Cool Stuff in LukePeter J. Leithart, April 12, 2004 Victor M. Wilson's book, Divine Symmetries, studies literary and numerological patterns in the Bible. He has a chapter on Luke-Acts, and includes some fairly standard material about the structural parallels between the two books, but draws some interesting conclusions. Here is a reproduction of his page summarizing the parallel plot of Luke and Acts: Luke Introduction and Preparation Acts 1:1-4 preface, with dedication to Theophilus 1:1-5 Local Ministry 4:31-8:56 Galilee/Jerusalem 2:41-8:3 Journey 9:51-53 resolve to journey to Jerusalem 19:21 Jerusalem, Arrest, Trial The most interesting thing that Wilson makes of this structure comes out in his interpretation of the shipwreck in Acts 27. He raises the question that many commentators on Acts have raised: Why does the book end before Paul's trial and death, when the whole narrative trajectory is leading in that direction? He suggests that the shipwreck of Paul, parallel to the passion of Jesus, is in fact a death and resurrection experience, a Jonah experience. Paul "dies" in the water (Rom 6) and is raised up to eat a meal on the shore of Malta on the next day. As Wilson says, 展ith this interpretation, for which the text offers some intriguing support, the troublesome ending of Acts is stripped of many of the problems that have plagued it. The parallel events of Luke痴 Gospel and Acts and the interpretation thus laid upon the storm scene tell us that Paul痴 租eath・has already passed. The early morning gathering on the Maltese shore has the feel of a resurrection morning. The old has passed away; the new has come.・ Another section of this chapter provides a chiastic outline of the Lukan journey narrative, chapters 9-19.
A. 9:51-56: Departure/rejection |
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