Between History and Spirit: The Apostolic Witness of the Book of Acts

Between History and Spirit

The Apostolic Witness of the Book of Acts

Craig S. Keener

Between History and Spirit

The Apostolic Witness of the Book of Acts

Copyright ©

2020

Craig S. Keener. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers,

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Cascade Books

An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

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paperback isbn: 978-1-5326-8410-4

hardcover isbn: 978-1-5326-8411-1

ebook isbn: 978-1-5326-8412-8

Cataloguing-in-Publication data:

Names: Keener, Craig S.

Title: Between history and spirit : the apostolic witness of the book of acts. / Craig S. Keener.

Description: Eugene, OR: Cascade Books,

2020.

| Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers:

isbn 978-1-5326-8410-4 (

paperback

) | isbn 978-1-5326-8411-1 (

hardcover

) | isbn 978-1-5326-8412-8 (

ebook

)

Subjects: LCSH: Bible. Acts—Criticism, interpretation, etc. | Bible. Acts—Theology. | Holy Spirit.

Classification:

BS2625.2 K44 2020 (

paperback

) | BS2625.2 (

ebook

)

Manufactured in the U.S.A.

04/10/20

Table of Contents

Title Page

Preface and Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Part 1: A Question of History

1. Luke-Acts and the Historical Jesus

2. First-Person Claims in Acts and in Ancient History

3. Paul and Sedition

4. The Church’s Disputed Growth Rate in Acts (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 21:20)

5. A Novel Official in Acts 8:27?

6. Were Troops Really Stationed in Caesarea During Agrippa’s Rule?

7. Dionysius or Stephanas

Part 2: A Question of Context

8. Interethnic Marriages in Acts 7:29 and 16:1–3

9. Irony and Figurative Language

10. Turning from Idols in Acts 14:15–17

11. Between Asia and Europe

12. How Were Asiarchs Paul’s Friends (Acts 19:31)?

13. One New Temple

14. Some Rhetorical Techniques in Acts 24:2–21

15. Insanity, Inspiration or Intellect

16. Fever and Dysentery in Acts 28:8 and Ancient Medicine

Part 3: A Question of Spirit

17. Miracles and History in Acts and the Jesus Tradition

18. Power of Pentecost

19. Tongues as Evidence of the Character of Spirit’s Empowerment in Acts 2:4

20. Acts 16:16–18, 19:12–16, and Spirit Possession in Modern Anthropology

21. A Spirit-Filled Teaching Ministry in Acts 19:9

22. Anticipating Ancient African Christianity

23. Reviews of Some Acts-focused Works

Bibliography

For David and Grace Keener, in honor of their wedding, June

15

,

2019

Preface and Acknowledgments

When my friend Michael Thomson suggested publishing a collection of my prior essays on Acts, I readily agreed. Some of these essays are difficult to obtain, and some of them include material not found even in my four-volume Acts commentary, and certainly not arranged as the material is arranged in that commentary. These essays span a range of time and topics related to Acts, although most involve its historical setting in some respects. Some address contemporary questions such as postcolonialism, Pentecostal theology or African history; most are grounded exegetically and address issues relevant to the text of Acts. I have adapted some of these essays, editing and occasionally updating; others appear here as they originally appeared, except for light editing for the purposes of inclusion in this volume.

Here I gladly acknowledge the permission of publishers of the original articles, in connection with the following chapters:

1. Luke-Acts and the Historical Jesus: from Luke-Acts and the Historical Jesus. Pages 600–623 in Jesus Research: New Methodologies and Perceptions. The Second Princeton-Prague Symposium on Jesus Research. Ed. James Charlesworth with Brian Rhea and Petr Pokorny. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2014. Reprinted by permission of William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

2. First-Person Claims in Acts and in Ancient History: from First-Person Claims in Some Ancient Historians and Acts. Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 10 (2014): 9–23. Reprinted by permission from Sheffield Phoenix.

3. Apologetic for Paul in Acts: from Paul and Sedition: Pauline Apologetic in Acts. Bulletin for Biblical Research 22 (2, 2012): 201–24. Reprinted by permission from Penn State University Press.

4. The Church’s Disputed Growth Rate in Acts: from The Plausibility of Luke’s Growth Figures in Acts 2.41; 4.4; 21.20. Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 7 (2010): 140–63. Reprinted by permission from Sheffield Phoenix.

5. A Novel Official in Acts 8:27? Comparing Acts and Ancient Novels: from Novels’ ‘Exotic’ Places and Luke’s African Official (Acts 8:27). Andrews University Seminary Studies 46 (1, 2008): 5–20. Reprinted by permission from Andrews University Seminary Studies.

6. Were Troops Really Stationed in Caesarea During Agrippa’s Rule?: from Acts 10: Were Troops Stationed in Caesarea During Agrippa’s Rule? Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 7 (2010): 164–76. Reprinted by permission from Sheffield Phoenix.

7. Dionysius or Stephanas: Did Paul Reach Athenians?: from Note on Athens: Do 1 Corinthians 16:15 and Acts 17:34 Conflict? Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 7 (2010): 137–39. Reprinted by permission from Sheffield Phoenix.

8. Interethnic Marriages in Acts 7:29 and 16:1–3: from Interethnic Marriages in the New Testament (Matt 1:3–6; Acts 7:29; 16:1–3; 1 Cor 7:14). Criswell Theological Review n.s. 6 (2, Spring 2009): 25–43. Reprinted by permission from Criswell Theological Review.

9. Irony and Figurative Language: Inverted Guilt in Acts 7:55–60 and Paul’s Vote in Acts 26:10: from Three Notes on Figurative Language: Inverted Guilt in Acts 7:55–60, Paul’s Figurative Vote in Acts 26:10, Figurative Eyes in Galatians 4:15. Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 5 (2008): 41–49. Reprinted by permission from Sheffield Phoenix.

10. Turning from Idols in Acts 14:15–17: from The Exhortation to Monotheism in Acts 14:15–17. Pages 47–70 in Kingdom Rhetoric: New Testament Explorations in Honor of Ben Witherington III. Edited by T. Michael W. Halcomb. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2013.

11. Between Asia and Europe: Postcolonial Mission in Acts 16:8–10: from Between Asia and Europe: Postcolonial Mission in Acts 16:8–10. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 11 (1–2, 2008): 3–14. Reprinted by permission of the Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies, APTS Press.

12. How were Asiarchs Paul’s friends (Acts 19:31)?: Paul’s ‘Friends’ the Asiarchs (Acts 19.31). Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 3 (2006): 134–41. Reprinted by permission from Sheffield Phoenix.

13. One New Temple: Acts 21 as the backdrop for Eph 2:11–22: from One New Temple in Christ (Eph 2:11–22; Acts 21:27–29; Mk 11:17; Jn 4:20–24). Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 12 (1, January 2009): 75–92. Reprinted by permission of the Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies, APTS Press.

14. Some Rhetorical Techniques in Acts 24: from Some Rhetorical Techniques in Acts 24:2–21. Pages 221–51 in Paul’s World. Ed. Stanley E. Porter. PAST 4. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2008. Reprinted by permission from Brill.

15. Insanity, Inspiration or Intellect: Paul’s Madness in Acts 26:24–25: from Paul’s Positive Madness in Acts 26:24–25. Pages 311–20 in Goldene Anfänge und Aufbrüche: Johann Jakob Wettstein und die Apostelgeschichte. Arbeiten zur Bibel und Ihrer Geschichte. Edited by Manfred Lang and Joseph Verheyden. Lepizig: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, 2016. Reprinted by permission from Manfred Lang on behalf of the publisher.

16. Fever and Dysentery in Acts 28:8 and Ancient Medicine: Fever and Dysentery in Acts 28:8 and Ancient Medicine. Bulletin for Biblical Research 19 (3, 2009): 393–402. Reprinted by permission from Penn State University Press.

17. Miracles and History in Acts and the Jesus Tradition: from Miracle Reports and the Argument from Analogy. Bulletin for Biblical Research 25 (4, 2015): 475–95. Reprinted by permission from Penn State University Press.

18. Power of Pentecost: Luke’s Missiology in Acts 1—2: from Power of Pentecost: Luke’s Missiology in Acts 1—2. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 12 (1, Jan. 2009): 47–73. Reprinted by permission of the Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies, APTS Press.

19. Tongues as Evidence of the Character of the Spirit’s Empowerment in Acts: Tongues as Evidence of the Character of the Spirit’s Empowerment in Acts. Pages 227–38 in A Light to the Nations: Explorations in Ecumenism, Missions, and Pentecostalism. Foreword by Byron D. Klaus. Eugene, Ore.: Pickwick, 2017.

20. Acts 16:16–18, 19:12–16, and Spirit Possession in Modern Anthropology: from Spirit Possession as a Cross-Cultural Experience. Bulletin for Biblical Research 20 (2, 2010): 215–36. Reprinted by permission from Penn State University Press.

21. A Spirit-Filled Teaching Ministry in Acts 19:9: A Spirit-Filled Teaching Ministry in Acts 19:9. 46–58 in Trajectories in the Book of Acts: Essays in Honor of John Wesley Wyckoff. Ed. Jordan May, Paul Alexander, and Robert G. Reid. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2010.

22. Anticipating Ancient African Christianity: from The Aftermath of the Ethiopian Eunuch. The A.M.E. Church Review 118 (385, January 2002): 112–24. Reprinted by permission from Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown, Historiographer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Finally, as a sort of appendix, I include sample reviews (i.e., my own reviews) of a few other works on Acts.

Abbreviations

Gentile Greco-Roman sources

Achilles Tatius

Leucippe and Clitophon

Aelian (Claudius Aelianus)

Var. hist.: Varia Historia

Aelius Aristides/Ael. Arist.

Defense: Defense of Oratory

Panath.: Panathenaic Oration

Aeschines

Ctes.: Ctesiphon

Fals. leg.: False Embassy

Tim.: Timarchus

Aeschylus

Eum.: Eumenides

Lib.: Libation-Bearers (Choephori)

Pers.: Persians

Seven: Seven against Thebes

Suppl.: Suppliant Women

Alciphron

Farmers

Fishermen

Parasites

Anacharsis

Ep.: [Epistles]

Aphthonius

Progymn.: Progymnasmata

Apollodorus

Bib.: Bibliotheca/Library

Epit.: Epitome

Apollonius of Rhodes/Ap. Rhod.

Argonautica

Appian

Hist. rom.: Historia romana/Roman History

Apuleius

Metam.: Metamorphoses

Aristophanes

Birds

Clouds

Aristotle

Eth. eud.: Eudemian Ethics

Eth. nic.: Nicomachean Ethics

Poet.: Poetics

Rhet.: Art of Rhetoric

Arius Didymus

Epit.: Epitome of Stoic Ethics

Arrian

Alex.: Anabasis of Alexander

Ind.: Indica

Athenaeus

Deipn.: Deipnosophists

Aulus Gellius

Attic Nights

Babrius

Fables

Caesar, Julius

[African War]

Civil War

Callimachus

Epig. Epigrams

Hymns

Catullus

Carmina

Chariton

Chaer.: Chaereas and Callirhoe

Cicero

Agr.: De lege agraria

Amic.: De amicitia

Att.: Letters to Atticus

Brut.: Brutus, or De claris oratoribus

Caecin.: Pro Caecina

Cael.: Pro Caelio

Cat.: In Catilinam

Deiot.: Pro rege Deiotaro

De or.: De oratore

Div.: De divinatione

Fam.: Epistulae ad familiares/Letters to Friends

Fin.: De finibus

Flacc.: Pro Flacco

Handb. Elec.: Handbook of Electioneering

Inv.: De inventione

Invect. Sall.: [Invective against Sallust]

Mil.: Pro Milone

Mur.: Pro Murena

Nat. d.: De natura deorum

Off.: De officiis

Orator: Orator

Or. Brut.: Orator ad M. Brutum

Parad.: Paradoxa Stoicorum

Phil.: Orationes philippicae

Pis.: In Pisonem

Prov. cons.: De provinciis consularibus

Quinct.: Pro Quinctio

Quint. fratr.: Epistulae ad Quintum fratrum

Rosc. Amer.: Pro Sexto Roscio Amerino

Rosc. com.: Pro Roscio comoedo

Scaur.: Pro Scauro

Sest.: Pro Sestio

Sull.: Pro Sulla

Tusc.: Tusculan Disputations

Vat.: In Vatinium

Verr.: In Verrem

Cornelius Nepos/Corn. Nep.

Generals

Pref.

7 (Alcibiades)

16 (Pelopidas)

Crates

Ep.: (Epistles)

Demetrius Phalereus

Style: On Style/De elocutione

Demosthenes

Cor.: De corona/On the Crown

Ep.: Epistulae/Letters

Fals. leg.: De falsa legatione/False Embassy

Lacr.: Against Lacritus

Mid.: In Midiam/Against Meidias

Olymp.: In Olympiodorum/Against Olympiodorus

Or.: Oration

Pant.: Contra Pantaenetum/Against Pantaenetus

Tim.: Contra Timothetum/Against Timotheus

Digest of Justinian (see also Justinian)

Dio Cassius

Roman History

Dio Chrysostom

Orations

Diodorus Siculus

Library of History

Diogenes

Ep.: [Epistle]

Diogenes Laertius

Lives of Eminent Philosophers

Dionysius of Halicarnassus

Ant. rom.: Antiquitates romanae/Roman Antiquities

Dem.: Demosthenes

Isaeus

Isoc.: Isocrates

Comp.: Literary Composition

Lys.: Lysias

Pomp.: Letter to Gnaeus Pompeius

Thuc.: Thucydides

Epictetus

Diatr.: Diatribai/Discourses

Eunapius

Lives of the Philosophers and Sophists

Euripides

Alope: Alope

Andromeda: Andromeda

Antiope: Antiope

Archel.: Archelaus

Bacch.: Bacchanals

Cret.: Cretans

Cycl.: Cyclops

Dan.: Danae

El.: Electra

Heracl.: Children of Heracles

Herc. fur.: Hercules furens/Madness of Heracles

Hipp.: Hippolytus

Med.: Medea

Or.: Orestes

Pir.: Pirithous

Fronto, Marcus Cornelius

Ant. Pium: Ad Antoninum Pium

M. Caes. : Ad Marcum Caesarem

Verum Imp.: Ad verum imperatorem

Pr. Hist.: Preamble to History

Gaius

Inst.: Institutes

Galen

Nat.: On the Natural Faculties

Greek Anth.: Greek Anthology

Heliodorus

Eth.: Ethiopian Story

Heraclitus

Ep.: [Epistles]

Hom. Prob.: Homeric Problems

Hermogenes

Inv.: Invention

Issues: Issues

Method: Method in Forceful Speaking

Progymn.: Progymnasmata

Herodian

History

Herodotus

Histories

Hesiod

Astron.: Astronomy

Hippocrates (Hippocratic Corpus)

Aff.: Affections

Airs: Airs, Waters, Places

Dis.: Diseases

Epid.: Epidemics

Glands: Glands

Nat. Man: Nature of Man

Pl. Man: Places in Man

Progn.: Prognostic

Prorrh.: Prorrhetic

Reg.: Regimen in Acute Diseases

Homer

Il.: Iliad

Od.: Odyssey

Horace

Ep.: Epistles

Odes: Odes

Iamblichus Chalcidensis

Ep.: Letter

Myst.: Mysteries

Vit. Pyth.: De vita pythagorica/On the Pythagorean Life/Life of Pythagoras

Iamblichus (novelist)

Bab.: Babylonian Story

Isaeus

Apollod./Estate of Apollodorus

Arist.: Estate of Aristarchus

Astyph.: Estate of Astyphilus

Ciron: Ciron

Cleon.: Cleonymus

Demes.: Against the Demesmen

Dicaeog.: Estate of Dicaeogenes

Eumath.: On Behalf of Eumathes

Euphil.: On Behalf of Euphiletus

Hagnias: Hagnias

Hagnoth.: Against Hagnotheus

Men.: Estate of Menecles

Nic.: Nicostratus

Phil.: Philoctemon

Pyr.: Pyrrhus

Isocrates

Antid.: Antidosis (Or. 15)