Recovering Jewish-Christian Sects and Gospels (Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae)

passion traditions reinterpreted 

cult in Jerusalem would have been well received among Samaritans. Acts
also refers to Cyprus, where we meet Epiphanius’ Ebionites, as the target
of the missionary work that followed Stephen’s execution (Acts :–
).
Notably, theseearliest stagesof missionarywork launched by Stephen’s
execution did not receive Luke’s unreserved acceptance because the work
needed to be checked out and completed by more qualified apostles. In
Luke’s view, the religiosity of both Samaria and Cyprus are characterized
by false prophets and magicians. Peter and John followed Philip to
Samaria, delivered the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans and confronted
Simon with whom Philip had had no problems (Acts :–). Paul,
Barnabas and John went to Cyprus where they met a Jewish false prophet,
Bar-Jesus, whom Paul accused of “perverting” the ways of the Lord (Acts
:–).
Do we have here reminiscences of the early missionary activity of the
circle around Stephen? Did some of the Hellenists find refuge among the
Samaritans or closely related groups after the execution of Stephen? In
any case, it seems clear that Epiphanius’ Ebionites andRec. .– found
something to build on in the traditions connected to Stephen. Stephen’s
“proclamation,” as it is described in Acts, found acceptance among Hel-
lenistic Jewish Christians who criticized the temple and sacrifices and
saw in Jesus mainly a prophet predicted by Moses.

.. Passion Fragments in

Jerome’sCommentary on Matthew

The collection of anti-rabbinic passages that Jerome received from the

Nazarenes (see Chapter ..) includes two sections that are related to

passion and resurrection. Jerome’sCommentary on Matthew(ce)

contains an alternative interpretation of the name Barabbas in Matt

::

The name of this man is interpreted in the Gospel which is written accord-

ing to the Hebrews as son of their master...^45

In this passage, Jerome appears to claim that in the gospel accord-
ing to the Hebrews, the name Barabbas ( ) which means son of
the/his father in Hebrew, was followed by an interpretation that the name

(^45) Translation from Klijn , .