Josep Rius-Camps, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XIX) (Acts 13:13-43).», Vol. 20 (2007) 127-146
In Acts 13:13-43, Paul and Barnabas are seen continuing their missionary activity, notably in Antioch of Pisidia where Luke describes their visit to the synagogue. He recreates in some detail Paul’s first speech, which is noteworthy for the way in which he presents Jesus as the Messiah first and foremost for Israel, a perspective with which Luke is at odds in Codex Bezae. Paul’s overriding concern for his own people, the Jews, to accept his message is strongly in evidence. However, their negative reaction when he extends the message of Jesus to Gentiles causes him, together with Barnabas, to turn from the Jews to the Gentiles. In the Alexandrian text, their announcement of this fact refers to a change on a local scale within Antioch, but in the Bezan text they make a declaration that represents a radical decision and an event of momentous significance in the history of Israel: in view of the Jews’ hostility to the message of Jesus, they will no longer have privileged possession of the Word of God, the Torah that had originally been entrusted to Israel, since it is to be henceforth shared with the Gentiles. The idea of the sharing of the heritage of Israel with the Gentiles is one that will provoke opposition to Paul wherever he preaches to the Jews in future locations, and a theme that Luke will develop over the subsequent chapters.
132 Josep Rius-Camps and Jenny Read-Heimerdinger
[β] Ask of me
And I will give you nations
As your inheritance,
And as your possession
The ends of the earth.â€
34 When he resurrected him from the 34 Concerning the fact that he resurrect-
ed him from the dead, no more to return
dead, no more to return to corruption,
to corruption, he has spoken thus,
he had spoken thus,
“I will give to you
“I will give to you
The sure blessings of Davidâ€.
The sure blessings of Davidâ€.
35 And that is why he says in another
35 And elsewhere he says,
Psalm,
“I will not give your Holy One
“I will not give your Holy One
To see corruptionâ€.
To see corruptionâ€.
36 Now as for David, having served his
36 Now David, having served his own
own generation by the will of God, he fell
generation by the will of God, fell asleep
asleep and was added to his fathers and
and was added to his fathers and he saw
he saw corruption. 37 The one whom God
corruption. 37 The one whom God raised
raised up, however, did not see corruption.
up, however, did not see corruption.
[γ] 38 Let it be known to you, men brothers, 38 Let it be known to you, men brothers,
that through this man forgiveness of sins that because of this, forgiveness of sins is
is announced and repentance from eve- announced, even everything of which you
ry-thing of which you could not be made could not be made righteous by the Law
righteous by the Law of Moses; 39 so of Moses. 39 Everyone believing in this
everyone believing in this man is made is justified. 40 Watch out, therefore, that
righteous by him with God. 40 Watch what has been said in the Prophets does
out, therefore, that what has been said in not come to pass,
the Prophets does not come to pass,
41a “See, those who scoff, 41 “See, those who scoff,
Marvel and vanish, Marvel and vanish,
Because I do a deed in your days Because I do a deed in your days,
That you will not even believe A deed that you will not even believe
If someone declares it to youâ€.’ If someone were to declare it to youâ€.’
[a’] 41b And they kept silence.
[Ba] 42 As they were going out, people were 42 As they were going out, people were
urging that things like this be spoken to asking that on the next Sabbath these
them on the next Sabbath. things be spoken to them.
[b] 43a When the assembly had broken up, 43a When the assembly had broken up,
many of the Jews and the worshipping many of the Jews and the worshipping
proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas
as they carried on speaking to them who, as they carried on speaking to them,
and persuading them to continue in the persuaded them to continue in the grace
grace of God. of God.
[b’] 43b And it happened that the word of
God went throughout the entire city.