How Ancient Narratives Persuade: Acts in Its Literary Context

(Paperback)

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The Acts of the Apostles includes persuasive speeches, but the whole story should also be seen as an act of persuasion. In How Ancient Narratives Persuade: Acts in Its Literary Context, Eric Clouston takes a fresh approach to interpreting Acts, treating it as a persuasive narrative. Comparison with other Greek narratives allows Clouston to show how events and charactersand how they are described as worthy of trust, empathy, or respect, as well as their speeches and narrator asidesall have different persuasive effects. His examination of the persuasive effects of narrative in Acts leads at last to conclusions about the purpose of the work directed to a readership unconvinced by the figure of Paul.

Reviews

In How Ancient Narratives Persuade, Eric Clouston offers a refreshing engagement with the persuasive elements in Acts' narrative. Clouston sets out with audacious aims for a single monograph but achieves his overall goal to assess the role of persuasion in Act. This volume presents a compelling invitation to view narratives as significant contributors to the suasory skills of the NT writers and sets the stage for others to follow.

* Catholic Biblical Quarterly *
Through a host of literary techniques, the author of the Acts of the Apostles seeks to persuade his readers of the truthfulness of his narrative. How he does this is the major contribution offered by Eric Clouston, who, through a detailed comparison with four non-biblical texts, carefully provides a systematic method for demonstrating the persuasive nature of Luke's storytelling. All those interested in the Acts of the Apostles and literary analysis will benefit from this convincing book! -- Joshua W. Jipp, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Clouston enhances narrative criticism by developing a new method for identifying techniques of persuasion in ancient narratives. His analysis of narrative persuasion in Acts and other non-biblical texts is promising and advances the discipline. -- Cornelis Bennema, Union School of Theology, UK
Eric Clouston has given us a fresh perspective on how narrative persuades in this fascinating comparison of Acts and several Jewish authors from the same period. He makes a new contribution to scholarship by constructing a systematic approach to how ancient narratives persuade. He provides an engaging and convincing picture of each of these authors organization of their narratives in order to win over their audiences, and thereby enlarges and enlightens our understanding of Acts, Philo, Josephus, Joseph and Aseneth, and the Letter of Aristeas. Bravo! -- Steve Walton, Trinity College Bristol, UK
Eric Clouston presents an eminently readable exploration of techniques of persuasion in Jewish texts, with a focus on the Book of Acts and on the question of how actors and actions are either accredited or discredited by the author. This monograph is an important contribution to rhetorical and narrative criticism in general and to the study of Acts in particular. -- Eckhard J. Schnabel, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Author Bio

Eric Clouston is a priest in the Church of England and teaches theology internationally.