The Rhetoric of Interruption: Speech-Making, Turn-Taking, and Rule-Breaking in Luke-Acts and Ancient Greek Narrative (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft Book 193)

Why are so many speakers interrupted in Luke and in Acts? For nearly a century, scholars have noted the presence of interrupted speech in the Acts of the Apostles, but explanations of its function have been limited and often contradictory. A more effective approach involves grounding the analysis of Luke-Acts within a larger understanding of how interruption functions in a wide variety of literary settings. An extensive survey of ancient Greek narratives (epics, histories, and novels) reveals the forms, frequency, and functions of interruption in Greek authors who lived and wrote between the eighth-century B.C.E. and the second-century C.E. This comparative study suggests that the frequent interruptions of Jesus and his followers in Luke 4:28; Acts 4:1; 7:54–57; 13:48; etc., are designed both to highlight the pivotal closing words of the discourses and to draw attention to the ways in which the early Christian gospel was received. In the end, the interrupted discourses are best understood not as historical accidents, but as rhetorical exclamation points intended to highlight key elements of the early Christian message and their varied reception by Jews and Gentiles. Acknowledgments 7 Chapter 1 Interruption and Rhetoric in Ancient Greek Literature 15 1.1 Introduction 15 1.2 The Speeches of Acts in Modern Scholarship 17 1.3 Interrupted Speech in Luke-Acts: A History of Scholarship 22 1.4 Defining Interruption 30 1.4.1 Discerning Claims of Interruption 31 1.4.2 Identifying the Interrupter 37 1.5 Rhetorical Analysis of Interruption 38 1.6 Project Overview 39 Chapter 2 Interrupted Speech in Greek Historiography: From Homer to Appian 41 2.1 Introduction 41 2.2 The Iliad and Odyssey of Homer (ca. 8th century B.C.E.) 42 2.2.1 Turn-Taking in Homer 43 2.2.2 Interrupted Speech in the Iliad 44 2.2.3 Interrupted Speech in the Odyssey 50 2.2.4 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Homer 55 2.3 The Histories of Herodotus (5th century B.C.E.) 56 2.3.1 Turn-Taking in Herodotus 57 2.3.2 Interrupted Speech in the Histories 59 2.3.3 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Herodotus 62 2.4 The History of the Peloponnesian War of Thucydides (5th century B.C.E.) 63 2.4.1 Turn-Taking in Thucydides 64 2.4.2 Interrupted Speech in the History of the Peloponnesian War 65 2.4.3 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Thucydides 66 2.5 The Hellenica and Anabasis of Xenophon (4th century B.C.E.) 67 2.5.1 Turn-Taking in Xenophon 67 2.5.2 Interrupted Speech in the Hellenica 68 2.5.3 Interrupted Speech in the Anabasis 69 2.5.4 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Xenophon 72 2.6 The Histories of Polybius (2nd century B.C.E.) 72 2.6.1 Turn-Taking in Polybius 73 2.6.2 Interrupted Speech in the Histories 74 2.6.3 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Polybius 83 2.7 The Library of History of Diodorus Siculus (1st century B.C.E.) 86 2.7.1 Turn-Taking in Diodorus Siculus 86 2.7.2 Interrupted Speech in the Library of History 87 2.7.3 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Diodorus Siculus 94 2.8 The Roman Antiquities of Dionysius of Halicarnassus (1st century B.C.E.) 95 2.8.1 Turn-Taking in Dionysius of Halicarnassus 96 2.8.2 Interrupted Speech in the Roman Antiquities 97 2.8.3 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Dionysius of Halicarnassus 108 2.9 The Anabasis of Alexander and Indica of Arrian (2nd century C.E.) 109 2.9.1 Turn-Taking in Arrian 110 2.9.2 Interrupted Speech in the Anabasis of Alexander 111 2.9.3 Interrupted Speech in the Indica 112 2.9.4 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Arrian 113 2.10 The Roman History of Appian of Alexandria 114 2.10.1 Turn-Taking in Appian 115 2.10.2 Interrupted Speech in the Roman History 116 2.10.3 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Appian 124 2.11 Conclusions about the Use of Interruption in Greek Historiography 126 2.11.1 Summary of Individual Authors’ Use of Rhetorical Interruption 127 2.11.2 The Various Functions of Interruption 130 Chapter 3 Interrupted Speech in Jewish Historiography: From Job to Josephus 135 3.1 Introduction 135 3.2 The Septuagint (LXX) 138 3.2.1 Turn-Taking in the LXX 139 3.2.2 Interrupted Speech in the LXX 142 3.2.3 Summary of Interrupted Speech in the LXX 150 3.3 Fragmentary Hellenistic Jewish Historians 153 3.4 Josephus 155 3.4.1 Turn-Taking in Josephus 156 3.4.2 Interrupted Speech in the Jewish War 158 3.4.3 Interrupted Speech in the Jewish Antiquities 162 3.4.4 Interrupted Speech in the Life 173 3.4.5 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Josephus 175 3.5 Conclusions about the Use of Interruption in Jewish Historiography 177 Chapter 4 Interrupted Speech in Greek Novels 181 4.1 Introduction 181 4.2 The Cyropaedia of Xenophon (4th century B.C.E.) 183 4.2.1 Turn-Taking in Xenophon 185 4.2.2 Interrupted Speech in the Cyropaedia 185 4.2.3 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Xenophon 188 4.3 The Callirhoe of Chariton (1st century C.E.) 189 4.3.1 Turn-Taking in Chariton 190 4.3.2 Interrupted Speech in the Callirhoe 191 4.3.3 Summary of Interrupted Speech in Chariton 196 4.4 Conclusions about the Use of Interruption in Greek Novels 197 Chapter 5 The Overlooked Interruptions of the Gospel according to Luke 200 5.1 Introduction 200 5.2 The Sources of the Gospel according to Luke 201 5.2.1 Interruption in the Gospel according to Mark 202 5.2.2 Interruption in the Gospel according to Matthew 203 5.2.3 Summary of Interruptions in Mark and Matthew 205 5.3 Interrupted Speech in the Gospel according to Luke 206 5.3.1 Turn-Taking in the Gospel of Luke 207 5.3.2 Luke 4:28 208 5.3.3 Luke 9:34 212 5.3.4 Luke 11:27 214 5.3.5 Luke 11:37 215 5.3.6 Luke 16:14 217 5.3.7 Luke 21:5 218 5.3.8 Luke 22:47 219 5.3.9 Luke 22:60 221 5.3.10 Luke 24:36 221 5.4 Conclusions about the Use of Interruption in Luke’s Gospel 222 Chapter 6 Interrupted Speech in the Acts of the Apostles 225 6.1 Introduction 225 6.2 Sources of the Acts of the Apostles 227 6.3 "Interrupted Speeches" in the Acts of the Apostles 229 6.3.1 Turn-Taking in the Acts of the Apostles 230 6.3.2 Acts 2:37 232 6.3.3 Acts 4:1 235 6.3.4 Acts 7:54-57 237 6.3.5 Acts 10:44 241 6.3.6 Acts 13:48 243 6.3.7 Acts 17:32 245 6.3.8 Acts 19:28 246 6.3.9 Acts 22:22 246 6.3.10 Acts 23:7 248 6.3.11 Acts 24:25 249 6.3.12 Acts 26:24 250 6.4 Conclusions about the Use of Interruption in Acts 254 Chapter 7 Conclusions 258 7.1 Summary of Findings 258 7.2 Implications, Limitations, and Further Research 263 Appendix 1 Intentionally Interrupted Speech in Greek Historiography 266 Appendix 2 Intentionally Interrupted Speech in Jewish Historiography 293 Appendix 3 Intentionally Interrupted Speech in Greek Novels 305 Appendix 4 Intentionally Interrupted Speech in Luke-Acts 310 Bibliography 314 Index of Ancient Sources 327 Index of Modern Authors 343 Index of Subjects 347 In the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, speakers are often interrupted by emotional audiences (Luke 4:28; Acts 4:1; 7:54-57; 13:48; etc.). A comparative study of other Greek authors, from Homer to Josephus, reveals the high frequency and unique form of interruption in Luke's two volumes. Intentional interruption functions rhetorically to underscore the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the availability of salvation to the Gentiles, thus illuminating both Lukan theology and literary technique. Daniel Lynwood Smith, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA Interruption And Rhetoric In Ancient Greek Literature -- Interrupted Speech In Greek Historiography : From Homer To Appian -- Interrupted Speech In Jewish Historiography : From Job To Josephus -- Interrupted Speech In Greek Novels -- The Overlooked Interruptions Of The Gospel According To Luke -- Interrupted Speech In The Acts Of The Apostles -- Conclusions. Daniel Lynwood Smith. Revision Of The Author's Thesis (ph. D.)--university Of Notre Dame, 2011. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [300]-312) And Indexes.