Table Of Content\
....
of
TheM ysteryA cts
UnraveliIntgSs t ory
RichardI . Pervo
POLEBRIPDRGEES S
SanRtoas Caa,l ifornia
Copyright R©i c2h0Ia0P.r8e d r bvyo
Alrli grhetsse rPvreidni.tnt eh dUe n itSetdao tfAe mse riNcopa a.or ft
thbioso k muasyeo drrb eep rodiuancn meyad n nwehra tswoietvheoru t
writptemerins seixocne ptthc eai osnefb riqeufo taetimobnosd iine d
critairctiacalln redes v iFeowirsno .fr mataidodnrP eoslse bPrriedsgse,
P.0 .B ox7 268, RSosaaCn,at olari nf9i5a4 07.
Covaenri dn tedreisoibrgyR n ob aiRreaem
LibraorfyC ongreCsast aloging-in-PuDbaltiac ation
PervRoi,c hIa.r d
Them ystoefAr cyt :s unirnaigvts estl o/r Ryi chIaP.re dr vo.
p. em.
Inlcudbeisib olgraprheeifrceanlc es.
ISB9N7 815--981051-2(-a4lp ka.p er)
1.B ibNl.Te.A. c ts-i-cCirisinmtt,e rpreettcIa.T.t i itolne,.
BS22652..54P7250 08
226'.0-66-dc22
2008040707
Contents
........................... v.i.i. .
InrtoducIinrntogd uct.i o.n . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . .
ChapteTrw o
EnigomfaA sc t.s . . . . . . . .1 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ChapteTrh ree
HowL ukMee tC ertCahianl lenges
WhaHte S aid anHd eLW ehftUa nts ai..d . . . . . . . 39
ChapteFro ur
HowA ctTsel lIstS st oIr y
CharacRtepeertist,i Poanrsa,l l.e l.s . . . .5 5. . . . . . . .
ChapteFri ve
HowA ctTsel lIsstS toIrIy
CyclSetse,r eoStcyepneMedis m,e s.i. s . . 7.5 . . . . . .
Chapter Six
Symbol.i. s m. . . . . . . . .9 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ChapteSre ven
SomHei osrtiPcraolb lienAmc stI s
A RevitehwTe e oxft. . . . . . . 1.15 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter Eight
SomHei stoPrriocbalilenA m cstI sI
ChronoalnodCg hya racterization 141
ChapteNri ne
Conclu. s..i o.n . . . .. .. .. ..1 5..1 .. .. .. .. .. .
Appendix
TheS ourocfAe cst asn Idt s Liter..a r.y1 57. G enre
Glossa.r. y . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. ... 1..7. 3 .. .. . . . .
Bibliaopgrhy. . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. 1 .79. .. .. . . . .
Prefaec
Int hpea st detcwaotd heeshr aebs e eng raer aetv iovfia nlt eirne st
thhei stoJreisAculasml.o aslttlh iakstn owanb otuhtfia gtu croem es
formt exptrso dubcyeh dif sol lwoerwsh,o sien terweesrmteos r e
relitghiaohnui ss toTrhiebc oaoolkfA. c tasn idt cso mpanGioosnp el
accortdoLi unkgae r ree sponfsorti hbgele en eurnadle rstoafn ding
howt hCeh riscthiuaroncr hi giannasdtp erdeI aitde s.m inntelloyg i
caflor t howsheow isthoe xamtihnseeo urocfe osir nmfataiboonu t
the Joefhs iusstt oolr oyoa kl son-oiitfn iltyi-atalhtf eor ceasn d
movemetnhtagsta vbei rttoth h ossoeu rAc geoso.dd e aolft hose
dataarf eou ndo,ra rsea itodb ef oundi,n btohoeok fA ctAss f.ra
asi ksn owLnu,k wea tsh fei rasutt hwohroa ttemtpots ehdot wh e
bridbgeet wJeeesnou fNs a zaraenttdhh c eo mmuyn/iiettsh daetv el
opeadw orrledl itgihoaantp petaoJl ess auss fioutnsd eHro.w he
achitehvgieosdai lts h per imaryo fs utlbhtijiltebseco to k.
A rejeicdteefaord tiat lAecs,tw itThea sr,p lyaeudp oann e ar
liperra cotfi cues" iwnigt htoeuattr oss "i gtnoar le adtehratsth e
booiknq uestwioounlm da kaed ifficsuulbtj aecccte stsoti hbel e
"genperuiabcllT. h"eg oailse minntelwyo ryt,ah nIdb elitehvaet
someex pses rhtouvlidei wat s a no bliga"Wtiitohnto.eu athr asad"
patronizing trhitanhtgge ,e niepmrupabllnly eiiecntd gobs e s poon
fde,t hsatu bjects" druemqbduioinwrgnei " tf h eayrt eoc ommand
inteTrheesirtse.d ifaef renacftee,r allt,h lebu ecetixwdpe leinc ation
ofc ompliicsastauenedods v ersimplforit fihcseaa tkoiefio nn stant
inteliltIiyh g.ai vbleio lntgh outghhatot n esi gonfm astoevreyar
partiscuubljiaetsrch tce a patcoei txyp liaitin pn l aliann guAangye .
vii
Vlll Prfeace
fialeusIrh aveex hibiintth erides g amradyt heorrebefe a tbturtiteod
insfuifcmiaesntte ry.
Speacliiusttisjl agirozane n tde chntiecrwamhlse cno mmunicating
with aonnoetT hheirisn.s o l ess otrrcuhei do-fag nrfdooo wtebrasl l
fnast hainit os f n uclpehayrs iacnitdsh teso loJgairaginossun .s a e ful
typoefs horthIatinm sdu .ce ha stiose ar"y e cecslioloor"g byl"i tz"
thaint t ois sp eraekp eaotfe dtclhoyen sitoifntor,um tn,a tuarned,
doctrianneda booftu htCe h urocrth o s tattheat thl eni ebckaers
charsgterda fiorg httqh uea rteTrecbhanciklc.aa nlg udaogees crop
upi nt hbioso bku,at d efiniatcicoonm peaanciuhena sfmi ltiearrm
oni tfisr astp pea.rM aonrceeosvienrnc,oe et v eryonwei tfurhle ald s
concreanttainocdna reafutlt enfrtoimbo eng intnoei nndagg, l ossary
ofn ametse,r amnsdd a tieassp penIdteedam.ps p eairnti hngegl os
saarryme a rkweidta hna steer.ig*s.kMa,,r coifoS ni nope.
Instoefaa bdu ndfaoonttn ottheiss, boomka nrpyele farecnecse s
withpianr ent.Ah letsheotsuhgiihsss t iysltiacwaklrwldaty,h heo pe is
thaiwtti blel m"oursefre ire n"dI latyl .mseoa tnhsa t smcahnoyl ars
don orte cediivreae ncidtm medciraetfdeori t th eiidre Tahsel. ti ss
"For FRueratdhienargs "s ocwiiattehea dcc hh apsteeetrko c om
pensianpt aerf ortt hliasoc fka cknloewdgemAelwnlh to. warnidt e,
reaadb,o ut aLnuAdkc et s thoda evwaeli tthhp eo tenctoinafuls ion
causbeyd tuhsoeef " Lukfeor" tihmep liedo fba outtahhn oadrs
thnea moef tfihresb to oTkh.es oluhteiroienst o u se either "the
GospoefLl u koer"" thGeo sp,e"wli tahnu ppcearsG e where there
migbheta mbiigtuy.
Fewd iscihpalvibene eemsno roep etno t hceh arogfte e ach
intgh esiurb j"ewcitt htoeuattr hsa"hn a bse eCnh ristthieaoynl, o g
throiutgmsho sntu merroeupsr teasteitnvhecesl ,eo rfgl yo ccaolm
muniie.tAs lthoculgehir ngt yhm ea insttrreaoadnmihs ta ivhea tdo
confrcornittp ircoablla enmhdsa vbee eenx potsoce rdi tmiectahlo ds
int hceo urosfte h epirreo sfsieodnuacla atlitloo nfo,we of them
shatrhei s liena rtnthieenaigcra h nipdnr ge acThhienriger.a saornes
pastortahlre,e sbiuusplta t t eirsnmSa.il nmcaen cyh urmcehm bers
haveen counctreirteidc ali net dhuicnaktiinogno artl h rsoeutgthi ngs
thmee ditah,pi ast ernhaablsei csomim nes idBiootbuhes l.i aenvde rs
non-ibeevhlearvases m ucrhi gtholt e awrhnai tgs o ionngi nb iballi c
studaiste hsed yoi nm edniecT.ih is ibasoi omkae tdt heTmh.e rein
liaenso tsheenros fe ptrheep ospihtria"oswneiat tleh a. r"s
"ThAec tosft hAep olsetsa,si" te nitsi itaslc erdu,cb ioaoilknt h e
NewT estameMnatnc.ya enn jiotyb, u itbt r iswtiltpehrs o bslem
inclutdhpiern ogb olfei tmps o rtorfta hiJete wipseho pTlheib.so ok
attemrputtsshs ltleoye xpotsheo dsifecfi ultbioetbshe, c atuhseey
Praecfe
IX
arees setnot iuaanlnd erstoafCn hdrinigso triiaganin ndbs e cause
truaep precoifAa ctitrosen q uainur nedse rstoafn ddiiitifnscfg u lties,
inclutdhdieinfi fgc ultthiiaettass u thhoatrdo m anaIgsfeo .m oeft he
expltainooanrds e finsietieoamtn rsi tfoloe condetshcheeo npdei ng,
itsh tahtdi esfi wciiltlo vberec boym ert ehfuest oap lu pluln cFhoers .
thiyretayr s Abcetetsnh cehh aifseoc fuo sfm yr eseaanrwdcr hi ting
int hNee wT etsamefinetla dn,id h ta bse etnh roAucgthts h amty
othaecra deimnitce reemsetrsg edd eavnedl opiesmd y.f aovrIitt e
boookf Cthher isBtiibaIlln eo ;vi et .s oImmfea yw ondheorwt his
lovcea bne e xprebsysa epdp arsemnatslhyAi cntigsn tpoi ecIe s,
shourledpy tl haalta ugfholtleortw esa arnstd,h at ctahne nrboee
Easwtietrh GoouotFd r iyd.a
Albli blqiucoatla tniooton tsh erawtibtsureti eadrf eor m the
NewR esveiSdat ndaVredr s(iNoSRnV )©,1 98b9yt hDei viosfi on
ChrisEtdiuacna otfi otnh e National Council of Churches of Christ
int hUe. AS.I. nt hecsiet aIth iaovnfeorst, h sea koefc layr,fol iltowed
"lectionarbyys upprpalcytiinncgae m"pfe rorspo rpoenro Tuhness.e
substiatruietni i toanlTsih cuss., ionf"s Htese aaitdodt hemt,h"e
citawtiirloelna " dPe tsearti odt hdei sc"iR pelqeusi.remoefsn ptasc e
prevent ocfmi otsatt ipoatnso ws haigrceehesf r enicsmea d.eI deal
readweirdlsolw etlol kaeB eipbt lohe a nsdot, h tahte y emxaaym ine
somoeft herseeefr ences.
Thanakrdseu teo T omH alalna, d mireadbiltaeon trd,o t hset fa f
of PolePbrreisdsg.e
RichIaP.re dr vo
StP.a uMli,n noetsa
Apr2i0l08
ChapteOrn e
A FewB asics
Introducing Introduction
Somyee aargsow ,h islaem pltihwneag r oefasu sebdo oekm porium,
Ig lanacte rdae cepnatp erobfaJ cokhS nt einbTheecG kr'aspo efs
WrathT.h iesd itieovni,d ednitrleytc otweadyr odu nrge adienrcsl,u d
ed iannt rodeuxcptiloanti hnbeia ncrgko gunTdh.e rreea hlalbdye en
a" GreDate presisnti ho1en93 "0 se,x acerbbyta ht"eeD dsu tBo wl"
thacta usmeadnf yma iliteoas b andaonnc esfratmrasan lmd o ve west
tos eetkh eliirv eliThhoepo edrsc.en ievetedods upptlhyii nsof mra
tiowna sab iotf sah ocIkno.fmr intgh peu bloiftc h eex istoefn ce
"thdee preswsaisfoo,rn m"ae mboefrt hgee nerwahtoisopena rents'
livheasbd e esnh apaendsd c arbryte hda t earnan,o ulnitckhiean tg
thseu hna adr iyseesnt eCrodnatye.m ppoerrasraoynn ds works may
bes aitdo" neneodi ntrodubcutttih opena ,s"s oafg et ime quickly
canctehlacstl i amI.f a pprecoifa tiSohna kefsoupre-ahruen'dsr ed
year-old plsaoymske n orwelqeuodifgr eets sho ecc iiarlc umstances
undwehri chhew rotoer-e fxamptlheaw,to menr'oslw eesrt ea ken
byb oycsr,e aatc ienrgt aamiuns emwehnetbn o ypsl,a ywionmge n,
dresasseb do ys-hmouwc mho ries t haktn owleldigkete olb ye
imporftora nwto rkasr feti htvaietm f eousrh undryeedaor lsd ?
Yetl anguor-msiogmhet sruiggmgooerrs tti so-vhearsnt t ahkee
onclei vdeilsyc iopf"l BiibnleIi ncrtaold uc"tiAs o mna.nwyh oh ave
soughhte lstpto u dleenatrsn casne etkeisantrgio fyuit,sno et eirne st
thset andjaorudr naqluiesstitci onWsh,a WtWh,he onW,,h erHeo,w ,
anWdh yi,as b oausfrt u itafusal na ttetmopp rto motthmeei nuaest
ana ttrafcortimv eco ofn tempsoorcadiraaynl c iTnhger. e asfoorn s
this dienic nltieanrreete so nto u moeurtso e xplhoerreae n,id mt u st
I
Description:The author of Acts unwittingly committed a near-perfect crime: He told his story so well that all rival accounts vanished with but the faintest of traces. And thus future generations were left with no documents that recount the history of the early Christian tradition; because Acts is not history. A
