Herod as a Composite Character in Luke-Acts

Description

Frank Dicken offers a new perspective on the three rulers who appear in Luke-Acts with the name "Herod," contending that in light of their similar narrative depictions they may be construed as a composite character, i.e., a single character in the narrative. Viewing the Lukan Herods alongside other composite characters in Jewish and early Christian literature, the author then compares and contrasts the portrayal of the Herods in Luke-Acts with what is known about the Herods historically. Thereby he highlights two unique features - the title "King of Judaea" at Luke 1:5 and the name "Herod" for Agrippa I in Acts 12 - that result in construing the Herods as a composite. A reading of Luke-Acts focusing on each passage in which composite "Herod" appears demonstrates that understanding "Herod" as a single character is possible. Finally, Frank Dicken examines the characterization of composite "Herod" as an antagonist who embodies satanic opposition toward the spread of the gospel in the Lukan narrative. Cover Acknowledgements Table of Contents Abbreviations Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Statement of Thesis 1.2 Overview of the Argument Chapter 2: The Herods in Lukan Literary Scholarship 2.1 Literary Approaches to the Herods in Luke-Acts 2.1.1 John Darr, Herod the Fox 2.1.2 O. Wesley Allen, The Death of Herod 2.1.3 Kazuhiko Yamazaki-Ransom, The Roman Empire in Luke’s Narrative 2.1.4 Summary: Literary Approaches to the Herods in Luke-Acts 2.2 The Herods as Characters in other Lukan Scholarship 2.3 Conclusion: Justification of the Current Project Chapter 3: Methodological Considerations 3.1 A Narrative Approach to Luke-Acts 3.2 An Approach to Characterization in Luke-Acts 3.3 Composite Characters Considered 3.3.1 Early Readers Conflating Lukan Characters 3.4 Response to a Potential Objection 3.5 Conclusion Chapter 4: From Herodian Dynasty to Composite “Herod” 4.1 Josephus and the Herods 4.1.1 Josephus, the Herods, and The Jewish War 4.1.2 Josephus, the Herods, and The Antiquities of the Jews 4.1.3 Conclusion: Josephus and the Herods 4.2 Biographical Sketches of the Herods behind Composite “Herod” 4.2.1 Herod the Great 4.2.2 Herod Archelaus 4.2.3 Herod Antipas 4.2.4 Agrippa I 4.3 Distinctive Features of the Depiction of the Herods in Luke-Acts 4.3.1 Herod, King of Judaea (Luke 1:5) 4.3.2 Herod the King (Acts 12) 4.4 Luke’s Composite “Herod” Chapter 5: A King and Ruler Takes His Stand: Composite “Herod” in Luke-Acts 5.1 A Programmatic Statement about “Herod:” Acts 4:25–27 5.1.1 Context of Acts 4:25–27 5.1.2 Luke’s Correlation of Jesus’ Passion with Opposition toward the Church: Psalm 2:1–2 5.1.2.1 Those Who Gather in Opposition: Kings, Rulers, Nations, Peoples 5.1.2.2 “Herod” as King and Ruler: Luke’s Interpretation of Psa 2:1–2 5.1.3 Setting Narrative Tension: Luke 1:5 5.1.3.1 “Herod,” King of Judaea: Rival to Jesus and Opponent of John the Baptist 5.2 “Herod” and John the Baptist 5.2.1 Context of Luke 3:1–20 5.2.2 Setting the Stage: Luke 3:1–2 5.2.3 Rejecting John’s Message: Luke 3:18–20 5.2.4 “Herod” Beheaded John: Luke 9:9 5.2.5 Conclusion: “Herod” and John 5.3 “Herod” and Jesus 5.3.1 Growing Antagonism: Luke 9:7–9 5.3.1.1 “Herod” Sought to See Him 5.3.2 Context of Luke 13:31–35 5.3.2.1 “Herod” Wishes to Kill Him 5.3.3 Rejection of Jesus’ Message: Luke 8:3 and Acts 13:1 5.3.3.1 Joanna: A Disciple in the House of “Herod” 5.3.3.2 Manaen: A Disciple in the House of “Herod” 5.3.4 The (Anti-)Climactic Meeting: Luke 23:6–12 5.3.4.1 The Trial before “Herod:” Interrogation and Mockery 5.3.4.2 Condemning the Innocent: Luke 23:6– and Acts 4:25–27 5.3.5 Conclusion: “Herod” and Jesus 5.4 “Herod,” the Apostles, and the Early Church 5.4.1 Context of Acts 12:1–6 5.4.2 Another Execution and Imprisonment: Acts 12:1–6 5.4.3 Conclusion: “Herod,” the Apostles, and the Early Church 5.5 Conclusion: A King and Ruler Takes His Stand Chapter 6: “Herod,” Satan’s Authority, and the Proclamation of the Gospel 6.1 Proclaiming the Gospel as a Theme in Luke-Acts 6.1.1 The Protagonists Proclaiming the Gospel 6.1.1.1 John the Baptist 6.1.1.2 Jesus 6.1.1.3 The Apostles and the Church 6.2 Satan’s Authority and the Roman Empire in Luke-Acts 6.2.1 Satan’s Attempts to Hinder the Spread of the Gospel in Luke-Acts 6.2.2 “Herod’s” Antagonism: A Roman Ruler under Satan’s Authority 6.3 The Role of “Herod” as a Composite Character 6.3.1 The Death of “Herod:” Acts 12:20–24 6.3.2 Paul Must Testify in Rome 6.3.2.1 Paul before Agrippa 6.4 Conclusion: “Herod,” Satan, and the Spread of the Gospel Chapter 7: Conclusion 7.1 Summary of the Argument 7.2 Implications and Further Research 7.2.1 Literary Matters Matter 7.2.2 The Progressive Vilification of “Herod” Bibliography Index of Ancient Sources A. Hebrew Bible and Septuagint B. New Testament C. Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha D. Other Early Christian Writings E. Josephus E. Other Greek and Latin Authors F. Other Jewish Writings Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects