The Acts of the Apostles

THE SOURCES AND THEIR VALUE 179
is the same, and the sections are bound together by
similar traits. Moreover, the passage xii. 1-24 must
be assigned to the same collection ;
for it is connected
both with Jerusalem and Caesarea and gives the
necessary completion to the narrative of viii. 5-40
and ix. 29-xi. 18. As for chaps, i.—v., this passage of
fundamental importance for the Acts is certainly not
homogeneous, rather we can trace in it at least two
strains of tradition. This fact has been long recog-
nised with more or less clearness, though its details
have been worked out in various ways. By means of
a criticism totally wanting in method, and with an
exaggeration which is simply colossal, the conclusion
has actually been drawn that throughout the whole
of the ActSj or at least throughout the greater half of
that
twin
book, there run two parallel sources, veritable
writings ! We now proceed to state all that
can be safely concluded on the basis of methodical
investigation.
Every one who carefully reads chaps, ii.-v. and
attempts to realise the connection and succession of
events recorded in those chapters must necessarily
recognise that the whole second chapter and chap. v.
17-42 are elements which disturb and obstruct the
flow of the narrative—are, in fact, doublets which
are in more than one respect liable to exception. If
we at first simply omit them we arrive at the follow-
ing scheme of narrative :
—
1. St. Peter and St. John go to the Temple ; the
cure of the impotent man (iii. 1—10), clearly recorded
as the first astounding miracle, one which determines
the whole following course of events.