Title
Urban uprisings in the Roman world: the social setting of the mobbing of Sosthenes.
School/Department
Talbot School of Theology
Publication Date
7-2005
Abstract
The unresolved difficulty of Acts 18.12–17 involves finding an adequate explanation for the (seemingly) unprovoked hostile reaction of the crowd toward Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. This investigation places this incident within the larger social context of urban uprisings and mob violence in the Roman world in order to highlight the socio-economic factors (poverty, overcrowding, etc.) that inevitably gave rise to such frequent outbursts of urban aggression during this period. As such, this study illumines not only Acts 18, but other passages in Acts where mob violence plays a leading role.
Keywords
Sosthenes; Cities and towns--Rome
Publication Title
New Testament Studies
Volume
51
Issue
3
First Page
416
Last Page
428
DOI of Published Version
10.1017/S0028688505000214
Recommended Citation
Hubbard, Moyer V., "Urban uprisings in the Roman world: the social setting of the mobbing of Sosthenes." (2005). Faculty Articles & Research. 178.
https://digitalcommons.biola.edu/faculty-articles/178