Textual variants in the Acts of the Apostles
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2021) |
Textual variants in the Acts of the Apostles are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.
Most of the variations are not significant and some common alterations include the deletion, rearrangement, repetition, or replacement of one or more words when the copyist's eye returns to a similar word in the wrong location of the original text. If their eye skips to an earlier word, they may create a repetition (error of dittography). If their eye skips to a later word, they may create an omission. They may resort to performing a rearranging of words to retain the overall meaning without compromising the context. In other instances, the copyist may add text from memory from a similar or parallel text in another location. Otherwise, they may also replace some text of the original with an alternative reading. Spellings occasionally change. Synonyms may be substituted. A pronoun may be changed into a proper noun (such as "he said" becoming "Jesus said"). John Mill's 1707 Greek New Testament was estimated to contain some 30,000 variants in its accompanying textual apparatus[1] which was based on "nearly 100 [Greek] manuscripts."[2] Peter J. Gurry puts the number of non-spelling variants among New Testament manuscripts around 500,000, though he acknowledges his estimate is higher than all previous ones.[3]
Legend
[edit]A guide to the sigla (symbols and abbreviations) most frequently used in the body of this article.[4][5]
- General sigla
- # beginning with 0: uncial
- # not beginning with 0: minuscule
- * superscript: original reading
- c superscript: scribal correction
- ms superscript: individual manuscript
- mss superscript: multiple manuscripts
- pt superscript: partial attestation
- vid superscript: uncertain reading
- arab: Arabic versions
- arm: Armenian versions
- 𝔐 or Byz: Byzantine text-type
- cop: Coptic versions
- sa: Sahidic version
- bo: Boharic version
- eth: Ethiopic versions
- ƒ: Greek manuscripts family
- geo: Georgian versions
- goth: Gothic versions
- it: Italic/Vetus Latina
- lat: most Italic and Vulgate
- latt: all Italic and Vulgate
- 𝔓: papyrus
- 𝑙: individually numbered lectionary
- Lect: most or all numbered lectionaries
- parenthesized (): approximate reading
- rell: all other extant manuscripts
- slav: Slavic versions
- syr: Syriac versions
- vg: Latin Vulgate
- ς: Textus Receptus
- Uncial sigla
- א: Codex Sinaiticus (01)
- A: Codex Alexandrinus (02)
- B: Codex Vaticanus (03)
- C: Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (04)
- Dea: Codex Bezae (05)
- Dp: Codex Claromontanus (06)
- Ke: Codex Cyprius (017)
- Kap: Codex Mosquensis I (018)
- Le: Codex Regius (New Testament) (019)
- Lap: Codex Angelicus (020)
- Papr: Codex Porphyrianus (025)
- S: Codex Vaticanus 354 (028)
- V: Codex Mosquensis II (031)
- W: Codex Washingtonianus (032)
- Z: Codex Dublinensis (035)
- Γ: Codex Tischendorfianus IV (036)
- Δ: Codex Sangallensis 48 (037)
- Θ: Codex Koridethi (038)
- Ξ: Codex Zacynthius (040)
- Π: Codex Petropolitanus (New Testament) (041)
- Φ: Codex Beratinus (043)
- Ψ: Codex Athous Lavrensis (044)
- Ω: Codex Athous Dionysiou (045)
- ff1: Codex Corbeiensis I
- ff2: Codex Corbeiensis II
- g1: Codex Sangermanensis I
- k: Codex Bobiensis
- Critical editions
- T8th: Tischendorf's 8th Edition of Editio Octava Critica Maior
- WH: Westcott and Hort (1881)
- NA: Novum Testamentum Graece (Nestle–Aland)
- UBS: United Bible Societies
- ECM: Editio Critica Maior
Textual variants
[edit]
Acts 1:5
- ἐν πνεύματι βαπτισθήσεσθε ἁγίῳ (with [the] Spirit will be baptised Holy) – א* B 81 915 Didymus WH[6]
- ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ βαπτισθήσεσθε (with [the] Spirit Holy will be baptised) – D it Hilary Augustine[6]
- βαπτισθήσεσθε ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ (will be baptised with [the] Spirit Holy) – 𝔓74 אc A C E Ψ Byz vg Origen Cyril ς.[6] Compare Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16.[6]
Acts 1:5
- ἡμέρας (days) – Byz ς WH[6]
- ἡμέρας ἔως τῆς πεντηκοστῆς (days until the Pentacost) – D, copsa copmae Ephraem Augustine Cassiodorus[6]
Acts 1:6
Acts 1:7
- εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς ([he] said to them) – B* syrp WH.[8] Alexandrian text-type: Westcott and Hort 1881, Westcott and Hort / [NA27 and UBS4 variants] 1864–94, Tischendorf 8th Edition, Nestle 1904[9]
- εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς (but [he] said to them) – א A B2 Ψ Byz vg syrh ς.[8] Byz: Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550, Scrivener's Textus Receptus 1894, RP Byzantine Majority Text 2005, Greek Orthodox Church[9]
- καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς (and [he] said to them) – Western text-type: D it[8]
- ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς (but he, answering them, said) – (Cvid) E[8]
Acts 1:10
- ἐσθήσεσι λευκαῖς (white clothing) – 𝔓56(c) א A B C Ψ 81 323 945 1175 1739 pc it vg Eusebius WH[10]
- ἐσθήτι λευκῇ (white clothing) – 𝔓56* D E Byz itgig syr ς[10]
Acts 1:11
- εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν ((in)to [the] heaven) – א A B C E Ψ 049 056 0142 36 81 88 104 181 307 326mg 330 436 453 610 614 629 630 945 1175 1241 1409 1505 1678 1739supp 1877 1891 2127 2344 2412 2492 Byz Lect itar itc itdem ite itp itph itro itt itw vg syrp syrh syrpal copsa copbo copmae armmss eth geo slav Origenlat Eusebius Ps-Ignatius Epiphanius Chrysostom Jerome Augustine2/6 Cyril Proclus Quodvultdeus1/2 Theodoret3/4 Cosmas ς WH[11]
- omitted – D, 33c, 242, 326* 2495 l60 itd itgig vgmss copbo(mss) armmss Maximus Maximinus Augustine4/6 Quodvultdeus1/2 Leo Varimadum Theodoret1/4 Vigilius Cassiodorus[11]
Acts 1:14
- τῇ προσευχῇ ([in] the prayer) – 𝔓74 א A B C* D E Ψ 81 104 1175 pc it vg syr WH NR CEI Riv TILC Nv NM[12]
- τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει ([in] the prayer and [in] the supplication) – C Byz ς ND Dio.[12] Compare Philippians 4:6.[12]
Acts 1:15
- ἀδελφῶν (of the brothers) – א A B C* 33vid 104 945 1175 pc vg copsa copbo WH NR CEI Riv TILC Nv NM[13]
- μαθητῶν (of the disciples) – (C) D E Ψ ite itgig itp syr copmae Byz Cyprian Augustine ς ND Dio.[13]
- ἀποστόλων (of the apostles) – 𝔓74[13]
Acts 1:18
- πρηνὴς γενόμενος (headlong having fallen/become) – א A B C D E Ψ 049 056 0142 33 81 88 104 181 326 330 436 451 614 629 630 945 1241 1505 1739supp 1877 2127 2412 2492 2495 Byz (syrp) syrh copsa copbo ς WH[14]
- πρησθείς (swollen up) – geo? Papias[14]
- pronus factus ([having been] made/become face down) – itd ite itp*[14]
- in faciem prostratus (lying down on the face) – itgig Ambrose[14]
- suspensus (hanging/suspended) – itar itc itp(c) itt vg Bede[14]
- (swollen) – arm[14]
Acts 2:5[citation needed]
- κατοικοῦντες Ἰουδαῖοι, ἄνδρες εὐλαβεῖς – A, B
- κατοικοῦντες εν Ἰερουσαλὴμ, ἄνδρες Ἰουδαῖοι – C3 (Ἰουδαῖοι ἄνδρες), D (εὐλαβεῖς ἄνδρες), Ea (Ἰουδαῖοι κατοικοῦντες), Ψ, 049, 056, 0142, 33, 81, 88, 104, 181, 326, 330, 436, 451, 614, 629, 630, 945, 1241, 1505, 1739, 1877, 2127, 2412, 2492, 2495, Byz, Lect
- κατοικοῦντες ἄνδρες εὐλαβεῖς – א, itph, syrp
- κατοικοῦντες Ιουδαιοι – ℓ 603
Acts 2:14
- ενδεκα – majority
- δεκα αποστολος – D*
Acts 3:1
Acts 4:24
- συ – 𝔓74, א, A, B, 2495
- συ ει – vgcl
- συ ο θεος – D E P Ψ 049 056 0142 104 326 330 436 451 614 629 945 1241 1505 1739 2412 2492 Byz Lect e gig
- συ ει ο θεος – 2127, ℓ 680, ℓ 1443, d, copsa
- κυριε ο θεος – 33, 181, 1877, syrp, h
- κυριε συ – 88 (arm συ κυριος)
- κυριε – ar
Acts 4:36[15]
- Ἰωσὴφ (Joseph) – Westcott and Hort 1881, Westcott and Hort / [NA27 and UBS4 variants], Tischendorf's 8th Edition 1864–94, Nestle 1904
- Ἰωσῆς (Joses) – Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550, Scrivener's Textus Receptus 1894, RP Byzantine Majority Text 2005, Greek Orthodox Church
Acts 5:3
- ὁ Πέτρος Ἁνανία – majority of manuscripts of all the Alexandrian, Caesarean, and Byzantine text-types
- Πέτρος πρὸς Ἁνανίαν – D, Ψ
- πρὸς αὐτόν ὁ Πέτρος Ἁνανίαν – E, 321
Acts 5:28
Acts 6:1
Acts 7:1
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/P050-Act-8_26-32-IV-V.jpg/200px-P050-Act-8_26-32-IV-V.jpg)
Acts 8:37
- εἶπε δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος, εἰ πιστεύεις ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας, ἔξεστιν ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ειπε, πιστεύω τὸν υἱὸν του θεου ειναι τὸν Ιησουν Χριστον – 104, 323, 453, 945, 1739, 1891, 2818, ℓ 59
- εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Φίλιππος, ἐὰν πιστεύεις ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου, σωθήσει ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ειπε, πιστεύω εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν τὸν υἱὸν του θεου – Εa, ite
- εἶπε δὲ, εἰ πιστεύεις ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας, ἔξεστιν ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ εὐνοῦχος ειπεν αὐτῷ, πιστεύω τὸν υἱὸν του θεου ειναι τὸν Ιησουν Χριστον – 88
- verse omitted by 𝔓45, 𝔓74, א, A, B, C, P, Ψ, 049, 056, 0142, 33, 81, 88*, 104, 181, 326, 330, 436, 451, 614, 1241, 1505, 2127, 2412, 2492, 2495, Byz, Lect
Acts 8:39
Acts 9:1
Acts 10:25
- Codex Bezae has an addition: "And as Peter was drawing near to Caesarea one of the servants ran forward and announced that he was come."
Acts 12:25
- εις Ιερουσαλημ (to Jerusalem) – א, B, H, L, P, 049, 056, 0142, 81, 88, 326, 330, 451, 629, 1241, 1505, 1877, 2492, 2495, Byz, Lect
- εξ Ιερουσαλημ (from Jerusalem) – 𝔓74, A, 33, 69, 630, 2127[16]
- απο Ιερουσαλημ (from Jerusalem) – D, Ψ, 181, 436, 614, 2412, ℓ 147, ℓ 809, ℓ 1021, ℓ 1141, ℓ 1364, ℓ 1439, ar, d, gig, vg, Chrysostom
- εις Αντιοχειαν (to Antioch) – 97mg, 110, 328, 424mg, 425c
- εις την Αντιοχειαν (to Antioch) – ℓ 38
- απο Ιερουσαλημ εις Αντιοχειαν (from Jerusalem to Antioch) – E, 322, 323
- εξ Ιερουσαλημ εις Αντιοχειαν (from Jerusalem to Antioch) – 429, 945, 1739, e, p, syrp, copsa geo
- εις Ιερουσαλημ εις Αντιοχειαν (to Jerusalem to Antioch) – 104, copsa (some mss.)
Acts 13:33
- εν τω ψαλμω γεγραπται τω δευτερω (it is written in the second Psalm) – 𝔓75, א, A, B, C, Ψ, 33 81 181 326 630 945 1739
- εν τω ψαλμω τω δευτερω γεγραπται (it is written in the second Psalm) – Ε Π 049 88 104 330 436 451 614 629 1241 1505 1877 2127 2412 2492 2495 Byz
- εν τω δευτερω ψαλμω γεγραπται (it is written in the second Psalm) – 056 0142
- εν τω πρωτω ψαλμω γεγραπται (it is written in the first Psalm) – D* it
- εν τοις ψαλμοις γεγραπται (it is written in Psalms) – 𝔓45
- εν τω ψαλμω γεγραπται (it is written in Psalm) – 522 1175
Acts 14:1
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Codex_laudianus_%28The_S.S._Teacher%27s_Edition-The_Holy_Bible_-_Plate_XXIX%29.jpg/200px-Codex_laudianus_%28The_S.S._Teacher%27s_Edition-The_Holy_Bible_-_Plate_XXIX%29.jpg)
Acts 15:23
- γραψαντης δια χειρος αυτων – 𝔓45, 𝔓74, א*, A, B, copbo
- γραψαντης δια χειρος αυτων ταδε – אc, E, (33), Byz, syrh
- γραψαντης δια χειρος αυτων επιστολην περιεχουσαν ταδε – C, ar, c, gig, w, geo
- γραψαντης επιστολην δια χειρος αυτων περιεχουσαν ταδε – D, d
- γραψαντης επιστολην δια χειρος αυτων εχουσαν τον τυπον τουτον – Ψ
- γραψαντης δια χειρος αυτων επιστολην και πεμψαντες περιεχουσαν ταδε – 614.[17]: 366
Acts 15:24
- ψυχας υμων (your souls) – 𝔓33, 𝔓45, 𝔓74, א, A, B, D, 33, 81, 629
- ψυχας υμων λεγοντες περιτεμνεσθαι και τηρειν τον νομον (your souls, saying: you must be circumcised and keep the law) – C, Ea (περιτεμνεσθαι δει), P, Ψ, 049, 056, 0142, 88, 104, 181, 326, 330, 436, 451, 614, 630, 945, 1241, 1739, Byz
Acts 15:34
- verse omitted by majority of the mss.
- verse contained in C, 33, 88, 181, 326, 436, 614, 630, 945, 1739, 2412
Acts 16:1
Acts 19:20
- του κυριου ο λογος – א A B
- ο λογος του κυριου – majority
- η πιστις του κυριου – D, syrp
Acts 20:15
- και μειναντες εν Τρωγυλλιω (and after remaining at Trogyllium) – D P 049 88 181 326 330 451 614 945 1241 1505 1877 2127 2412 2492 2495
- και μειναντες εν Στρογγυλιω (and after remaining at Strogyllium) – 056 0142
- και μειναντες εν Στογυλιω (and after remaining at Stogyllium) – 104
- μεινοντες εις το Γυλλιον (Gyllium) – Ψ
- omit – 𝔓74 א A B C Egr 33 630 1739
Acts 22:1
Acts 23:1
Acts 24:6b-8a
- verse omitted by majority of the mss.
- verse contained (with textual differences) in E, Ψ, 056, 0142, 33, 88, 181, 424, 436, 483, 614, 630, 945, 1505, 2412, 2495
Acts 24:20
Acts 25:1
Acts 26:1
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/P074-Act-27.14-21-VII.jpg/200px-P074-Act-27.14-21-VII.jpg)
Acts 27:16
- Καυδα (name of island) – 𝔓74 B 1175 lat syrp
- Κλαυδα – א A 33 81 614 945 1739 2495, vgmss (Codex Cavensis) syrh
- Κλαυδην – Byz
- Γαυδην – Ψ[17]: 403
Acts 27:37
- ως εβδομηκοντα (about seventy) – Epiphaniuspt
- ως εβδομηκοντα εξ (about seventy-six) – B sa Epiphaniuspt
- εβδομηκοντα εξ (seventy-six) – 522 ℓ680
- εκατον εβδομηκοντα εξ (one hundred seventy-six) – bomss
- διακοσιοι δεκα εξ (two hundred sixteen) – ℓ1156
- διακοσιαι εβδομηκοντα (two hundred seventy) – 69 Ephraem
- διακοσιαι εβδομηκοντα πεντε (two hundred seventy-five) – A sa
- διακοσιαι εβδομηκοντα εξ (two hundred seventy-six) – rell
Acts 27:41
- απο της βιας (from the force) – א*
- υπο της βιας (by the force) – A B arm geo
- a vi maris (from the sea) – latt
- των κυματων (of the waves) – ℓ1441 (w/obeli)
- υπο των κυματων (by the waves) – Ψ 1678 2464 eth
- υπο της βιας των ανεμων (by the force of the winds) – 629
- απο της βιας των κυματων (from the force of the waves) – 104 ℓ599
- υπο της βιας των κυματων (by the force of the waves) – 𝔓74 א2 rell
Acts 28:1
See also
[edit]- Alexandrian text-type
- Biblical inerrancy
- Byzantine text-type
- Caesarean text-type
- Categories of New Testament manuscripts
- Comparison of codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus
- List of New Testament verses not included in modern English translations
- Textual variants in the New Testament
- Western text-type
References
[edit]- ^ Adam Fox, John Mill and Richard Bentley: A Study of the Textual Criticism of the New Testament 1675–1729 (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1954), pp. 105–115; John Mill, Novum Testamentum Graecum, cum lectionibus variantibus MSS (Oxford 1707)
- ^ Metzger and Ehrman (2005), p.154
- ^ Gurry, Peter J. (2016). "The Number of Variants in the Greek New Testament: A Proposed Estimate". New Testament Studies. 62 (1): 113. doi:10.1017/S0028688515000314. S2CID 170822522.
- ^ Metzger, Bruce Manning; Ehrman, Bart D. (2005). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 54, 62–86, 102–103. ISBN 0-19-516667-1.
- ^ J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Legenda tekstkritische notities". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Handelingen 1:5". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Handelingen 1:6". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Handelingen 1:7". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Acts 1:7 Text Analysis". Biblehub.com. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Handelingen 1:10". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Handelingen 1:11". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b c J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Handelingen 1:14". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b c J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Handelingen 1:15". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Handelingen 1:18". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Acts 4:36 Text Analysis". Biblehub.com. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ UBS3, p. 464.
- ^ a b c Aland, Kurt; Black, Matthew; Martini, Carlo Maria; Metzger, Bruce M.; Wikgren, Allen, eds. (1981). Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (26 ed.). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelstiftung. ISBN 3-438-051001. (NA26)
Further reading
[edit]- Novum Testamentum Graece et Latine, ed. E. Nestle, K. Aland, Stuttgart 1981.
- Bruce M. Metzger & Bart D. Ehrman, "The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration", OUP New York, Oxford, 4 edition, 2005
- Bruce M. Metzger, "A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament: A Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament", 1994, United Bible Societies, London & New York.
- Bart D. Ehrman, "The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture. The Effect of Early Christological Controversies on the Text of the New Testament", Oxford University Press, New York - Oxford, 1996, pp. 223–227.
- David C. Parker and Stuart R. Pickering, eds., “4968. Acta Apostolorum 10–12. 15–17,” in Graeco-Roman Memoirs 95 (London: Egypt Exploration Society; British Academy 2009), 1–45, esp. 8;
- Eldon Jay Epp, “Textual Clusters,” 560; “Text-Critical Witnesses and Methodology for Isolating a Distinctive D-Text in Acts,” NovT 59 (2017): 225–96, esp. 230–32
- Georg Gäbel, “Western Text, D-Text Cluster, Bezan Trajectory, Or What Else?—A Preliminary Study,” in Novum Testamentum Graecum: Editio Critica Maior; The Acts of the Apostles, ed. Holger Strutwolf et al. (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2017), 3/3: 83–136, esp.133f.
- Klaus Wachtel, “On the Relationship of the ‘Western Text’ and the Byzantine Tradition of Acts—A Plea Against the Text Type Concept,” in Novum Testamentum Graecum: Editio Critica Maior; The Acts of the Apostles, ed. Holger Strutwolf et al. (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2017), 3/3: 137–48, esp. 147.
- Pasi Hyytiäinen, "The Changing Text of Acts: A Phylogenetic Approach," TC: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism 26 (2021): 1–28.