Eleazar ben Annas = Alexander of Acts 4.6? January 10, 2010
Posted by Lee in Luke & Roman Authorities, MET Blogger Archive, Significant Persons in Luke-Acts.add a comment
[Originally posted on July 13, 2008.]
I recently read that Alexander is the Graecized form of the Hebrew name Eleazar. We know that Annas the high priest of 6-15AD had five sons who served as high priest, one of whom was named Eleazar. Since we have no record of a high priest bearing the name Alexander in Josephus, et al., and since we are told that one Alexander was of “the high priestly family” in Acts 4.6, might that Alexander mean to be a reference to Eleazar ben Annas, who served as high priest from 16-17AD?
Additionally, the John of Acts 4.6 might very well be Jonathan ben Annas, who served as high priest twice. This would explain further why Luke can call this group members of “the high priestly family”. If Luke’s recipient Theophilus is the son of Annas (as is posited here on this blog) who served as high priest from 37-41AD, he would have easily recognized his brothers’ names, even if shortened or Graecized. Perhaps there is an intention on Luke’s part to publicly obscure, yet reveal to Theophlius, the identities of these “high priests”. I cannot find any reason for the phenomenon known as “protective anonimity” in this case. However, the irony is far more than coincidence.
Also, note that Luke does not say that these men are of “priestly descent”. He says they are of the “HIGH priestly family”. This is a much more specific reference. For there is no basis of descent which entitles one to the high priesthood.
Felix, Jonathan and Theophilus January 10, 2010
Posted by Lee in Luke & Josephus, Luke & Roman Authorities, MET Blogger Archive, Significant Persons in Luke-Acts.add a comment
[Originally posed on July 10, 2008.]
Dan Barag and David Flusser, in their article concerning an ossuary bearing the names “Yehohanah” and “Theophilus”, write, “After playing an important role in public life during the time of Cumanus (50-52 C.E.), he [Jonathan, Theophilus' brother] was murdered at the instigation of the prefect Felix” (D. Barag and D. Flusser, “The Ossuary of Yehohanah Granddaughter of the High Priest Theophilus”, Israel Exploration Journal, 36 [1986], 43n.19; they reference Schurer, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ, rev. ed. [Vermes and Millar], 230).
Is this perhaps why Luke casts Felix in such a wicked light in Acts? Felix is said to have expected a bribe from Paul (Ac24.26). If indeed Felix was responsible for the murder of Theophilus’ brother Jonathan, then his holding of Paul (cf. Ac24.27) might very well be (spiteful?) motivation for Theophilus to intervene on Paul’s behalf. Perhaps Luke, knowing of Felix responsibility in Jonathan’s death, hoped to instigate intervention on the part of Theophilus.
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Since the above entry was written, I learned from Josephus (Ant. 20.5 [160ff.]) that the Sicarii were directly responsible for Jonathan’s murder. But they were initiated by a friend of Jonathan’s, named Doras, who was bribed by Felix. That Luke demonstrates Felix’s corruption in hoping to receive a bribe from Paul may be an effort to prompt Theophilus to intervene on Paul’s behalf, for Theophilus surely would have noticed the similarity in demise between Paul and Jonathan in the hands of Felix.
