Study Guide
A. ACTS.
Paul was from Tarsus, a Greek city in Asia Minor. He was a hellenized Jew, who spoke Greek, but he was also a Roman citizen, since his town had formerly been granted citizenship. Initially opposed to the religious movement begun by Jesus' disciples, he played a fundamental role in the spread of Jesus' teachings from an initially small group of Jewish believers centered in Jerusalem to the larger Hellenistic-Roman world.
The author of Acts, according to tradition, was Luke. It is difficult to reconstruct the sources used by the author (e.g. did he make use of local traditions from, e.g. Antioch, or Jerusalem?) and there is a good deal of chronological imprecision. The author shows no awareness of Paul's own letters.
The selection has a great deal of detail. What you want to do as you read it is to keep focused on two chief issues:
1) what responses and reactions did Paul receive as he travelled around seeking converts? Look carefully at the differing reactions, depending on whether he was speaking to Jews or Gentiles, and, with respect to the latter, which social classes and ethnic groups were receptive and which not. So as you read, think about the particular circumstances: to whom is he speaking - are they already believers or are they non-believers, are they Jews or Gentiles, are they rich or poor, women or men - and what is the reaction? Does Paul have more difficulty with Jews or non-Jews? Where he does meet resistance, on what is it based? Pay attention also to how Paul characterizes himself: in what circumstances does he want to refer to himself as a Jew, or as a Roman citizen, e.g.?
2) Roman control and administration in the provinces (or client states like Judaea) and Roman citizenship. Is the conflict between the Jews of Jerusalem and Paul, as far as you can tell from Acts, a purely local issue from the Roman perspective, or is it of great concern to the Romans, as inferred from the behavior of the local Roman provincial officials? Do the local governors actively seek to become involved, or are they requested to intervene? What are the implications of your answer? Does Paul benefit from being a Roman citizen? How and how far?
Here are some specific comments and questions to think about as you do the reading.
This excerpt begins when he has been sent to Antioch in Syria (a city founded by the Seleucids in Syria). In 15:22 ff. his is preaching to believers; what is the response?
Chapter 16 is interesting as an example of the multi-ethnic/religious Hellenistic-Roman world: he meets Timothy, who is the son of a Jewish mother who accepted Christ, and a Greek (the implication is that he is neither a Jew nor a believer in Christ). What does that suggest?
16:11ff.: Paul in Macedonia. What is the reception there and who is singled out as a believer? What do you make of the episode recounting the conversion of the slave-girl and the response of her masters? What is the result of their reaction? Think about how useful it is for Paul to trot out his Roman citizenship; but why does he wait to do it? What does this episode suggest about attitudes toward Roman citizenship in the provinces?
17: What is the reaction among the Jews in Thessalonica and in Beroea (also in Macedonia)?
How is Paul received in Athens? Does this remind you of Socrates? How are Athenians stereotyped?
18: Paul in Corinth. This episode is interesting for illuminating the relationship between the Roman administrators (Gallio, the proconsul of Achaea, is the Roman provincial governor of the region) and the local inhabitants. What do you make of both the Jews' appeal to Gallio and his response?
18:24ff. Apollos in Ephesus. What are the implications of the fact that Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew is proselytizing in Ephesus, and has a different take on the teachings of Jesus? Does it suggest that at this early stage in the history of Christianity, there was not yet one consistent approach to or view of Jesus' message?
19:21ff. Ephesus. What are the issues here? What is the complaint of the silversmiths and what are the implications?
21:17ff. Paul back in Jerusalem. What reception does Paul get? Note that in verse 21:37ff. Paul refers to himself as a Jew. Again, think about the implications of this for the development of Christianity at this point. Later (22:25ff.) he refers to himself as a Roman citizen. What is the significance of this? What can you infer about attitudes toward Roman citizenship from the exchange between Paul and the tribune? The issue of Paul's Roman citizenship comes up again in 23:26ff. How does he benefit from it?
23:6ff. The Pharisees and Sadducees were two branches of Judaism (a third were the Essenes) that differed over interpretations of the Torah (or Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) concerning, among other things, rituals and physical purity (of the body and of food); the Pharisees (with which Paul identifies himself) were known for their adherence to traditional behavior and customs.
In the rest of the selection, pay particular attention to the continuing theme of Paul's recourse to his Roman citizenship? How helpful is it? Why has Paul been detained for so long? Why is he allowed finally to go to Rome? What happens to Paul in Rome?
B. Correspondence of Pliny and Trajan: Imperial Policy toward the Christians
As the introduction in the selection (#16) notes, Pliny was the Roman governor of Bithynia-Pontus (in northern Asia Minor) in AD ca. 111-113. At this time Trajan was emperor. Pliny is writing to ask Trajan's advice about how to deal with Christians. As you read this exchange, think about the following questions and issues: