Chapter 2 of 66

Contents

Contents

CONTENTS

PART 6: TO ROME VIA JERUSALEM (20:1–28:31) (CONTINUED)

Paul’s Defense before Authorities (24:1–26:32)

1. Introduction

a. Paul’s Supporters?

b. Literary and Historical Considerations

c. Rhetorical Observations

2. Charges against Paul (24:1–9)

a. Bringing a Case against Paul (24:1–2a)

i. Correct Procedure

iii. Ananias and the Elders

b. Introduction to the Prosecution Speech (24:2–8)

c. Complimentary exordium (24:2b–3)

i. Praising the Governor

ii. Peace and Foresight (24:2)

iii. Relevant but Inaccurate Flattery

iv. Most Excellent, Universally Praised (24:3)

d. Plea for a Patient Hearing (24:4)

i. The Virtue of Brevity

ii. Speeches’ Claims to Conciseness

iii. Requests for More Time or Patience

e. The Charges (24:5–6a)

i. Ēthos and Broad-Based Guilt (24:5)

ii. Paul the “Pest”

iii. The New Charge of seditio

iv. Paul’s Cumulative History with Riots

v. Reversal of Charges

vi. Nazarene Sect

vii. Paul as a Ringleader

viii. Defiling the Temple (24:6a)

f. Lysias’s Interference (24:6b–8)

g. Assertions (24:8–9)

3. Paul’s Defense (24:10–21)

a. Introduction

i. Paul’s Strategy

ii. Speaking for Himself

iii. Suggested Forensic Structure

b. Paul’s exordium (24:10)

ii. Implied Confidence in Felix’s Understanding

c. Arrival for Worship Twelve Days Earlier (24:11)

i. The narratio

ii. The Twelve Days

iii. Argument Based on ēthos

d. The Prosecution Lacks Evidence (24:12–13)

i. No Debates in Jerusalem (24:12)

ii. The Demand for Proof (24:13)

e. Admitting Piety (24:14)

i. The Issue of ēthos in 24:14–17

ii. Confessing a Noncrime

iii. Common Jewish Faith

f. The Jewish Resurrection Hope (24:15)

i. The Resurrection and Paul’s Accusers

ii. Future Judgment

g. Paul’s Blameless Conscience (24:16)

h. Alms and Offerings for Israel (24:17–18)

i. Gifts and ēthos (24:17)

ii. Alms for the Jerusalem Church (24:17)

iii. Why Luke’s Silence Elsewhere?

iv. Apprehended While Worshiping (24:18)

i. Insinuating His Accusers’ Guilt (24:19)

i. Returning the Charges

ii. Insinuating Guilt

iv. Abandoning the Case

j. The Theological Charge (24:20–21)

4. Felix’s Procrastination (24:22–27)

a. Felix Acts from Knowledge (24:22)

i. Knowledge versus Politics

ii. Deferring the Case

b. Light Custody (24:23)

i. Lighter Confinement

ii. Plausibility

iii. Support by Friends

iv. Paul’s Activities

c. Educating Felix about the Faith (24:24)

i. Private Meetings

d. Fearing Ethical Admonition (24:25)

i. Reasons for Paul’s Opportunity

ii. Justice, Self-Control, and Judgment

iii. Putting Paul Off

e. Seeking a Bribe (24:26)

i. Views of Bribery and Corruption

ii. Governors’ Corruption

iii. Corrupt Governors of Judea

iv. Felix and Paul

f. From Felix to Festus (24:27)

i. Felix’s Recall

iii. Delaying Paul

5. Paul’s Appeal to Caesar (25:1–12)

a. Authorities in Jerusalem Denounce Paul (25:1–5)

i. The Ardent Administrator (25:1)

ii. Plans against Paul (25:2–3)

iii. Festus’s Arrangement (25:4–5)

b. Paul Defends Himself before Festus (25:6–9)

i. Festus’s Efficiency (25:6)

ii. Baseless Charges (25:7)

iii. Paul’s Refutation Summarized (25:8)

iv. Festus’s Favor for the Elite (25:9)

c. Paul Appeals to Caesar (25:10–12)

i. No Wrongdoing (25:10–11)

ii. Paul’s Appeal (25:11)

iii. Sent to Rome for Trial

iv. Types of Appeal

v. An Irregular Appeal

vi. Refusing Judean Jurisdiction

vii. Historical Conclusions

viii. Festus’s consilium (25:12)

6. Festus Discusses Paul’s Case with Agrippa (25:13–22)

a. Introduction

i. Luke’s Source?

ii. Festus’s Perspective

b. The Visit of Agrippa and Berenice (25:13)

i. Agrippa II in History

ii. Berenice in History

iii. Characters in Luke’s Narrative and Extrinsic Worlds

iv. Royal Congratulations to the New Governor

c. Festus’s Proposal (25:14–21)

i. Broaching Paul’s Case (25:14–15)

ii. Local Demands versus Roman Law (25:16–18)

iii. Merely Religious Disputes (25:19)

iv. Preferring Rome to Jerusalem (25:20–21)

d. Agrippa’s Interest (25:22)

7. Paul before Agrippa (25:23–26:32)

a. Introducing the Hearing (25:23–26:1a)

i. A Prominent Audience (25:23)

(1) Pomp and Prominence

(2) The Assembly’s Significance

ii. Festus’s Public Explanation (25:24–27)

(1) The Jewish Complaint (25:24)

(2) Festus’s Perspective (25:25)

(3) Needing Agrippa’s Counsel (25:26–27)

iii. Agrippa Addresses Paul (26:1a)

b. Proem and Paul’s Background (26:1b–11)

i. Introduction to Paul’s Speech

(1) Paul’s Climactic Defense Speech

(2) Rhetoric and Structure

ii. Beginning the Speech (26:1b–3)

iii. Paul’s Pious Background (26:4–5)

(1) Rhetorical Character

(2) Potential Witnesses

(3) Paul’s Pharisaism (26:5)

iv. On Trial for His Jewish Faith (26:6–7)

(1) The Hope concerning the Promise (26:6)

(2) The Tribes’ Continual Worship (26:7)

v. God Can Raise the Dead (26:8)

(1) Believing the Resurrection

(2) Countering the Usual Probability Argument

vi. Former Persecutor of Christians (26:9–11)

(2) Imprisoning Saints

(3) Paul’s “Vote”

(4) Discipline to Compel Renunciation of Christ

(5) Pursuit to Diaspora Cities

c. Paul’s Divine Commission (26:12–18)

i. A Light en route to Damascus (26:12–13)

(1) Agent of the High Priests (26:12)

(2) Travel at Midday (26:13)

ii. Jesus Confronts Saul (26:14–15)

(1) The Revelation

(2) Kicking against the Goads

iii. Appointed as a Witness (26:16–17)

(1) Paul’s Commission in 26:16–18

(2) Witness of What He Sees (26:16)

(3) Deliverance and the Gentile Mission (26:17)

iv. Darkness to Light (26:18)

(1) Opened Eyes

(2) Turning to God

(3) Darkness to Light

(4) Inheritance among Those Set Apart

d. Paul’s Gospel (26:19–23)

i. Obeying Jesus’s Commission (26:19–20)

(1) Obeying the Heavenly Vision (26:19)

(2) Preaching Repentance (26:20)

ii. Paul Threatened for Piety (26:21)

iii. Paul’s Biblical Message (26:22–23)

(1) Testifying, Helped by God (26:22)

(2) Christ’s Mission (26:23)

e. Paul’s Desire to Convert His Audience (26:24–29)

i. Paul’s “Madness” (26:24)

(1) Interruptions in Court Scenes

(2) Charges of Madness

(3) Logical or Rhetorical Madness?

(4) Madness, Ecstasy, and Inspiration

(5) Philosophic Madness

ii. Paul’s Sobriety (26:25)

(1) Philosophic Sobriety

(2) General Usage

(3) Jewish Uses

iii. Not in a Corner (26:26)

(1) Appeals to Common Knowledge

(2) “Not in a Corner” and Secret Teachings

iv. Seeking Agrippa’s Conversion (26:27–29)

(1) Appeal to the Prophets (26:27)

(2) Evading Paul’s Logical “Trap” (26:28)

(3) Wanting All to Share His Faith (26:29)

(4) Except for His Chains (26:29)

f. The Verdict (26:30–32)

i. Introduction

ii. Paul’s Innocence (26:30–31)

iii. Agrippa’s Final Word (26:32)

(1) Politically Irrevocable Appeal

(2) Usefulness of Agrippa’s Opinion

Voyage to Rome (27:1–28:15)

1. Introduction

a. Sea Travel Narratives

i. Various Genres

ii. Exploiting Literary Conventions

iii. Genuine Shipwrecks

iv. First-Person Narration

v. A Real Storm without Paul?

b. The Account’s Function

i. Luke’s Probable Purposes

ii. Theology and Applicability

2. The Voyage Begins (27:1–8)

a. Julius of the Augustan Cohort (27:1)

i. The Military Escort

ii. The Augustan Cohort

iii. Other Voyagers

b. Embarking with Aristarchus (27:2)

i. Aristarchus and Luke

ii. Embarking in an Adramyttian Ship

c. Hospitality in Sidon (27:3)

i. Julius’s Benevolence

ii. Sidon and Paul’s Friends

d. Past Cyprus to Myra (27:4–5)

i. Passing Crete with Contrary Winds (27:4)

ii. Myra in Lycia (27:5)

e. Transfer to an Alexandrian Ship (27:6)

i. Why the Transfer?

ii. Egypt’s Grain and Rome

iii. Rome’s Grain Ships

f. Near Cnidus, Salmone, and Lasea (27:7–8)

i. Weather and the Voyage

ii. Cnidus (27:7)

iii. Crete and Salmone (27:7)

iv. Fair Havens and Lasea (27:8)

3. Ignoring Paul’s Warning (27:9–13)

a. A Prisoner’s Advice?

i. Paul’s Input

ii. Paul’s Spiritual Prominence

b. Late in Sailing Season (27:9)

ii. Winter Voyages for Ships

iii. Suggested Dates

iv. The Day of Atonement

c. Paul’s Warning (27:10)

i. Later Correction

ii. Deities, Prophets, and Sailing

d. Heeding the Ship’s Officers (27:11)

i. Ignoring Warnings

ii. Impatience to Sail

iii. The Officers Designated

iv. The Centurion’s Decision?

v. Why the Gamble?

e. Trying to Reach Phoenix (27:12–13)

i. Hoping to Reach Phoenix (27:12)

ii. The Deceptive Favorable Wind (27:13)

4. Disaster at Sea (27:14–20)

a. Euraquilo (27:14)

i. A Dangerous Northeast Wind

ii. Winds and Theologies

b. Driven past Cauda (27:15–16)

i. Driven Along (27:15)

ii. Rescuing the Boat near Cauda (27:16)

c. Avoiding the Syrtis (27:17)

i. The Danger of the Syrtis

ii. Survival Maneuvers

d. Discarding Cargo and Equipment (27:18–19)

i. Throwing Cargo Overboard (27:18)

ii. Not All the Cargo (27:18)

iii. Discarding Equipment (27:19)

e. Surrendering Hope (27:20)

i. Neither Sun nor Stars

ii. No Hope for Deliverance

5. Paul Shares the Angel’s Message (27:21–26)

a. Introduction

i. Indirect Revelation Report

ii. Paul’s Voice in a Storm

iii. Paul’s Speech

iv. Paul’s Courage

b. Paul’s Message of Hope (27:21–26)

i. Paul’s Assurance (27:21–22)

ii. Angelic Appearance (27:23)

iii. God’s Promise (27:24)

iv. Paul’s Faith (27:25)

v. Aground on an Island (27:26)

6. Paul’s Leadership Approaching Land (27:27–38)

a. Spying Land in the Sea of Adria (27:27)

b. Approaching Land (27:28–29)

i. Soundings (27:28)

ii. Trying to Delay until Morning (27:29)

c. Retaining the Sailors’ Expertise (27:30–32)

i. The Escape Plan (27:30)

ii. Paul’s Warning (27:31)

iii. The Soldiers’ Faith (27:32)

d. Encouraging Others to Eat (27:33–38)

i. Introduction

ii. Encouraging Them to Eat (27:33–34)

(1) Their Failure to Eat (27:33)

(2) Eating Necessary (27:34)

iii. Paul and His Hearers Eat (27:35–36)

iv. Throwing Wheat Overboard (27:37–38)

(1) Many Passengers (27:37)

(2) A Final Meal (27:38)

7. Reaching Land Safely (27:39–44)

a. Grounding the Ship (27:39–41)

i. Spying a Beach (27:39)

ii. Trying to Reach Shore (27:40)

iii. Grounded Perilously (27:41)

b. All Survive (27:42–44)

i. Killing the Prisoners (27:42)

ii. Swimming Ashore (27:43)

iii. Floating Ashore (27:44)

iv. Luke’s Notes? (27:44)

v. Luke’s Point

8. Ministry in Malta (28:1–10)

a. Some Introductory Issues

b. Malta (28:1)

i. Mljet or Kefallinía?

c. Barbarian Benevolence (28:2)

ii. Benevolent Kindness

iii. “Barbarians”

iv. The Maltese People

v. Starting a Fire

d. Paul Survives a Snakebite (28:3–6)

i. The Setting (28:3)

ii. Harmful Snakebites and Cures

iii. Authority over Snakes

iv. The Viper in Malta (28:3–6)

v. Snakebite as Divine Vengeance? (28:4)

vi. Personified Justice (28:4)

vii. Viewing Paul as a God (28:6)

e. Healings and Hospitality (28:7–10)

i. Publius’s Hospitality (28:7)

ii. Healing Publius’s Father (28:8)

iv. Treatments for Fever

vi. Healing the Fever Here (28:8)

vii. Healings and Honors (28:9–10)

9. Final Voyage to Rome (28:11–15)

a. Departing on Another Pagan Vessel (28:11)

i. After Three Months

iii. Dioscuri and Protection at Sea

iv. Background of the Dioscuri

b. From Syracuse to Puteoli (28:12–13)

i. Syracuse (28:12)

ii. Rhegium (28:13)

iii. Puteoli (28:13)

c. Believers’ Hospitality (28:14–15)

i. Christians in Puteoli (28:14)

ii. Permitted a Week’s Stay (28:14)

iii. Roman Christians Welcome Paul (28:15)

iv. Honorary Delegations

v. The Journey (28:15)

Continuing Ministry in Rome (28:16–31)

1. Introduction

a. Luke’s Surprising Closing

b. Recapitulating Earlier Themes

c. Rejecting Israel?

2. Paul Meets Jewish Leaders (28:16–22)

a. Entering Mighty Rome (28:16)

i. Rome’s Population

ii. Entering Rome

iii. Paul’s Custody

iv. Paul’s Lenient Treatment

v. Where Was Paul?

vi. Apartments in Rome

b. Inviting the Jewish Leaders (28:17)

i. Inviting the Leaders

ii. Rome’s Jewish Community

iii. Rome’s Synagogue Leaders

iv. Jesus’s Followers in Rome

v. Explaining His Innocence

c. Paul’s Defense (28:18–20)

i. Romans Wanted to Release Him (28:18)

ii. Necessity, Not Counteraccusation (28:19)

iii. Chained for Israel’s Hope (28:20)

d. Their Interest (28:21–22)

i. No Complaints against Paul (28:21)

ii. Complaints against This Sect (28:22)

3. Recalcitrance of God’s People Prophesied (28:23–28)

a. Paul Explains Jesus (28:23)

b. A Divided Audience (28:24)

c. Paul’s Warning (28:25)

d. Blind and Deaf (28:26–27)

e. Salvation for the Gentiles (28:28)

4. Continuing, Unhindered Ministry (28:30–31)

a. Introduction

i. Open Endings

ii. Rhetorical Function

iii. A Two-Year Limit?

iv. Other Possibilities of Release

v. Eventual Execution?

vi. Eventual Release?

vii. Release, Then Execution

viii. Paul’s Later Movements?

b. Ministry in Custody (28:30–31)

i. Boldly Preaching the Kingdom

iii. Luke’s Expectations for the Future

Index of Select Subjects

Index of Authors and Select Names

Index of Scripture

Index of Other Ancient Sources

Old Testament Apocrypha

Old Testament Pseudepigrapha

Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Texts

Philo of Alexandria

Mishnah, Talmud, and Related Literature

Other Rabbinic Works

Apostolic Fathers

Patristic and Other Early Christian Sources

Nag Hammadi Texts

New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

Other Greek and Latin Works and Authors

Other Ancient and Medieval Sources

Papyri, Inscriptions, and Fragment Collections

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