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Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

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<strong>Word</strong> <strong>Pictures</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> NT [Acts: Chapter 16]<br />

name with which compare <strong>the</strong> use of Lycaonia <strong>in</strong> 14:6). Strictly<br />

speak<strong>in</strong>g Derbe and Lystra, though <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Prov<strong>in</strong>ce of Galatia,<br />

were not Phrygian, and so Luke would here be not resumptive of<br />

<strong>the</strong> record <strong>in</strong> verses 1-5; but a reference to <strong>the</strong> country around<br />

Iconium and Antioch <strong>in</strong> Pisidia <strong>in</strong> North Galatia is not <strong>in</strong>cluded.<br />

This verse is hotly disputed at every po<strong>in</strong>t by <strong>the</strong> advocates of<br />

<strong>the</strong> North Galatian <strong>the</strong>ory as represented by Chase and <strong>the</strong> South<br />

Galatian <strong>the</strong>ory by Ramsay. Whatever is true <strong>in</strong> regard to <strong>the</strong><br />

language of Luke here and <strong>in</strong> 18:23, it is still possible for<br />

Paul <strong>in</strong> Ga 1:2 to use <strong>the</strong> term Galatia of <strong>the</strong> whole prov<strong>in</strong>ce of<br />

that name which could, <strong>in</strong> fact, apply to ei<strong>the</strong>r South or North<br />

Galatia or to both. He could, of course, use it also <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

ethnographic sense of <strong>the</strong> real Gauls or Celts who dwelt <strong>in</strong> North<br />

Galatia. Certa<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>the</strong> first tour of Paul and Barnabas was <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Prov<strong>in</strong>ce of Galatia though touch<strong>in</strong>g only <strong>the</strong> Regions of Pisidia,<br />

Phrygia, and Lycaonia, which prov<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>in</strong>cluded besides <strong>the</strong> Gauls<br />

to <strong>the</strong> north. In this second tour Lycaonia has been already<br />

touched (Derbe and Lystra) and now Phrygia. The question arises<br />

why Luke here and <strong>in</strong> 18:23 adds <strong>the</strong> term "of Galatia"<br />

(\Galatik•n\) though not <strong>in</strong> 13:14 (Pisidian Antioch) nor <strong>in</strong><br />

14:6 (cities of Lycaonia). Does Luke mean to use "of Galatia"<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> same ethnographic sense as "of Phrygia" or does he here<br />

add <strong>the</strong> prov<strong>in</strong>ce (Galatia) to <strong>the</strong> name of <strong>the</strong> Region (Phrygia)?<br />

In itself ei<strong>the</strong>r view is possible and it really matters very<br />

little except that <strong>the</strong> question is raised whe<strong>the</strong>r Paul went <strong>in</strong>to<br />

<strong>the</strong> North Galatian Region on this occasion or later (18:23). He<br />

could have done so and <strong>the</strong> Epistle be addressed to <strong>the</strong> churches<br />

of South Galatia, North Galatia, or <strong>the</strong> prov<strong>in</strong>ce as a whole. But<br />

<strong>the</strong> Greek participle \k•lu<strong>the</strong>ntes\ ("hav<strong>in</strong>g been forbidden")<br />

plays a part <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> argument that cannot be overlooked whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />

Luke means to say that Paul went north or not. This aorist<br />

passive participle of \k•lu•\, to h<strong>in</strong>der, can only express<br />

simultaneous or antecedent action, not subsequent action as<br />

Ramsay argues. No example of <strong>the</strong> so-called subsequent use of <strong>the</strong><br />

aorist participle has ever been found <strong>in</strong> Greek as all Greek<br />

grammarians agree (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 860-63, 1112-14).<br />

The only natural mean<strong>in</strong>g of \k•lu<strong>the</strong>ntes\ is that Paul with Silas<br />

and Timothy "passed through <strong>the</strong> region of Phrygia and Galatia"<br />

because <strong>the</strong>y were h<strong>in</strong>dered by <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit from speak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />

word <strong>in</strong> Asia (<strong>the</strong> Prov<strong>in</strong>ce of Asia of which Ephesus was <strong>the</strong> chief<br />

city and west of Derbe and Lystra). This construction implies<br />

that <strong>the</strong> country called "<strong>the</strong> region of Phrygia and Galatia" is<br />

not <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> direct l<strong>in</strong>e west toward Ephesus. What follows <strong>in</strong> verse<br />

http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC16.RWP.html (3 of 19) [28/08/2004 09:07:01 a.m.]

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