24
Caesarea
Felix
1 Μετὰ δὲ πέντε ἡμέρας κατέβη ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς Ἀνανίας μετὰ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων* καὶ ῥήτορος Τερτύλλου τινός, οἵτινες ἐνεφάνισαν† τῷ ἡγεμόνι‡ κατὰ τοῦ Παύλου. 2 Κληθέντος δὲ αὐτοῦ, ἤρξατο κατηγορεῖν ὁ Τέρτυλλος λέγων· «Πολλῆς εἰρήνης τυγχάνοντες διὰ σοῦ, καὶ κατορθωμάτων§ γινομένων τῷ ἔθνει τούτῳ διὰ τῆς σῆς προνοίας, 3 πάντῃ* τε καὶ πανταχοῦ ἀποδεχόμεθα, κράτιστε Φῆλιξ,† μετὰ πάσης εὐχαριστίας.‡ 4 Ἵνα δὲ μὴ ἐπὶ πλέον§ σε ἐγκόπτω, παρακαλῶ ἀκοῦσαί σε ἡμῶν συντόμως τῇ σῇ ἐπιεικείᾳ. 5 Εὑρόντες γὰρ τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον λοιμὸν καὶ κινοῦντα στάσιν* πᾶσιν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις τοῖς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην, πρωτοστάτην τε τῆς τῶν Ναζωραίων αἱρέσεως, 6 ὃς καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν ἐπείρασεν βεβηλῶσαι· ὃν καὶ ἐκρατήσαμεν·†
8 παρ᾿ οὗ δυνήσῃ, αὐτὸς ἀνακρίνας, περὶ πάντων τούτων ἐπιγνῶναι ὧν ἡμεῖς κατηγοροῦμεν αὐτοῦ.» 9 Συνεπέθεντο‡ δὲ καὶ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, φάσκοντες ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχειν.
10 Ἀπεκρίθη δὲ§ ὁ Παῦλος, νεύσαντος αὐτῷ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος, λέγειν· «Ἐκ πολλῶν ἐτῶν ὄντα σε κριτὴν δίκαιον* τῷ ἔθνει τούτῳ ἐπιστάμενος, εὐθυμότερον† τὰ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀπολογοῦμαι, 11 δυναμένου σου γνῶναι‡ ὅτι οὐ πλείους εἰσίν μοι ἡμέραι§ δεκαδύο,* ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἀνέβην προσκυνήσων ἐν† Ἱερουσαλήμ. 12 Καὶ οὔτε ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ εὗρόν με πρός τινα διαλεγόμενον ἢ ἐπισύστασιν‡ ποιοῦντα ὄχλου, οὔτε ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς, οὔτε κατὰ τὴν πόλιν. 13 Οὔτε§ παραστῆσαι* δύνανται† περὶ ὧν νῦν‡ κατηγοροῦσίν μου. 14 Ὁμολογῶ δὲ τοῦτό σοι, ὅτι κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν ἣν λέγουσιν αἵρεσιν, οὕτως λατρεύω τῷ πατρῴῳ Θεῷ, πιστεύων πᾶσιν τοῖς κατὰ τὸν Νόμον καὶ τοῖς§ Προφήταις γεγραμμένοις, 15 ἐλπίδα ἔχων εἰς τὸν Θεόν, ἣν καὶ αὐτοὶ οὗτοι προσδέχονται, ἀνάστασιν μέλλειν ἔσεσθαι νεκρῶν,* δικαίων τε καὶ ἀδίκων. 16 Ἐν τούτῳ δὲ† αὐτὸς ἀσκῶ, ἀπρόσκοπον συνείδησιν ἔχων‡ πρός τε§ τὸν Θεὸν καὶ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους διὰ παντός.* 17 Δι᾿ ἐτῶν δὲ πλειόνων παρεγενόμην ἐλεημοσύνας ποιήσων εἰς τὸ ἔθνος μου† καὶ προσφοράς, 18 ἐν οἷς‡ εὗρόν με ἡγνισμένον ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ, οὐ μετὰ ὄχλου οὐδὲ μετὰ θορύβου, τινὲς§ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀσίας Ἰουδαῖοι· 19 οὓς ἔδει* ἐπὶ σοῦ παρεῖναι καὶ κατηγορεῖν εἴ τι ἔχοιεν πρός με.† 20 Ἢ αὐτοὶ οὗτοι εἰπάτωσαν‡ τί εὗρον ἐν ἐμοὶ§ ἀδίκημα, στάντος μου ἐπὶ τοῦ συνεδρίου, 21 ἢ περὶ μιᾶς ταύτης φωνῆς ἧς ἔκραξα,* ἑστὼς ἐν αὐτοῖς,† ὅτι ‹Περὶ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν ἐγὼ κρίνομαι σήμερον ὑφ᾿‡ ὑμῶν.› »
22 Ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα ὁ Φῆλιξ ἀνεβάλετο αὐτούς,§ ἀκριβέστερον εἰδὼς τὰ περὶ τῆς Ὁδοῦ, εἰπών,* «Ὅταν Λυσίας ὁ χιλίαρχος καταβῇ διαγνώσομαι τὰ καθ᾿ ὑμᾶς»· 23 διαταξάμενός τε† τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῃ τηρεῖσθαι τὸν Παῦλον,‡ ἔχειν τε ἄνεσιν, καὶ μηδένα κωλύειν τῶν ἰδίων αὐτοῦ ὑπηρετεῖν ἢ προσέρχεσθαι§ αὐτῷ.
24 Μετὰ δὲ ἡμέρας τινάς, παραγενόμενος ὁ Φῆλιξ* σὺν Δρουσίλλῃ τῇ γυναικί,† οὔσῃ Ἰουδαίᾳ, μετεπέμψατο τὸν Παῦλον καὶ ἤκουσεν αὐτοῦ περὶ τῆς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν‡ πίστεως. 25 Διαλεγομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ ἐγκρατείας καὶ τοῦ κρίματος τοῦ μέλλοντος ἔσεσθαι,§ ἔμφοβος γενόμενος ὁ Φῆλιξ ἀπεκρίθη, «Τὸ νῦν ἔχον* πορεύου· καιρὸν δὲ μεταλαβὼν† μετακαλέσομαί σε.» 26 Ἅμα‡ καὶ ἐλπίζων ὅτι χρήματα δοθήσεται αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου, ὅπως λύσῃ αὐτόν·§ διὸ καὶ πυκνότερον* μεταπεμπόμενος ὡμίλει† αὐτῷ.
27 Διετίας δὲ πληρωθείσης, ἔλαβεν διάδοχον ὁ Φῆλιξ Πόρκιον Φῆστον· θέλων δὲ‡ χάριτας§ καταθέσθαι τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις, ὁ Φῆλιξ κατέλιπεν* τὸν Παῦλον δεδεμένον.
* 24:1 των πρεσβυτερων f35 (83.4%) HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 2 τινων ℵA,B (14.9%) NU ¦ 2 (1.7%) † 24:1 ενεφανισαν rell ¦ ενεφανησαν [20%] ¦ επεφανησαν [5%] ‡ 24:1 ηγεμονι rell ¦ ηγεμωνι [10%] ¦ ηγεμονη [3%] § 24:2 κατορθωματων f35 [90%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ διορθωματων ℵA,B [10%] NU * 24:3 παντη rell ¦ παντι [35%] ¦ one other variant † 24:3 φηλιξ f35 ℵA,B [40%] HF,RP,OC,TR,NU ¦ φιληξ [35%] CP ¦ φιλιξ [25%] ‡ 24:3 ευχαριστιας rell ¦ ευχαριστειας A [14%] § 24:4 πλεον f35 [20%] ¦ πλειον ℵA,B [79%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU ¦ πλιον A [1%] * 24:5 στασιν f35 [96%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ στασεις (ℵ)A,B [4%] NU † 24:6 1) (without the long addition) f35 ℵA,B (58.9%) HF,RP,NU 2) - 36): 7 και κατα τον ημετερον νομον ηθελησαμεν κριναι παρελθων δε λυσιας ο χιλιαρχος μετα πολλης βιας εκ των χειρων ημων απηγαγεν κελευσας τους κατηγορους αυτου ερχεσθαι επι σε. The five principle variations hinge on the three underlined words; they are: 2) κριναι … επι σε (9.7%) [6 variants] 8) κριναι … επι σου (10.5%) [14 variants] 22) κριναι … προς σε (5.3%) [8 variants] 30) κρινειν … επι σου (4.4%) [4 variants] 34) κρινειν … επι σε (1.7%) OC,TR [3 variants] (OC is in small print) 37) replaces απηγαγεν with five words, plus two other changes: κριναι … επι σου (3.2%) [2 variants] 39) completely rewrites the material: κριναι … προς σε (3.4%) CP [6 variants](eight further variants) (2.9%) [8 variants].Variant 2) presumably has the best claim to be the standard form of the addition: κριναι clearly bests κρινειν, επι clearly bests προς, σε barely bests σου. [Although variant 8) appears to be slightly stronger than 2) numerically, the 14 internal variants, compared to 6, effectively diminish its credibility. The main variant in 2) is far stronger than that of 8).] It is also attested by syr and latpt. However, although some form of the addition commands 41.1% of the MSS, there are no less than 51 variants! What about the context? The addition makes good sense, and it fits nicely. But, it is not really necessary; that information Felix already knew. The text reads quite well without the addition also. I conclude that the short form was judged to be abrupt or incomplete, giving rise to the addition; presumably the Autograph did not contain it. Since Tertullus was an orator he may well have actually said what is in the addition, plus a good deal more besides, but did Luke write it? (The incidents recorded in Acts were well known by many contemporaries, and there were many written accounts in circulation [Luke 1:1], so it was entirely predictable that a variety of historically correct material would be added, here and there, to Luke’s account.) The external evidence, though divided, is adequate to resolve this case: 58.9% against a severely fragmented 41.1%. The ancient versions, being divided, do not help us much this time. Although 59% is not a strong majority, by any means, still, the severe fragmentation of the 41% sort of leaves variant 1) without a worthy opponent. Variant 1) wins in “Antiquity”, “Number”, “Variety” and “Continuity”, so I have no doubt that it is original. [The reading of the TR, variant 34), really has little to commend it.] ‡ 24:9 συνεπεθεντο rell ¦ συνεθεντο [5%] TR § 24:10 δε f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR ¦ τε ℵA,B [5%] CP,NU * 24:10 δικαιον f35 [25%] ¦ — ℵA,B [75%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU † 24:10 ευθυμοτερον f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ευθυμως ℵA,B [7%] NU ‡ 24:11 γνωναι f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ επιγνωναι ℵA,B [7%] NU § 24:11 ημεραι f35 ℵA,B [95%] HF,RP,OC,CP,NU ¦ 1 η [5%] TR ¦ one other variant * 24:11 δεκαδυο f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ δωδεκα ℵA,B [7%] NU † 24:11 εν f35 [75%] HF,RP,TR,CP ¦ εις ℵA,B [25%] OC,NU ‡ 24:12 επισυστασιν f35 [89%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ επιστασιν ℵA,B [10%] NU ¦ two other variants [1%] § 24:13 ουτε f35 A [98%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ουδε ℵB [2%] NU * 24:13 παραστησαι f35 ℵA,B [40%] OC,NU ¦ 1 με HF,RP,TR,CP ¦ 1 με νυν [60%] † 24:13 δυνανται f35 [88%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 1 σοι (σου A) ℵ(A)B [7%] NU ¦ 1 μοι [5%] ‡ 24:13 νυν f35 [88%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ νυνι ℵA(B) [7%] NU ¦ — [5%] § 24:14 τοις f35 A (79.1%) HF,RP,TR,CP ¦ 1 εν 1 ℵB (20.4%) OC,NU ¦ τους [5%] (OC is in small print) * 24:15 νεκρων f35 (93.4%) HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C (6.6%) NU † 24:16 δε f35 [76%] HF,RP,TR,CP ¦ και ℵA,B,C [10%] NU ¦ 1 και [12%] OC ¦ τε και [2%] ‡ 24:16 εχων f35 [95%] HF,RP,CP ¦ εχειν ℵA,B,C [5%] OC,TR,NU § 24:16 τε f35 [60%] ¦ — ℵA,B,C [40%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU * 24:16 δια παντος rell ¦ — CP † 24:17 παρεγενομην ελεημοσυνας ποιησων εις το εθνος μου f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ 234567 A ¦ ~ 2345671 ℵB,C [7%] NU ‡ 24:18 οις f35 [90%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ αις ℵA,B,C [10%] NU ¦ one other variant § 24:18 τινες f35 [92%] HF,RP,OC ¦ 1 δε ℵA,B [2%] TR,CP,NU ¦ 1 των [2%] ¦ 1 δε των C [4%] ¦ one other variant * 24:19 εδει f35 ℵA,B,C [30%] OC,NU ¦ δει [70%] HF,RP,TR,CP † 24:19 με f35 [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ εμε ℵA,B,C [3%] NU ‡ 24:20 ειπατωσαν f35 ℵA,B,C [95%] HF,RP,OC,CP,NU ¦ 1 ει [5%] TR § 24:20 εν εμοι f35 C [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B [3%] NU * 24:21 εκραξα f35 [80%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ εκεκραξα ℵA,B,C [20%] NU † 24:21 εστως εν αυτοις f35 [92%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ~ 231 ℵA,B,C [8%] NU ‡ 24:21 υφ f35 ℵ [97%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ εφ A,B,C [3%] NU § 24:22 ακουσας δε ταυτα ο φηλιξ ανεβαλετο (ανεβαλλετο 7.4% CP) αυτους f35 (92.4%) HF,RP,OC,TR(CP) ¦ ~ 62745 ℵA,B,C (4.9%) NU ¦ ~ 62457 (2.7%) (For the statement of evidence on φηλιξ see the note five down.) * 24:22 ειπων f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ ειπας ℵA,B,C [3%] NU ¦ — [2%] † 24:23 τε f35 [75%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ δε [3%] ¦ — ℵA,B,C [22%] NU ‡ 24:23 τον παυλον f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ αυτον ℵA,B,C [7%] NU § 24:23 η προσερχεσθαι f35 [95%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C [5%] NU * 24:24 φηλιξ f35 ℵA [46%] HF,RP,OC,TR,NU ¦ φιληξ [37%] CP ¦ φιλιξ B [17%] (The percentages remain the same in verses 25, 27a and 27b. In the note five up, the three variants have [46%], [32%] and [22%] respectively.) † 24:24 γυναικι f35 C [88%] HF,RP ¦ 1 αυτου ℵ [8%] OC,TR ¦ ιδια 1 B [3%] CP,NU ¦ ιδια 1 αυτου A [1%] ‡ 24:24 ιησουν f35 ℵ(B) [55%] CP,NU ¦ — A [45%] HF,RP,OC,TR § 24:25 εσεσθαι f35 [92%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C [8%] NU * 24:25 εχον rell ¦ εχων [14%] ¦ one other variant † 24:25 μεταλαβων rell ¦ λαβων [10%] CP ¦ παραλαβων A ¦ two other variants ‡ 24:26 αμα f35 ℵA,B,C [95%] HF,RP,CP,NU ¦ 1 δε [5%] OC,TR § 24:26 οπως λυση αυτον f35 [93%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP ¦ — ℵA,B,C [5%] NU ¦ two other variants [2%] * 24:26 πυκνοτερον f35 [20%] ¦ 1 αυτον ℵA,B [75%] HF,RP,OC,TR,CP,NU ¦ 1 αυτων [5%] † 24:26 ωμιλει (B) rell ¦ ομιλει [14%] ¦ διελεγετο C ¦ one other variant ‡ 24:27 δε f35 [55%] OC,CP ¦ τε ℵA,B,C [45%] HF,RP,TR,NU § 24:27 χαριτας f35 [81%] HF,RP,TR,CP ¦ χαριτα ℵA,B,C [3%] NU ¦ χαριν [16%] OC * 24:27 κατελιπεν rell ¦ κατελειπεν A [16%]