Acts of the Apostles third lecture

1
Acts of the Apostles third lecture

• Paul a foot in each world

2
Paul in Ephesus

• Two-year sojourn in the most important city of
  Asia Minor.
  
• Performs a Christ-like role in the healing that
  comes of his garments or handkerchiefs.
  
• But the power is not transferable.
• Rather comic conclusion to the attempted theft of
  Pauls healing power?
  
• And the economic cost of turning Christian in the
  magic books that are burnt.
  

3
Great is Artemis of Ephesians

• Curiously irrelevant episode (19 23-41)? Part
  of the adventures of Paul?
  
• Or the real reason Paul had to leave Ephesus?
• Suggests a great clash between Greek fertility
  goddess and emerging Christian belief and the
  economic implications.
  
• This Artemis a fusion of the Phrygian Cybele, a
  mother goddess, and/or the Phoenician Astarte
  
• But the real point, for author of Acts, seems to
  be the role of Roman law in relation to Pauls
  mission.
  
• Speech of the town clerk (mayor?) emphasizes
  the role of law in adjudicating the complaint
  again Paul and his companions.
  
• Heres Artemis

4
Artemis of the Ephesians
5
Prolepsis? Another death in Jerusalem?

• Pauls speech to the Ephesians in Miletus seems
  to foreshadow death
  
• 20 22 as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my
  way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to
  me there.
  
• And none of them will see him again.
• Much weeping and grief 37-38).
• We again.
• Disciples in Tyre tell Paul not to go to
  Jerusalem (214).
  
• Agabus encounter more anticipation of danger in
  Jerusalem (21 10ff).
  
• I am ready not only to be bound, but to die in
  Jerusalem (21 13)
  
• And in fact, the possibility of death does seem
  to await him.
  

6
Interruption an otherwise unattested saying of
Jesus

• 20 35 remembering the words of the Lord Jesus,
  for he himself said, it is more blessed to give
  than to receive.
  
• Not in any of the gospels agrapha unwritten
  sayings.
  
• Some think that Luke may have created the saying,
  since its appropriate to Pauls situation.
  
• But its a saying much beloved of pastors
  everywhere!
  

7
Jew or gentile? The danger of double identity.

• Danger from believers among the Jews.
• The plan to show that Paul is a good Jew.
• But it doesnt finally work.
• Another commotion in the Temple.
• And another death threatened (2131).
• Rescued and arrested by Romans.
• Speaks Greek to the tribune, Hebrew (Aramaic)
  to the Jews.
  
• And tells his story of his conversion (2nd time
  this narrative occurs).
  
• Mention of gentiles (22 21) again causes
  violence.
  
• The turning point? The Lord appears and
  predicts Pauls witness in Rome, as in Jerusalem
  (23 11).

8
But saved by the Romans

• Almost flogged, like Jesus, by the Romans.
• But Paul claims his Roman citizenship in fact
  hes more Roman than the tribune.
  
• And in answering the high priest, also proves
  himself a loyal Jew 23 5.
  
• In face of conspiracy, Paul spirited out of
  Jerusalem again saved by Romans.
  
• Luke writes some Roman messages, speeches (23
  26-30, 24 2-8, Pauls speech, 24 10-21).
  
• Paul appeals to emperors tribunal Rome.
• Felix Porcius Festus Agrippa and Bernice.
• (Festus procurator of Judea from 60? to 62.)
• Paul gives a very Hellenistic/Roman speech to
  Agrippa, telling the conversion story (3rd time),
  becoming more Roman by the minute!
  
• And makes a joke at the end? (26 29).

9
The voyage to Rome

• Now the narrative becomes a stirring sea story a
  Hellenistic genre. Luke rather a salty sea dog!
  
• We again.
• With lots of seafaring terminology (sea anchors,
  tackle, lowering boats, etc.) and a close
  itinerary of the voyage.
  
• Its a large grain ship (27 37).
• (Oddly, the centurion pays more attention to what
  the ships captain and the owner say about
  sailing than to Paul 27 10.)
  
• But Paul is right, even about sailing.
• Undergirding the ship 27 17.
• Shipwreck rather exactly described.
• And everyone survives, even Paul when a viper
  attaches itself.
  
• And Malta is touched by the power of the Spirit.
  
  

10
Then finally to Rome

• Across to Sicily (Siracusa), then to Reggio
  Calabria, and up to Bay of Naples (Puteoli,
  modern Pozzuoli).
  
• Where they find brethren (adelphoi, Christian
  believers).
  
• The Twin Brothers out of Alexandria the
  Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, an Egyptian cult.
  
• Then overland to two towns just south of Rome.
  More brethren (and sistren?)
  
• Then to house arrest in Rome.

11
The end of Pauls story

• Doesnt really tell the end
• Which was, according to tradition, execution in
  Rome.
  
• The narrative ends in around 61 or 62 (Nero is
  emperor), but was written some 20 years later.
  
• Perhaps Luke intended to write a third volume,
  but wasnt able to?
  
• The tradition about execution may not be right
  (its late 2nd century).
  
• And theres another tradition that Paul went on
  to Spain.
  
• Finally, a mystery.

12
But thematically, not really the end?

• The Jerusalem/Rome theme remains prominent in
  speech to Roman Jews.
  
• Paul continues to preach Jesus in terms of law
  of Moses and all the prophets.
  
• Some converted, some not.
• And the prophecy of Isaiah, used in Luke 810,
  now used to signal the transfer of the Spirit to
  the gentiles.
  
• And a concluding statement, that doesnt really
  conclude.
  
• A George Lucas ending -- an opening for a sequel?