A Postcolonial Reading of the Acts of the Apostles (Studies in Biblical Literature)

Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Postcolonial Criticism as an Optic for Biblical Studies
	Introduction
		Definitions
		The Prefix "Post"
		Postcolonialism and Biblical Studies
		Conclusion
	Postcolonial Categories
		Hybridity
		Diaspora-Alterity
		Mimicry/Mockery
		Identity
		Race in Imperialism and Colonialism
	The Signifiers of Race, Culture, and Nation
		Problems of Representation
		Examples of Representation of the Other
		Feminism and Race
		Empire Representations — Greeks, Romans and Jews
			The Greeks
			Examples of the Literary Construct of Barbarism — The Romans
			Judaism
		Conclusion
		My Critique and Some Observations
Chapter 2. The Death of Herod Agrippa I as Starting Point
	Introduction
		Analysis of Acts 12 as Narrative Context
		Some Observations Regarding Herod Julius Agrippa I as a King of Judea
	Analysis of Acts 12 as Type-Scene
		Definitions and Usage
		The Model of the Passion
		The Model of the Exodus
		The Model of Food Dependence in Acts 12
		Models of Self-Exaltation in Luke-Acts
	Role and Purpose of Acts 12 in Luke-Acts
Chapter 3. Roman Imperial Worship—Presuppositions for the Study
	Roman Religion in History
		Introduction and Presuppositions
	Roman Self-Identity and Religion
		Corporate Identity
		Religio Licita or Non Licita?
	The Ruler Cult—Imperial Worship in History
		Introduction
		Understanding the Other in History
		The Oriental or Eastener Perspective
		An Example Comparing the Romans with the Egyptians
		The Problem of Divinization or Deification
		Traditional Posture or Shared Cult Partnership between Emperors and Local Gods
		Mandatory or Voluntary Worship
		Imperial Cult Development during the Time of Augustus
		Other Emperors
	The Importance of Neokoros as Sole Cult for the Emperor and Not as a Combined Worship to God/dess and the Emperor
		Introduction to Neokoroi
		Ephesus
		Gaius & Nero
		The Augusti
		Theologoi
		Domitian
		Other Elements: The Different Colossi and the Worship of the Augusti
		Hadrian
		Conclusion
		Examples from Other Cities
			Smyrna
			Kyzikus
	Excursus: Inscriptions Bearing the Names of Emperors as Gods
	Conclusion
Chapter 4. Representation in Acts of the Institutions of Judaism
	Introduction
		Jewish and Jewish Christian Self-Identity and the Institutions in History
		The Institution of the Sanhedrin
	Representation and Evaluation of Jewish Establishment in Acts
		The Prologue of Acts
		Transference of Powers
		From the Center of the World to the End of the Earth
		The Term End of the Earth
	The Kingdom of Israel and Kingdom of God
		The Mistaken Restoration of the Kingdom to Israel versus the Establishment of the Eschatological Kingdom of God
		Relationship of the Kingdom to Jerusalem versus the Concept of House and Sons of Israel
		The Importance of the Temple
		The Purpose of the Temple —Oikos in Stephen's Speech
		Rulers and Judges as Leaders in Relation to Stephen's Speech and the Temple
		The Concept of House-Oikos Compared to the Rending of the Veil of the Temple in Luke-Acts
	The Identity of the Jews — the Rejection
		Who are the Persecutors and the Ioudaioi in Acts?
		New Opposition Groups, the Pseudo-Prophet and the Directional Shift
		From Synagogues to Gentiles?
		The Jews of Asia
		Conclusion
	The Lukan Paul
		The Jewish-Pharisee Paul
		The Identity of Paul and the Jews
		Paul and Other Groups
		Paul's Hybridity
		Conclusion
Chapter 5. The Roman Representation in the Acts of the Apostles
	Introduction
	In the Roman Colony of Philippi: Proclaiming "Unlawful Customs for Romans to Adopt"
		Philippi as a Roman Colony: Instances that Depict its Structures of Power
		In Front of the Roman Authorities: The Arrest and Trial
		Incarceration and Deliverance
		The Release—A Conclusion
	Against the Decrees of Caesar in Thessalonica
		The Accusation: Turning the World (Oikoumene)  Upside-Down
		Trial and Sentence—Acting Contrary to the Decrees of Caesars: A Brief Excurses on Some of the Decrees
	Cases of Idolatry and Mockery of the Roman Representation— In Athens
		Athens and Lystra
	Who Does Not Know? Idolatry and Imperial Worshipers in Ephesus
		The Burning of Incantation and Magic Books
		Accusation: "Gods are Not Made with Hands" — A Case of Disrepute
		The Ambivalent "Some" of the Asiarchs
		Treating Identity and Commercialism
	In Front of the Roman Authorities —A Final Conclusion
		The Arrest in the Temple by the Roman Tribune — Seeing the Other
		In Front of the Roman Governors
		In Front of Felix
		In Front of Festus
		In Front of Agrippa II — The Client-King of the Romans
		Conclusion
General Conclusions and Observations
Bibliography