Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XXII) (Acts 14:28–15:41)» filologia-neotestamentaria, Vol. 23 (2010) 175-200 page 176

Vol 23 (2010)

Josep Rius-Camps - Jenny Read-Heimerdinger, «The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XXII) (Acts 14:28–15:41)», Vol. 23 (2010) 175-200

In Chapter 15 of Acts, a point of critical importance for the growth of the Church and its relationship with Judaism is reached. Luke narrates the difficulty posed for Jewish Jesus-believers by the increasing number of Gentiles believers and the decision taken by the Church leaders in Jerusalem not to subject them to the usual conditions for proselytes. In the Bezan text, some conflict of opinion between Peter, Paul and Barnabas on the one hand, and James on the other is apparent, a tension that is attenuated in the Alexandrian text. Further conflict is also highlighted in Codex Bezae between Paul and Barnabas who separate following the meeting in Jerusalem.

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176 Josep Rius-Camps and Jenny Read-Heimerdinger hitherto mentioned. It is they who introduce the topic of circumcision and the Law with respect to Gentile believers in Jesus. Their basic tenets are briefly stated and the opposition they aroused in Paul and Barnabas is described, with Paul’s position clearly stated in the Bezan text. Again in the Bezan text, it is the people from Judaea who send Paul and Barnabas to Ierousalem, and not the Antioch church as in Codex Vaticanus: [a] 14:28 Paul and Barnabas stay in Antioch [b] 15:1 Visitors from Judaea [b'] 15:2a Paul and Barnabas oppose their teaching [a'] 15:2b They send Paul and Barnabas to Ierousalem Translation Codex Bezae D05 Codex Vaticanus B03 [a] 14:28 They stayed on for quite some 14:28 They stayed on for quite time with the disciples. some time with the disciples. [b] 15:1 And some people who had 15:1 And some people who had gone down from Judea were tea- gone down from Judea were tea- ching the brethren, ‘Unless you ching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised and keep on wal- are circumcised according to the king by the tradition of Moses, tradition of Moses, you cannot be you cannot be saved’. saved’. [b'] 2a A quarrel started up, and 2 Since there was a serious distur- Paul and Barnabas had a not in- bance and Paul and Barnabas had a significant debate with them (for not insignificant debate with them, Paul said that they should remain exactly as they were when they be- lieved and insisted strongly on it). [a'] 2b The people who were from they decided that Paul and Barna- Ierousalem ordered them – Paul bas, as well as some others from and Barnabas – and some others to among them, should go up to the go up to the apostles and elders in apostles and elders in Ierousalem Ierousalem, in order to be judged regarding this question. in submission to them over this question. Critical Apparatus 15:1 (περιτμηθῆτε) τῷ ἔθει τῷ Μωϋσέως B P74 ) A C Ψ 81 | τ. ἔθ. Μωσέως E H L P 049. 056. 33. 1739 M || καὶ τ. ἔθ. Μωσέως περιπατῆτε D d syhmg sa mae; Irlat vid Didasc CAp.