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corpus-paul - Re: Acts 19:9b-10 (was corpus-paul digest: June 20, 2001)

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  • From: Richard Fellows <rfellows AT intergate.ca>
  • To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Acts 19:9b-10 (was corpus-paul digest: June 20, 2001)
  • Date: Sun, 01 Jul 2001 00:15:04 -0700


Jonathan had written:
>> I think that Paul's "success" in Ephesus must surely be measured
>> in his impact on the whole region of Asia Minor. Acts 19:9b-10
>> says: "He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in
>> the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all
>> the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the
>> word of the Lord" (NIV).

Jim Hester replied:
>Secondly, surely Acts 19:10 is hyperbole, used in support of Luke's agenda,
>in that it can hardly be argued that "all the Greeks and Jews who lived in
>the province of Asia" went to Tyrannus's "lecture hall" to hear Paul. Nor is
>it likely that within the scope of two years Paul's disciples were able to
>carry the gospel to the entire province, a land mass of around 90,000 square
>miles with hundreds of towns and villages in it. So one has to grant that at
>the very least Luke is overstating the scope of Paul's activity.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that literally ALL in the province of
Asia heard the word of the Lord. While it is quite possible that the
majority heard about Paul's message, there must have been some in the
province who remained oblivious to the news and the latest talking points.
Luke could not have believed that literally everyone heard, and nor would
his readers have come away with that belief. It is absurd to suggest that
no-one in the province remained ignorant, and that absurdity would surely
have been as apparent to Luke and Theophilus as it is to us. I think it is
safe to conclude that the wording used in 19:10 is for emphasis only. The
meaning of the text is surely that the word spread extensively and
thoroughly throughout the province. We have no reason to believe that this
text was not effective in communicating to Theophilus an accurate
impression of the extent of the spread of the word of the Lord from Ephesus
throughout the province.

So, while I agree that, in a sense, there is hyperbole in Acts 19:10, I do
not see evidence here of any 'agenda' on Luke's part.

Jim writes:
>Nor is
>it likely that within the scope of two years Paul's disciples were able to
>carry the gospel to the entire province, a land mass of around 90,000 square
>miles with hundreds of towns and villages in it.

Suppose that six of Paul's co-workers traveled 10 miles per day for 8
months of the year, for two years. They would cover 28800 miles and (on
average) come within 1 mile of every point on the map. (I estimate the area
of the province to be 50,000 square miles). With this sort of coverage they
would pass through even the smallest villages. However, I do not suppose
that this is how it happened. It is more likely that the co-workers went to
the major population centres, and that word spread from their to the
surrounding villages. The co-workers would not have needed to do all the
leg work themselves.

>The linkage of Romans 15:23 with Acts 19:9-10 is simply not convincing to
>this interpreter. Furthermore, I can't find any commentator who supports the
>notion that Paul had "run out of" places to evangelize but rather feels his
>obligation to the region satisfied and is eager to preach elsewhere.

Actually, the commentators support my reading of Rom 15:23, so I am
confused by your statement, Jim.
Hodge, for example, writes:
"The expression, 'having no more place' in this connection, would seem
obviously to mean, 'having no longer a place in these parts where Christ is
not known.' This idea is included in the declaration that he had fully
preached the gospel in all that region."

I do think that Rom 15:23 goes at least some way towards supporting Acts
19:10.


Acts 19:10 is also supported by 1 Cor 16.19 where Paul sends greetings from
the churches of Asia. See also Acts 19.26, which speaks directly of Paul's
missionary success in Asia.

Richard Fellows
Vancouver
rfellows AT intergate.ca




  • Re: Acts 19:9b-10 (was corpus-paul digest: June 20, 2001), Richard Fellows, 07/03/2001

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