The Message of Acts in Codex Bezae (vol 4): A Comparison with the Alexandrian Tradition, volume 4 Acts 18.24-28.31: Rome(The Library of New Testament Studies)

This is the final volume in the justifiably lauded four-volume commentary on the Book of Acts, presenting a fresh look at the text of Codex Bezae and comparing its message with that of the more familiar Alexandrian text - of which the Codex Vaticanus is taken as a representative. Where Codex Bezae is lacunary (after 22.29), other manuscripts that often support Bezan readings elsewhere are employed. Although based on the Greek text, the commentary aims to be accessible to those who are not familiar with Greek. It is intended to publish the entire Greek text of Codex Bezae following the publication of this fourth volume. The fourth volume addresses Acts 18.24-28.31, the chapters that cover the trial of Paul and the last stage of the mission to the Gentiles, culminating in Paul's unhindered proclamation of the gospel in Rome. For each section, there is a side by side translation of the Vaticanus and Bezan manuscripts (or related alternatives after 22.29), followed by a full critical apparatus which deals with more technical matters, and finally, a commentary which explores in detail the differences in the message of the two texts. Of particular interest in this part of Acts is the evaluation made by the author of Paul's defence at his successive trials which, it is argued, is considerably less favourable than is commonly assumed.

Table of Contents:
General Introduction  1.  Acts 18.24- I9.41: The third phase of the mission to the Gentiles (Ephesus)  2.  Acts 20.1-21.14: The journey to Hierosoluma  3. Acts 21.15-26.32: Paul on trial  4.  Acts 27.1-28.31: The journey to Rome

About the Author :
Jenny Read-Heimerdinger is post-graduate supervisor at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UK Josep Rius-Camps is a Priest of the Diocese of Barcelona and is Emeritus Professor and a Research Fellow at the Facultat de Teologia de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain.

Review :
One may nonetheless learn much from the authors' close (and often intertextual) reading of Acts and appreciate the undeniable erudition, skill, insight, and patience with which the authors present their stimulating and provocative case. This is a major work of scholarship. This volume continues and concludes the comparison of Codex Bezae with the Alexandrian textual tradition by looking at Acts 18:24-28:31. After a twelve-page general introduction, it divides the material into four major sections: the third phase of the mission to the Gentiles--Ephesus (acts 19:24-19:40); the journey to Jerusalem (20:1-21:14); Paul on trial (21:15-27:1); and Rome--the final goal (27:2-28:31). The fourth and final installment of the commentary no the Bezan text of Ats is a welcomed finale. The authors, Rius-Camps and Read-Heimerdinger, have produced a solid work due to their attention to detail. In this volume, Acts 18:24-28:31, Codex Bezae is lacuna after 29:29a and the commentary picks up with other variants (not of any particular tradition, e.g Western nor Alandrian) in Acts.