Robert L. Mowery, «Paul and Caristanius at Pisidian Antioch», Vol. 87 (2006) 223-242
A recently-published Latin inscription from Pisidian Antioch refers to four
benefactions that a prominent citizen named Caristanius had provided to fulfill a
vow on behalf of the emperor Claudius. Since this inscription refers to the year
45/46 CE, it refers to benefactions that may have been provided near the time
when Paul arrived in the city. After surveying the contents of this inscription and
reviewing scholarly opinion concerning the date when Paul arrived, this paper
reflects on the ethnic diversity of first century Pisidian Antioch, the religious
beliefs reflected in Caristanius’ vow, the likely impact of his benefactions on the
residents of the city, and the possibility that he may have been one of “the leading
men of the city” mentioned in Acts 13,50.
228 Robert L. Mowery
If Paul arrived in Pisidian Antioch sometime during 34-40 CE, he
would have arrived several years prior to the year (45/46) referred to
by Caristanius’ inscription. If the community that Paul established at
Pisidian Antioch was still active at the time when Caristanius
commissioned this inscription, this inscription can be read as a new
source illuminating the context in which that community lived. Note,
however, that the argument that Paul arrived in Pisidian Antioch
during the 30s does not exclude the possibility that he returned at a
later date, perhaps at a time closer to the time when Caristanius
provided his four public benefactions.
2. Many scholars date the mission to south Galatia sometime
during the years 43-49. Several of these scholars and their proposed
dates are listed below.
Scholars Dates Events covered by these dates
R. Jewett (27) 43-45 first missionary journey
and 46-47 journey through Pisidian Antioch to Greece
A. Suhl (28) 43/44-47/48 mission in Pisidia and Lycaonia (and elsewhere)
R. Riesner (29) 45-47 Paul and Barnabas in Cyprus and south Galatia
Hengel and Schwemer (30) c. 46/47 mission in Cyprus, Cilicia, and southern Galatia
S. Mitchell (31) 46-47 first missionary journey
R. Schäfer (32) 46-47 first missionary journey
J. Murphy-O’Connor (33) Sept 46-May 48 ministry in Galatia, including Pisidian Antioch
J.A. Fitzmyer (34) 46-49 Mission I (Acts 13,4–14,28)
——————
first missionary journey, occurred sometime during 37-41 CE, he admits that this
proposal is uncertain. D.A. CAMPBELL, “An Anchor for Pauline Chronology.
Paul’s Flight from ‘the Ethnarch of King Aretas’ (2 Corinthians 11:32-33)â€, JBL
121 (2002) 301, has recently dated the mission on Cyprus in 37 CE.
(27) A Chronology of Paul’s Life (Philadelphia 1979) 57-60. See also his
“Graph of Dates and Time-Spans†at the back of the book.
(28) Paulus und seine Briefe. Ein Beitrag zur paulinischen Chronologie (StNT
11; Gütersloh 1975) 339-340. See also his “Paulinische Chronologie im Streit der
Meinungenâ€, ANRW II, 26, 2 (1995) 939-1188.
(29) Paul’s Early Period, 322.
(30) M. HENGEL – A.M. SCHWEMER, Paul between Damascus and Antioch.
The Unknown Years (Louisville 1997) xiii, 205-209.
(31) Anatolia. Land, Men, and Gods in Asia Minor (Oxford 1993) II, 5.
(32) Paulus bis zum Apostelkonzil. Ein Beitrag zur Einleitung in den
Galaterbrief, zur Geschichte der Jesusbewegung und zur Pauluschronologie
(WUNT 179; Tübingen 2004) 488, 493.
(33) Paul, 26-28, 159-162.
(34) The Acts of the Apostles (AB 31; New York 1998) 139.