Kenneth D. Litwak, «Israel’s Prophets Meet Athens’ Philosophers: Scriptural Echoes in Acts 17,22-31» biblica, Vol. 85 (2004) 199-216 page 208

Vol 85 (2004)

Kenneth D. Litwak, «Israel’s Prophets Meet Athens’ Philosophers: Scriptural Echoes in Acts 17,22-31», Vol. 85 (2004) 199-216

Generally, treatments of Paul’s speech note biblical parallels to Paul’s wording but find no further significance to these biblical allusions. This study argues that Luke intends far more through this use of the Scriptures of Israel beyond merely providing sources for Paul’s language. I contend that, through the narrative technique of "framing in discourse", Luke uses the Scriptures of Israel to lead his audience to interpret Paul’s speech as standing in continuity with anti-idol polemic of Israel’s prophets in the past. As such, read as historiography, Luke’s narrative uses this continuity to legitimate Paul’s message and by implication, the faith of Luke’s audience. Luke’s use of the Scriptures here is ecclesiological.

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208 Kenneth D. Litwak will be found (eu{roien). Israel is told many times to seek YHWH (25). The same vocabulary and concept is seen when Moses tells the people that if they seek God in their time of trouble because they have forsaken God, they will find him, zhthvsete ejkei' kuvrion to;n qeo;n uJmw'n kai; euJrhvsete o{tan ejkzhthvshte aujto;n (Deut 4,29). It is important to note that this statement is made in a prophetic context, which forms part of the basis of the â€œDeuteronomic historyâ€ (26). The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles refer to seeking God several times, e.g., â€œnow give your hearts and souls to seek the Lord your God (tou' zhth'sai tw/' kurivw/ qew/' uJmw'n) (1 Chr 22,19a). Using the same key verbs as Paul does, Solomon is told to seek God with all his heart and he will find him (eja;n zhthvsh/" aujtovn euJreqhvsetaiv soi) (1 Chr 28,9b) (27). Seeking God is also mentioned several times in Ezra (28). The psalmists also call for people to seek God (29). Ps 9,25 condemns sinners who do not seek God (oujk ejkzhthvsei oujk e[stin oJ qeo;" ejnwvpion aujtou') (Ps 10,4 MT)(30). Ps 13,2 expresses an idea similar to Acts 17,27, saying that God looks for people who seek him (ejkzhtw'n to;n qeovn). The prophets of Israel also call upon people to seek God. Through Isaiah God calls people to seek him while he may be found: zhthvsate to;n qeo;n kai; ejn tw/' euJrivskein aujto;n (Isa 55,6). In Isa 58,2, God rebukes those who seek (zhtou'sin) him with wrong motives. The implication of this verse is that seeking God and drawing near to him is a good thing, even though Israel is only doing so superficially. Hosea prophesies that Israel will return to God and seek him, oiJ uiJoi; Israhl kai; ejpizhthvsousin kuvrion to;n qeo;n (Hos 3,5). Amos calls on Israel to seek God, ejkzhthvsate to;n kuvrion (Amos 5,6). Paulâ€™s words echo the words of Israelâ€™s prophets in directing the Athenians to seek God. f) Idols are Nothing: Acts 17,29 Acts 17,29 resumes the echoes of the anti-idol polemic in the Scriptures of Israel. Deut 4,28-29 contrasts the future idolatry of Israel (25) Cf. Isa 58,2; Jer 50,4; Ezek 20,40; 34,11; Dan 9,3; Hos 3,5; Amos 5,14. (26) The main occurrences of the command to seek the Lord are found in the prophetic literature, Psalms and 2 Chronicles. See KÃœLLING, Geoffenbartes, 104. (27) Cf. 2 Chr 14,4; 15,12-13; 19,3; 26,5; 30,19; 34,3. (28) Cf. Ezra 4,2; 6,21; 8,21-22. (29) Cf. Pss 62,1; 68,7, 33; 69,5. (30) It may be noted that the sense of the LXX and MT are different, the MT lacking the idea of provoking the Lord, but simply â€œthe guilty in the greatness of his anger/face does not seek [God]â€.