The Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles The Acts of the Apostles
164 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES In the face of this negative result our inquiry into the first half of the book must approach the question from other starting-points—from the scenes and persons with which the narrative is concerned. All historical traditions are attached to persons or places they are either local or personal or both together. St. Luke was necessarily dependent upon tradition. The scene, upon which the primitive history of the Church was enacted, was far removed from him, the Hellene, not only in time and space, but also in temperament and spirit. And yet it is on the other hand most important to recollect that he had been in Palestine—even though probably only on a flying visit—; that he had learned to know the Christian communities of Jerusalem, Caesarea, and some churches on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean ; that in company with St. Paul he had worked with Silas of Jerusalem, and in Rome with St. Mark, another native of Jerusalem ; that he even came into personal contact with St. James, the Lord's brother ; and that he had stayed in the house of St. Philip the Evangelist (vide supra, pp. 149/!).^ There is surely com- 1 His acquaintance with, or fellowship in labour with, St. Paul's Hellenic fellow-workers, does not concern us here. The circum- stance that Titus is not mentioned in the Acts would only present a difficulty if Titus were so constantly with St. Paul, and so intimately bound up with his ministry as was Timothy and, for a period of time, Silas. But in all probability he was as independent as St. Luke himself, and only temporarily placed himself at the disposal of the Apostle. He is, moreover, probably included in the words " Kal nvas dWovs " of Acts xv. 2, and perhaps also in xv. 35 {fiera Kal €T^p(j3v toWuv). By mentioning the aXXoi St. Luke salves his own conscience as an accurate historian, and clearly enough informs ns that he does not wish to suppress anything, though he ;
THE SOURCES AND THEIR VALUE 165 munication enough here to explain the character of the material for chaps, i.—xvi. 5 of the Acts and the means by which it was acquired ; and it is obvious that we must start our critical investigation with the discussion of these means of communication. Whether these will suffice, i.e. whether we may not be com- pelled to search for other sources of information, is a wider question. Considering first the scenes of action we find that they are as follows : — Chaps, i.—viii. 1. Scene—Jerusalem. Chap. viii. 1, 4. Scene 'ZiajuLaplag. — at ^(JopaL rrj^ 'lou^am? koi Chap. viii. 5—25. Scene—Samaria and Jerusalem. Chap. viii. 26-40. Scene—The coast of PhiUstia (Azotus and Caesarea; starting from Jeru- salem : viii. 26). Chap. ix. 1—30. Scene—Damascus and Jerusalem. Chaps, ix. 32-xi. 18. Scene—^The coast of Philistia (Lydda, Joppa, Caesarea) and Jerusalem. Chap. xi. 19—30; xii. 25. Scene—Antioch and Jerusalem. Chap. xii. 1—24. Scene—Jerusalem (and Caesarea). Chaps, xiii. 1—xiv. 28. Scene—Antioch, and the places in south-eastern and central Asia Minor visited by the mission which started from Antioch. thinks that he is justified in confining himself to the express mention of St. Paul and St. Barnabas as the chief characters. Besides, it is clear from Gal. ii. 1 (/Lierot Bapv. a-v/xirapaXa^uv Kal TLtov) and Gal. ii. 9 (where Titus is wanting) that the others were really only secondary characters. St. Luke's procedure is therefore fuUy justified.
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THE SOURCES AND THEIR VALUE 165<br />
munication enough here to explain <strong>the</strong> character <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> material for chaps, i.—xvi. 5 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Acts</strong> and <strong>the</strong><br />
means by which it was acquired ; and it is obvious<br />
that we must start our critical investigation with <strong>the</strong><br />
discussion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se means <strong>of</strong> communication. Whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />
<strong>the</strong>se will suffice, i.e. whe<strong>the</strong>r we may not be com-<br />
pelled to search for o<strong>the</strong>r sources <strong>of</strong> information, is a<br />
wider question.<br />
Considering first <strong>the</strong> scenes <strong>of</strong> action we find that<br />
<strong>the</strong>y are as follows :<br />
—<br />
Chaps, i.—viii. 1. Scene—Jerusalem.<br />
Chap. viii. 1, 4. Scene<br />
'ZiajuLaplag.<br />
—<br />
at ^(JopaL rrj^ 'lou^am? koi<br />
Chap. viii. 5—25. Scene—Samaria and Jerusalem.<br />
Chap. viii. 26-40. Scene—<strong>The</strong> coast <strong>of</strong> PhiUstia<br />
(Azotus and Caesarea; starting from Jeru-<br />
salem : viii. 26).<br />
Chap. ix. 1—30. Scene—Damascus and Jerusalem.<br />
Chaps, ix. 32-xi. 18. Scene—^<strong>The</strong> coast <strong>of</strong> Philistia<br />
(Lydda, Joppa, Caesarea) and Jerusalem.<br />
Chap. xi. 19—30; xii. 25. Scene—Antioch and<br />
Jerusalem.<br />
Chap. xii. 1—24. Scene—Jerusalem (and Caesarea).<br />
Chaps, xiii. 1—xiv. 28. Scene—Antioch, and <strong>the</strong><br />
places in south-eastern and central Asia Minor<br />
visited by <strong>the</strong> mission which started from<br />
Antioch.<br />
thinks that he is justified in confining himself to <strong>the</strong> express mention<br />
<strong>of</strong> St. Paul and St. Barnabas as <strong>the</strong> chief characters. Besides, it is<br />
clear from Gal. ii. 1 (/Lierot Bapv. a-v/xirapaXa^uv Kal TLtov) and<br />
Gal. ii. 9 (where Titus is wanting) that <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs were really only<br />
secondary characters. St. Luke's procedure is <strong>the</strong>refore fuUy<br />
justified.
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