Review in: Interpretation
2005 59: 304
Review door: Paul W.
WalaskayGevonden op: http://int.sagepub.com/content/59/3/304.full.pdf+html
The Acts of the Apostles
by Beverly Roberts
Gaventa Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Abingdon, Nashville, 2003.
392 pp. $28.00. ISBN 0-687-05821-X.
ONE SEARCHES FOR AN APPROPRIATE metaphor to describe the
scholarly activity focused on Luke-Acts over the past forty years. Two
important summary studies describe the intense interest in Luke-Acts as a
"storm center" (W. C. van Unnik, "Luke-Acts: A Storm Center in
Contemporary Scholarship," Studies in Luke-Acts [Nashville:
Abingdon, 1966] 15-32) and "shifting sands" (Charles H. Talbert,
"Shifting Sands: The Recent Study of the Gospel of Luke," Int 30
(1976) 381-95). One could also imagine the sheer volume of this scholarly
interest as an explosion, though an explosion sustained and controlled through
such venues as the ongoing study groups sponsored by the Society of Biblical
Literature. Beverly Roberts Gaventa's recent contribution to studies in Luke's
second volume brings together much of the best contemporary (and classic)
research on Luke-Acts. The commentary reflects both the quantity and quality of
contemporary research on the book of Acts (the bibliography is impressive; one
could add Daniel Marguerat's recent book The First Christian Historian: Writing
the "Acts of theApostles” [Cambridge
University Press, 2002], probably published after her commentary went to
press).
The series for which this commentary is written—the Abingdon
New Testament Commentaries—is intended for theological students, and also
"for students in upper-level college or university settings, as well as
for pastors and other church leaders" (p. 15). Commentaries in this series
are to "take full account of the most important current scholarship and
secondary literature [They are] to analyze the literary, socio-historical,
theological, and ethical dimensions of the biblical texts themselves" (p.
15). It is clear that Gaventa meets these and all the other criteria
established by the editors of this series. Her commentary is clearly written,
lucid, concise, and, where needed, appropriately expansive in exploring
important issues of language, text, and context.
The preface offers typical thanks to all who contributed in
making this work possible. However, the second sentence of the commentary is
curious. Gaventa writes that the Acts of the Apostles has been introduced to
many readers "as a history of the earliest Christian communities, beginning
in Rome and concluding in Jerusalem...." (p. 17; my emphasis).
The commentary proper begins with a thirty-five page
introduction that focuses on narrative aspects of Acts, including a review of
Luke's cast of characters (God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church and its
people—Peter, James, Paul, and others should be remembered as witnesses and
apostles rather than leaders and heroes), and the various "locations"
of Acts (historical, canonical, and ecclesial). The final two sections of the
introduction include a literary map for the journey through Acts, a brief
review of some Lukan literary features (repetition, speeches, stories, the
"we" passages, and genre possibilities), and an orientation to the
commentary. In her overview of Acts, Gaventa suggests a bimodal structure.
Following the Prologue (1:1-2:47), Part I focuses primarily on the Jerusalem
Christian community, with the climax occurring at 10:1-11:18 (the conversions
of Cornelius and Peter; 3:1-15:35). In Part II (15:36-28:31), the focus shifts
to Paul and his mission, leading to a second high point at chapter 26 (Paul's
speech to the Roman court at Caesarea). The narratives that follow each of
these two parts are denouement, as Luke leads the reader to the close of each
section.
Unlike many commentaries that primarily take a historical
approach to the book of Acts, Gaventa's emphasis lies elsewhere. As she says,
her approach "is not ahistorical, and certainly not anti-historical"
(p. 59). While the events, actions, behaviors, and speeches that occur on the
human plane are important to Luke, Gaventa reminds us that the Evangelist is
more concerned to convey the story of God's actions through the characters in
Acts. The divine necessity (dei) and plan (boulé) undergird the
entire narrative from the original apostles of Jesus gathered together in a
rented upper room in Jerusalem to Paul who talks with any who care to hear the
gospel in his rented room in Rome. Gaventa provides constant and careful
reflection on Luke's theological agenda, making a significant contribution to
the growing collection of contemporary commentaries on Acts.
A pattern pervades this commentary. The book of Acts is
divided into eight major sections, and each is introduced with a brief
overview. Subunits are likewise introduced, followed by a detailed analysis of
the text, and completed by a reflection on Luke's theological contribution to
the readers of his story—a neat three-part structure. Gaventa's introductions
are concise and clear and the analyses of the text are substantial and
enlightening. Here she shows the stuff of a seasoned Bible scholar and teacher.
Seminary students in particular will benefit from her occasional exegesis of
the Greek text and her attention to textual variants. Her lucid explanations of
the persistent problems with the texts and translations of Acts will appeal to
specialists and general readers alike. Gaventa often provides her own
translations of the text that illuminate the nuances of Luke's language. She
offers a particularly nice translation of Acts 20:20-21 that brings out the
significant pairs in Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders (p. 286).
Paul has been
proclaiming... to you and teaching you
publicly and at home
to Jews and to Greeks
repentance toward
God and faith toward our Lord Jesus
This is an elegant summary of Paul's witness.
Finally, Gaventa's theological
reflections flow naturally from her analysis of the text. However, while one
recognizes and appreciates the need for a commentary that emphasizes the
theological perspective of Luke, it would be nice, on occasion, to see a bit
more attention to the human plane—Luke's world. One wonders, for example, what
someone in the late first century might have thought about Luke's use of the
phrase "Lord and Messiah" as applied to Jesus (2:36; p. 79). While it
is true that Luke gives little indication what content the titles of Jesus
carries (see the long list in Acts 3:12-26, beginning and ending with
"servant" [pais])y he does appear to use them purposefully.
While we might not know what Luke intended with these titles, we can consider
what impact they might have had on those who heard them in the context of the
early Roman Empire. Fortunately Gaventa returns to the potential political
impact of Luke's christological titles later in the commentary (pp. 171,174).
While Gaventa assists the reader as she travels with Luke's
narrative among the urban centers of the Empire, a few more details about the
cities visited by the apostles would be helpful in thinking about the social
contexts of their ministry. Additional attention to political and social
contexts might help "flesh out" Luke's theology—a theology that seems
deeply rooted in this world, the world of the Roman Empire. Jesus as Lord and
Messiah had (and has) serious implications and consequences for those who live
under his lordship and messiahship.
Nevertheless,
there are plenty of commentaries available to deal with the horizontal plane of
the Acts of the Apostles. This is one that takes seriously the vertical
dimension of Luke's narrative. We should be thankful that Gaventa has brought
it to light.
Paul W. Walaskay
UNION-PSCE RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
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