s College at Durham University. (See also Witherington’s “Text Archaeology: The Finding of Lightfoot’s Lost Manuscripts,” Biblical Archaeology Review 40.2 [March/April 2014]). This volume contains 6 black and white glossy pages of photographs illustrating the original pages discovered at Durham. According to IVP Academic, there are two more volumes planned in this series, one on the Gospel of John and another on 2 Corinthians and 1 Peter.

- by Phillip J . Long
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- New Testament, Luke-Acts, Acts of the Apostles
- by Istvan Czachesz
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- Religion, New Testament, Early Christianity, Biblical Studies

The purpose of this research is to explore the possibilities of using cartography to unpack lived spaces within social relationships. To do so I utilize biblical text along with epigraphy to explore the range of possibilities that connect and disconnect communities. To limit this project, I have chosen to engage in conversation with John Knox and Robert Jewett whose chronologies on Paul diverge significantly because of different approaches for how to use the book of Acts within a framework built around Paul's letters. Looking specifically at their disputes around Acts 13-14 affords me the opportunity to begin transcribing their tables to maps while also exploring the human relationships that exist within the ancient record. I argue that Acts 13-14 is more important than either Knox or Jewett realized because it offers important insights into how Paul formed and established relationships around Galatia. As a contribution to New Testament studies, this project points to a tendency to limit the study of Paul’s journeys to matters of timelines and relative chronologies without fully considering how Paul’s professional and religious associations enabled him to travel and spread the gospel. This has led to chronologies and maps that do not fully consider the nuances of Mediterranean travel and interactions and have consequently failed to change popular perceptions of Paul. When we change our perspective from concerns around time to matters of social connectivity, we can use chronology to engage historical material and observe nuanced social interactions. And new technologies, like Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), allow us to build interactive models that bring to the fore the lived spaces in maps.

- by Jon-Philippe Ruhumuliza
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- Sociology, Cartography, Archaeology, Social Networks

The unresolved difficulty of Acts 18.12–17 involves finding an adequate explanation for the (seemingly) unprovoked hostile reaction of the crowd toward Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. This investigation places this incident within the larger social context of urban uprisings and mob violence in the Roman world in order to highlight the socioeconomic factors (poverty, overcrowding, etc.) that inevitably gave rise to such frequent outbursts of urban aggression during this period. As such, this study illumines not only Acts 18, but other passages in Acts where mob violence plays a leading role. Whenever a blast of turbulence falls upon the assembly. .. we find jibes and brawling and laughter. Dio Chrysostom Luke's brief account of the mobbing of Sosthenes in Acts 18.12–17 presents historians and exegetes with a fascinating set of questions, not least of which is accounting for the sudden rush of the crowd on Sosthenes, the unsuspecting and unprepared ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. Surprisingly, this issue receives scant discussion in commentaries and secondary literature, with most appealing without argument to an anti-Jewish bias on the part of the assembly and the pro-consul Gallio, who turned a blind eye to the disturbance. 1 While xenophobic 1 E.g. H.

- by Moyer Hubbard
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- Acts of the Apostles

Earlier scholarship faced a number of limitations in classifying catena manuscripts on the Acts of the Apostles. This study makes a comparison of exegetical scholia in selected text passages (Acts 2:1-16, 8:9-25, 28:19-31) in order to determine the different types of catena and how they relate to each other. This survey reveals the diversity of the tradition: some manuscripts are merely copies, which repeat the same text with only small variations, but others are unique and cannot be directly identified with a particular catena type. It is therefore necessary to expand the classification of catenae on Acts in the Clavis Patrum Graecorum so as to mark subdivisions within the individual types. Keywords catena-manuscript-Acts of the Apostles-Clavis Patrum Graecorum-scholia-Andreas the Presbyter Recent years have seen a significant increase in the study of patristic exegesis of the New Testament, especially with regard to biblical catenae.1 Detailed research on the catenae on the Acts of the Apostles, however, is yet to be Vigiliae Christianae 76 (2022) 281-305 Table 1 List of catena manuscripts on acts and type identification Catena type Shelfmark GA Acts folios Century C150

- by Emanuele Scieri
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- Patristics, New Testament, Textual Criticism, Early Christianity

In this paper, I interpret the story of the Apostle Paul’s circumcision of Timothy in the New Testament text The Acts of the Apostles (16:1–5) from a womanist perspective. My approach is intersectional and inter(con)textual. I construct a hermeneutical dialogue between African American women’s experiences of race/racism, respectability politics, and the Acts’ narrative. In conversation with critical race theorists Naomi Zack, Barbara and Karen Fields, and black feminist E. Frances White, I discuss the intersection of race/racism, gender, geopolitical Diasporic space, and the burden and failure of respectability politics. Respectability politics claim that when non-white people adopt and exhibit certain proper behaviors, the reward will be respect, acceptance, and equality in the white dominated society, thereby ameliorating or overcoming race/racism. Race and racism are modern constructions that I employ heuristically and metaphorically as analytical categories for discussing the rhetorical distinctions made between Jews and Greeks/Gentiles, Timothy’s bi-racial status, and to facilitate comparative dialogue between Acts and African American women’s experiences with race and racism. I argue that Paul engages in respectability politics by compelling Timothy to be circumcised because of his Greek father and despite the Jerusalem Council’s decision that Gentile believers will not be required to be circumcised.

Novum Testamentum 60 (2018): 1–13.

- by Michael Kochenash
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- Religion, Classics, New Testament, Early Christianity

Müll ist etwas Chaotisches. Deshalb ist Müllentsorgung ein notwendiger Bestandteil der menschlichen Kultur, denn die kulturell geordnete Welt entsteht durch die Abgrenzung vom Chaos. Das ist bei den altorientalischen Kulturen besonders deutlich zu sehen, denn sie nehmen ihre Staatsgebilde nicht als Flächen wahr, sondern als Bereich menschlicher Gestaltung, der vom chaotisch-menschenfeindlichen Bereich klar abgegrenzt ist. Das Alte Ägypten hat kein Interesse nach seiner Grenze irgendwo in der Wüste zu fragen. Die Grenze zum Chaos ist die Grenze zur Wüste, zur unbewohnten Welt. Die Frage, ob das Unbewohnte zu Ägypten oder zu einem anderen Land gehört, stellt sich nicht. Entscheidend ist allein die Frage, wie die bewohnte Welt menschlich gestaltet werden kann. Angriffe aus dem Chaos auf die kulturelle Lebenswelt werden abgewehrt, und wenn die militärische Kraft es zulässt, unternehmen die Herrscher Exkursionen, um die Ressourcen für die menschliche Welt zu erweitern. Der moderne Flächenstaat scheint dagegen kein Chaos mehr zuzulassen, von dem man sich abgrenzen kann. Der Globus ist ja vollständig unter den Staaten aufgeteilt. Das ist freilich nur auf den ersten Blick so. Denn erstens gibt es das offene Meer immer noch als chaotischen Bereich, der keinem Staat zugeordnet ist, und zweitens gibt es Staaten, die als Bestandteil des Chaos eingestuft werden. Zu solchen Chaosbezirken gehört etwa die "Achse des Bösen" oder "Schurkenstaaten", die den internationalen Terrorismus fördern. Als Chaosbereiche müssen aber auch Zonen niedrigster Lebensqualität gelten, sowie Puffer-Areale zur Abwehr des Chaos. Hier ist an extraterritoriale Orte wie das US-Gefangenenlager Guantánamo auf Kuba zu denken, aber natürlich auch an das Mittelmeer als Puffer zwischen (europäischer) Ordnung und (afrikanischem) Chaos. Das vergleichsweise gute Leben in Europa setzt ja ganz selbstverständlich die Abgrenzung vom "dunklen Kontinent" und seinen Nöten voraus. Solange die afrikanische Bevölkerung still vor sich hin leidet, ist das normalerweise nichts, was unser Lebensglück trübt. Wenn aber die Ignorierten aktiv werden und sich aufmachen in das Land, "wo Milch und Honig fließt", dann braucht die Festung Europa eine gute Technik der Abgrenzung. Sonst würde die Armutsmigration die fernen Probleme zu uns ins Haus tragen und unsere Wohnwelten verunzieren. Wenn der Menschenmüll nicht mehr dort bleiben will, wo er hingehört, sondern zu uns kommt, dann dient das Mittelmeer als Müllkippe. Die gelegentliche Aufregung über ertrunkene "Frauen und Kinder" ist -unbeschadet der persönlichen Redlichkeit vieler Beteiligten -gesamtgesellschaftlich gesehen nur ein moralischer Rülpser, der den Übergang zur Normalität der Abgrenzung markiert. Der objektive Zynismus besteht nämlich darin, dass es gar keine echte Lösung für das Flüchtlingsproblem geben kann. Zwar kann man Armutsmigranten vor dem Ertrinken retten, aber man kann sie nicht massenhaft "ins gemeinsame Haus" Europa lassen, ohne den Lebensstandard Europas zu gefährden. Solange das Wohlstandsgefälle so hoch ist,

- by BiAS Series and +1
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- New Testament, Human Rights, Refugee Studies, Post-Colonialism
- by Christina Petterson
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- New Testament, Early Church, Greenland, Postcolonial Biblical Studies

Luke-Acts demonstrates a theological concern with Jesus as Redeemer of the outcasts (whether they be within Israel or Gentiles), and a literary concern with Greco-Roman modes of presentation. In both these respects, Luke-Acts is unique among the rest of the New Testament. In this paper, I review the specific Greco-Roman literary techniques that Luke-Acts exploits, as well as evidences of its theological concerns. Ultimately, in this paper I assert that the unique literary concern of Luke-Acts serves its unique theological concern: that is, the texts demonstrate Greco-Roman modes of artistic presentation, especially epic and epic history, in order to make a theological point about the universality of the Gospel message and the endless dominion of Jesus as King, as well as to present Christianity so as to be compelling to Gentiles.

- by Joshua Anthony
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- Greek Literature, Hellenistic Literature, Greek Epic, Gospel of Luke
- by Eric E Richter
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- Book of Genesis, Acts of the Apostles, Glossolalia, Hechos De Los Apostoles
- by David Evans
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- New Testament, Luke-Acts, Acts of the Apostles

The account of Eutychus’ fall in Acts 20,9 poses both translation and archaeological challenges. “Third floor” is the preferable translation for τρίστεγος in the British system, “fourth floor” in the American system. A multi-storeyed insula was the likely building in which the believers met in Troas. While insulae dating to the early second century CE can be found in Rome and Ostia, none have yet found in the archaeological record in the Greek East. Since poorer people lived on the upper floors of insulae, the ekklēsia in Troas was largely comprised of individuals from a lower socio-economic class.

- by Mark Wilson
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- Luke-Acts, Hellenistic and Roman Asia Minor, Acts of the Apostles

In this presidential address, I outline a history of pentecostal/charismatic reception. I explore different ways that pentecostal/charismatic believers have received, appropriated, and used Acts 8 throughout our history. I propose that a reception of more than one hundred years of pentecostal musings over Acts 8 provides a snapshot of our extended pentecostal family. I suggest up front that this family history exposes pentecostal/ charismatic notions about the nature of biblical interpretation. I conclude with general observations from my research and suggest further implications for students and scholars interested in reception history.

- by Martin W Mittelstadt
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- Hermeneutics, Biblical Studies, Pentecostal Theology, Pentecostalism

The aim of the article is to examine the role of the Holy Spirit in the mission of the Church in the view of the author of the Acts of the Apostles. First, the specificity of Luke’s pneumatology (Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles) was presented in comparison with other synoptics and Paul’s approach to this subject. In comparison with Mathew and Mark, Luke’s teaching about the Holy Spirit is much more developed. The difference between Paul’s and Luke’s pneumatology (in particular Acts) is that the Apostle of Nations presents mainly the work of the Holy Spirit in the believers, whereas Luke demonstrates Holy Spirit in actions through believer’s in the mission of the Church. This activity applies especially to three areas: giving God’s power to serve in the Church, inspiring and directing evangelization, strengthening the Church and encouraging it. At the end of the article the similarities between the teaching on the Holy Spirit in the Acts and in the Gospel according to John.

- by Janusz Krecidlo
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- Holy Spirit, Gospel of Luke, Acts of the Apostles, New Evangelization

apresenta sua tese de doutoramento sobre "A historicização da fé como processo de elaboração do modus vivendi cristão, por uma teologia da comunhão em At. 2, 42-47; 4, 32-35; 5, 12-16" no programa de Doutorado em Teologia da PUCPR, sob orientação de Luiz Alexandre Solano Rossi (março de 2018). É uma satisfação colaborar com o doutorado em Teologia da PUCPR e em compartilhar com os colegas de comissão Vicente Artuso (PUCPR), Luiz José Dietrich (PUCPR) e Walmor da Silva (PUCG). Fico contente, ainda, pela consideração das observações dos examinadores, quando do Exame de Qualificação.

Only a select few scholars in the history of New Testament research have achieved the level of stature that Adolf Harnack enjoyed in the eyes of the academic guild of his day. Harnack's importance is often measured with regard to his historical-theological works on church history, the history of doctrine, and the essence of Christianity as defined within the paradigm of classical liberalism. The impact of his scholarship, however, was not limited to these areas of focus. He also made substantial contributions to New Testament research, not least to Lukan studies. In the first half of this essay, I describe the various areas of Harnack's scholarly endeavors within the context of his life, major influences, and academic career. This sets the stage for the second half of this essay where, having situated Harnack's contributions to Lukan scholarship within the context of his life and intellectual environment, I will present the content and arguments in his major works on the Third Gospel and book of Acts to critically assess their strengths and weaknesses and gauge their enduring value.

- by Zachary K Dawson
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- New Testament, Biblical Studies, Synoptic Gospels, Biblical Interpretation

Los tres primeros evangelios (según Mateo, Marcos y Lucas), comúnmente llamados “sinópticos” por sus muchos rasgos en común, presentan la misión de Jesús centrada en la proclamación del reino de Dios. Aparecen por tanto como tres testimonios de la realización por medio de Jesús de ese reinado escatológico del Señor, que así cumple, desbordándolas, las promesas hechas a Israel. El tema está también presente en los Hechos de los Apóstoles, continuación del tercer evangelio y parte integrante de la obra de Lucas.
El presente volumen aúna el estudio crítico y teológico, exponiendo el estado actual de la investigación en sus diversos aspectos (históricos y literarios) y explicando cada libro en sus características propias; las referencias bibliográficas permitirán profundizar en aquellas cuestiones que un manual no puede tratar con detalle. Al mostrar la peculiaridad literaria, histórica y teológica de cada libro, queda también patente la unidad que subyace a todos ellos. Esto es posible por la perspectiva hermenéutica del testimonio; sin minusvalorar la originalidad de cada escrito (que por el contrario queda claramente manifestada), los libros son comprendidos como testimonios diversos de una misma realidad, de un mismo acontecimiento: la plenitud de la revelación en Cristo Jesús. De este modo, las diferencias entre los sinópticos —que aparecen claras— quedan integradas en un horizonte más amplio. Todo ello confiere al libro, pese a estar compuesto por partes diferentes, una “unidad argumental” que facilita su lectura y estudio; en esta conjunción de diversidad y unidad radica su principal aportación.
Está dirigido a estudiantes de Teología en seminarios, facultades de Teología e institutos de Ciencias Religiosas; pero también a religiosos, catequistas y grupos de iniciación bíblica, así como a personas con una cultura media deseosas de iniciarse en el conocimiento de los evangelios.

- by LUIS SANCHEZ-NAVARRO
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- Hermeneutics, Synoptic Gospels, Biblical Theology, Historical Jesus
- by Istvan Czachesz
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- New Testament, Early Christianity, Magic, Ancient Mediterranean Religions
- by Tibor Grull and +1
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- New Testament, Acts of the Apostles

The present study explores the dynamic of persuasion and force in Acts within the context of Greco- Roman and Jewish political thought, with special reference to 4 Maccabees. It also constitutes a response to C. Kavin Rowe’s argument for two closely related points, namely, that Acts rejects statecraft and and that it leaves no room for coercion, which conflicts with the nature of Jesus as Lord. After first clarifying what is at stake for Rowe theologically (§1), I survey the themes of persuasion and force in Acts, arguing that the early Christian community is portrayed in terms of the ideal polity. A fundamental element of this portrayal is the fact that Acts shows the early Christian leaders to be extremely persuasive, divinely inspired, while Jewish, Greek and Roman leaders resort to force in an effort to stop the expansion of the gospel (§2.1). This is supplemented by a brief discussion of 4 Maccabees (§2.2). Finally, I demonstrate that Acts preserves a place for force within the context of the Christian community in the elements of divinely initiated force evident in the death of Ananias and Sapphira, among other events (§3). I conclude that the dynamic of persuasion and force, along with other civic themes, belies Rowe’s argument that Acts rejects “statecraft” and coercion, showing that both points are problematized rather than proven by the narrative Acts in its ancient context of Greco-Roman political thought.

- by Ben Edsall
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- New Testament, New Testament and Christian Origins, Karl Barth, Luke-Acts

Critique of the third chapter from Kept By the Power of God, by I Howard Marshall

- by Brian H . Wagner
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- New Testament, Calvinism, Theological Hermeneutics, Hermeneutics and Narrative

Wenn es stimmt, dass nur das wirklich zählt, wofür Menschen bereit sind, notfalls zu sterben, dann sind "Wirtschaftsflüchtlinge" geradezu Propheten des Kapitalismus, denn der Einsatz ihres Lebens verkündet die Leben spendende Kraft eines Wirtschaftssystems. Dort wo Kapitalismus ist, ist wahres Leben, eine Art Paradies, das jede Gefahr lohnt. Und selbst wenn das Paradies in der Realität nicht ganz so golden glänzt wie in den Vorabendserien auf Disney-Channel, so mag den arbeitslosen Jugendlichen in den Slums und " high density suburbs " afrikanischer Großstädte doch selbst das Leben eines Armen in Berlin paradiesisch erscheinen. Es geht ja auch nicht nur um die Realität der Gegenwart, sondern noch viel mehr um die Verheißungen zukünftigen Glücks. Die Entsolidarisierung des Kapitalismus hat nämlich die wunderbare Wirkung, dass selbst die Anschauung des Scheiterns Anderer immer noch suggeriert, dass es dem Neuankömmling nicht so ergehen wird, wenn er es nur besser macht, härter arbeitet, sich mehr abmüht. Der Gescheiterte hat mit mir nichts zu tun, er ist nicht ich. Diese verschobene, streng individualisierte Perspektive der kapitalistischen Weltanschauung sorgt dafür, dass der paradiesische Glanz des Kapitalismus nicht matt wird, egal wie viele Opfer er produziert. Der Verlust des Paradieses und seine Wiederkehr als Königsherrschaft Gottes Die Überzeugung, dass der Mensch außerhalb des Gartens Eden leben muss, prägt die alttestamentlich-jüdische Sicht der menschlichen Existenz. Ohne Unterschied zu den ungläubigen Völkern muss auch das Gottesvolk sein Leben unter Bedingungen gestalten, die alles andere als paradiesisch sind. Das ist zunächst einfach eine nüchtern-realistische Einschätzung der Conditio humana, spitzt sich allerdings in Zeiten des hellenistisch-römischen Kolonialismus zu einem apokalyptischen Lebensgefühl zu, das Welt und Geschichte als weitgehend heilsleer empfindet und Erlösung, Heil und Paradiesesglück nur noch von der messianischen Zukunft erwarten kann. Jesus teilt diese Zukunftserwartung im Wesentlichen, unterscheidet sich allerdings von klassischen Unheilspropheten wie Johannes dem Täufer in einem wichtigen Punkt: Die Gegenwart ist nicht mehr völlig heilsleer. " Wenn ich mit dem Finger Gottes die Dämonen austreibe, dann ist das Königtum Gottes schon bei

- by BiAS Series and +1
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- New Testament, Synoptic Gospels, Capitalism, Sociology of Money

There has been a renewed interest in the language of faith (pistis) in recent years, but few studies have focused exclusively on the way that such language is understood and utilized in Luke-Acts. This article explores the nuance and development of faith-language in appropriated and unique Lukan passages, focusing on the faith of Jesus's disciples. The analysis then turns to how this develops throughout the narrative into Acts, with a focus toward illustrating how Luke uniquely highlights the disciples' pistis to show that a problem to be remedied in the era of Acts is their lack of faith.

- by William B Bowes
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- New Testament, Faith, New Testament and Christian Origins, Luke-Acts