Paul the Necromancer: Luke’s Use of the Hapax ‘gnwstes’ in Acts 26:3

Abstract

This exegetical paper analyses ‘gnwstes’‚ in Acts 26 as an unmarked verbal echo to the LXX that reinforces the illegitimacy of Paul’s imprisonment for the implied audience. The fact that γνώστης is both a hapax in the New Testament and a rare term in the LXX means that it is justifiable to explore the possibility of its intertextuality. It is also plausible that a knowledgeable listener informed by both Graeco-Roman culture as well as the language of the LXX could understand it as an unmarked echo, especially considering Luke expected a wide range of ‘cultural literacy and interpretive competency’ from his ideal audience. When one examines the vague references to the charges against Paul in Acts, especially those implying his communication with the dead (e.g. Acts 23:9), one can see that Luke shows Paul using γνώστης in order to simultaneously flatter and test Agrippa with regards to Jewish controversies and customs, all the while emphasising the unlawful reasons for his imprisonment.