338 Stephan Witetschek fellow-Christians, “some of the asiarchs, being friends with him” (19,31) try to protect Paul from his own courage and to prevent him from appearing in the theatre. It is not entirely clear who these asiarchs were, and, particularly during the last two decades, there has been a heated controversy among historians. During the 1st-3rd centuries CE, many notables in the province of Asia appear in the epigraphic (later also numismatic) record both as high priests of the provincial imperial cult and as asiarchs (12). Most scholars conclude that “high priest of Asia” and “asiarch” were two designations for one and the same office with ajsiavrch" as a convenient shorthand for ajrciereu;" ΔAsiva" (13). A (12) For the epigraphic and numismatic record see S.J. FRIESEN, Twice Neokoros. Ephesos, Asia and the Cult of the Flavian Imperial Family (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World 116; Leiden, 1993) 172-184 (high priests), 185-188 (high priestesses), 189-208 (asiarchs). For some more recent additions see D. CAMPANILE, “Sommi sacerdoti, asiarchi e culto imperiale: Un aggiornamento”, Studi Ellenistici 19 (ed. B. VIRGILIO) (Studi Ellenistici 19; Pisa 2006) 523-584, 525-547. (13) Cf. e.g. L. ROSS TAYLOR, “Note XXII. The Asiarchs”, The Beginnings of Christianity. Part I. The Acts of the Apostles. Vol. V. Additional Notes to the Commentary (eds. K. LAKE – H.J. CADBURY) (London 1933) 256-262; J. DEININGER, Die Provinziallandtage der römischen Kaiserzeit von Augustus bis zum Ende des dritten Jahrhunderts n. Chr. (Vestigia 6; München 1965) esp. 44- 47; M. ROSSNER, “Asiarchen und Archiereis Asias”, Studii Clasice 16 (1974) 101- 142; R. MERKELBACH, “Der Rangstreit der Städte Asiens und die Rede des Aelius Aristides über die Eintracht”, ZPE 32 (1978) 287-296; P. HERZ, “Asiarchen und Archiereiai. Zum Provinzialkult der Provinz Asia”, Tyche 7 (1992) 93-115; M. WÖRRLE, “Neue Inschriftenfunde aus Aizanoi I”, Chiron 22 (1992) 337-376; M.D. CAMPANILE, I sacerdoti del Koinon d’Asia (I sec. a.C. – III. sec. d.C.). Contributo allo studio della romanizzazione delle élites provinciali nell’Oriente greco (Studi Ellenistici 7; Pisa 1994); A. MEHL, “Asiarchie”, Der Neue Pauly. Enzyklopädie der Antike (eds. H. CANCIK – H. SCHNEIDER) (Stuttgart – Weimar 1997) II, 80; ENGELMANN, “Asiarchs”, ZPE 132 (2000) 173-175; P. WEISS, “Asiarchen sind Archiereis Asias. Eine Antwort auf S.J. Friesen”, Widerstand – Anpassung – Integration. Die griechische Staatenwelt und Rom (eds. N. EHRHARDT – L.-M. GÜNTHER) (FS J. DEININGER) (Stuttgart 2002) 241-254; B. BURRELL, Neokoroi. Greek Cities and Roman Emperors (Cincinnati Classical Studies 9; Leiden – Boston 2004) 346-347; D. CAMPANILE, “Asiarchi e archiereis d’Asia: Titolatura, condizione giuridica e posizione sociale dei supremi dignitari del culto imperiale”, Les cultes locaux dans les mondes grec et romain. Actes du colloque de Lyon 7-8 Juin 2001 (ed. G. LABARRE) (Collection archéologie et histoire de l’antiquité. Université Lumière-Lyon 2. Volume VII; Lyon 2004) 69- 79; M. CARTER, “Archiereis and Asiarchs. A Gladiatorial Perspective”, GRBS 44 (2004) 41-68; D. CAMPANILE, “Nuovi contributi dell’epigrafia per lo studio delle élites locali nelle provincie orientali in età romana: L’esempio dell’Asia”, Le monde romain à travers l’épigraphie: Méthodes et pratiques. Actes du XXIVe Colloque International de Lille (8-10 Novembre 2001) (eds. J. DESMULLIEZ – C.