40 Paul Danove content by stating that Christ offered himself once (ἅπαξ) to bring up the sins (ἁμαρτίαι) of many. Within 10,1-10, however, the primary thematic focus is the law, which has only a shadow of the coming good things (τὰ ἀγαθά), whose priests offer sacrifices continually year after year (κατ᾽ ἐνιαυτόν), and whose sacrifices are unable to make human beings perfect (10,1). The passive occurrence of “offer” in 10,2, which must be interpret- ed as the passivized form of an active usage with “priests according to the law” as the definite referent of the null Agent, then applies the positive characteristics of Christ’s efficacious agency negatively to the priests, whose offerings do not cease because they are not able once (ἅπαξ) to cleanse (καθαρίζω) the conscience (συνείδησις) of sins (ἁμαρτίαι). Thus, the passive reflexive usage of the verb in 9,28 completes the triple assertion of Christ’s efficacious agency in 9,11-28; and the passive form of the verb in 9,28 provides the bridge to the passive form of the verb in 10,2, which highlights the contrast between the efficacious agency of Christ and the inefficacious agency of priests according to the law. Thus, the third interpretation is viable thematically and to be preferred grammatically and rhetorically in this context. Thematic and grammatical considerations recommend against the traditional interpretation (tra. act), which nevertheless remains viable, support the viability of the second interpretation (mot. pass.), and, in light of the proposed rhetorical motivation, offer strongest support for the third interpretation (tra. pass.). These considerations recommend that Christological studies of this verse recognize, develop, and ranked the implications of the three viable attributions of agency associated with these interpretations and clarify the thematic and grammatical conside- rations that argue against the traditional interpretation. 6. The Three-fold Interpretation of ἀναλαμβάνω in Acts 1,11 The following translations illustrate the three grammatically possible interpretations of ἀναλαμβάνω (be brought up / ascend / bring oneself up) in Acts 1,11: Tra. Act. This Jesus being brought up from you thus into heaven… Mot. Pass. This Jesus ascending from you thus into heaven… Tra. Pass. This Jesus bringing himself up from you thus into heaven… οὗτος ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὁ ἀναλημφθεὶς ἀφ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οὕτως… With the first interpretation (tra. act.; cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV, REB), an unspecified Agent brings up Jesus (Theme) from the