Magic and paganism in early Christianity : the world of the Acts of the Apostles / Hans-Joseph Klauck ; translated by Brian McNeil.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Klauck, Hans-Josef

Standardized Title:

Magie und Heidentum in der Apostelgeschichte des Lukas. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Acts--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. Acts.

Magic, Ancient--Biblical teaching.

Magic, Ancient.

Christianity and other religions--Roman--Biblical teaching.

Christianity and other religions.

Biblical teaching.

Rome--Religion.

Rome.

Rome (Empire).

Religion.

Paganism.

Magic--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Magic.

Church history--Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600.

Church history.

Church history--Primitive and early church.

Physical Description:

xii, 132 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh : T & T Clark, 2000.

Summary:

Hans-Josef Klauck, an expert in the cultic practices of the region, describes this world into which Christianity was born and relates to it the many experiences of the first Christians recorded in Acts. For example, Peter encounters the Samaritan magician Simon, the people in Lystra want to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, and in Ephesus some burn their books of magic formulae while others provoke a right the name of Artemis.

Contents:

I Establishing the Foundations (Acts 1-2) 3

1. Prologue and missionary programme (Acts 1:1-14) 3

a. The dedicatory address 3

b. Two commissions 4

c. Jesus' departure 6

d. The kernel of the first community 7

2. The Pentecost event and its consequences (Acts 2:1-47) 7

a. Speaking in (foreign) tongues 7

b. Pious Jews from the diaspora 9

c. The list of peoples 10

d. The quotation from Joel 11

II The Evangelist Philip (Acts 8) 13

1. In Samaria (Acts 8:4-25) 13

a. Simon 'Magus' 14

b. Simon and Philip 17

c. The reception of the Spirit 19

d. Lapsing 20

e. Simon Magus and Simon Peter 22

2. On the road to Gaza (Acts 8:26-40) 23

a. The Ethiopian chamberlain 24

b. Discussion about scripture and baptism 27

III In Caesarea (Acts 10-12) 31

1. The baptism of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-11:18) 31

a. The centurion Cornelius and his household 31

b. The encounter with Peter 33

c. The consequences 35

d. Looking ahead to the apostolic council 36

2. Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:20-23) 38

a. The Herodian dynasty and Luke's two-volume work 39

b. Luke's account of Herod's death 40

c. Comparison with Flavius Josephus 41

d. Concealed criticism of the imperial cult? 43

IV The First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14) 45

1. In Paphos on Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12) 47

a. The sketch of Bar-Jesus 47

b. The proconsul Sergius Paulus 50

c. Saul or Pual? 52

d. The bigger picture: (not so) hidden parallels 54

2. In Lystra: a miracle and its consequences (Acts 14:8-20) 55

a. The miracle 56

b. The reaction 57

c. Resistance 59

d. Stoning 60

V Paul in Greece (Acts 16-18) 63

1. An 'exorcism' in Philippi (Acts 16:16-24) 63

a. The city of Philippi 63

b. The slave-girl who was a soothsayer 65

c. Paul as 'exorcist' 67

d. Hostile reactions 70

e. Retrospect and prospect 72

2. Visiting Athens (Acts 17:16-21, 32-34) 73

a. Taking a look at the city 74

b. Recollections of Socrates 76

c. Epicureans and Stoics 76

d. The Areopagus 79

e. Modest success 80

3. The unknown god: the address on the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-31) 81

a. Captatio benevolentiae (vv. 22-23) 81

b. The Creator needs nothing (vv. 24-25) 84

c. The vocation of humankind (vv. 26-27) 85

d. Humankind as related to the divine (vv. 28-29) 87

e. Eschatological perspective (vv. 30-31) 91

f. Controversies in the evaluation of this text 92

VI Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19) 97

1. Miracle and magic: a difficult demarcation (Acts 19:11-20) 97

a. The apostle's laundry (vv. 11-12) 98

b. The unsuccessful exorcism (vv. 13-16) 99

c. An end to magic! (vv. 17-20) 101

2. The revolt of the silversmiths (Acts 19:23-40) 102

a. The goddess Artemis 103

b. Demetrius' speech 104

c. The tumult (vv. 29-34) 106

d. The speech of the town clerk (vv. 35-40) 108

VII The Journey to Rome (Acts 27-28) 111

1. Sea voyage, shipwreck, rescue (Acts 27:1-44) 111

2. The hospitable island (Acts 28:1-10) 113

a. The wonder-worker at the camp fire (vv. 1-6) 113

b. A beginning reminiscent of the times of Jesus (vv. 7-10) 115

c. Under the sign of the Dioscuri (v. 11) 116

3. Freedom to preach in Rome (Acts 28:16-31) 117

VIII Retrospect and Prospect 119

1. Texts (apart from Acts) 127

2. Names 130

3. Places 131.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 123-126) and indexes.

ISBN:

0567087492

OCLC:

44737102