This book provides a very sophisticated and fresh reading of Paul’s famous Areopagus speech. Strait excels in displaying his easy command of a broad array of sources, including the epigraphic habit, but also gives due weight to Philo and the Wisdom of Solomon with their icon parodies and idol satires. The ancient rhetorical device of figured speech is used as an analytical tool to good effect throughout. Thus a thick web of allusions is created for Acts 17 that allows us to read this speech as subtle criticism of the dominating political ideology of the day. An important book and a must read, not only for Lukan scholars.
- Hans-Josef Klauck, University of Chicago,