ABSTRACT
This article analyzes three pericopes from the Acts of the Apostles (19:13-16; 20:7-12; 28:1-6) and highlights the existence therein of the literary genre anecdote. The article reviews the main diachronic and synchronic studies on the book of Acts. The method of form criticism is used, since those passages indicate the existence of a literary genre which is apparently overlooked by traditional biblical exegesis. This characteristic method of historical-critical exegesis is combined with Bakhtin’s theory of the novel, in order to propose a renewal of the theoretical approach. The three pericopes from the Acts of the Apostles are analyzed from the Greek text. The article points out the existence of anecdotes in the book of Acts and that the function of this literary genre is to provide pauses along the Lucan narrative. Another outcome of the study is to point out the relevance of comicality in the New Testament.
KEYWORDS
Anecdote; Subgenre; Acts; Comic; Luke