While doing some research on the Book of Acts, I came across the work of Claudia Setzer (Jewish Responses to Early Christians: History and Polemics 30–150 C.E. [Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994], 44–82). She argues that there are “five different portrayals of the Jews and their reactions to Christians” in Acts (p. 46). The five reactions are:
1. Neutral curiosity (e.g., 2:41, 47–48; 4:4, 22, 32, 36; 5:9, 14, 26; 8:5, 25, 56; 9:29, 43; 11:14; 13:13–43, 44; 14:1–7; 17:1–9, 10–12, 17; 18:4, 7–8, 19–20, 24–28; 19:8–10 20:26; 28:17–25).
2. General tolerance (5:34–39; 19:33–34; 23:6–9; 28:21–25).
3. Plots against Christian preachers, spontaneous violence (e.g., 6:8–14; 7:54–58; 9:23–25; 11:19; 12:11; 13:45, 50; 14:2–5; 14:19; 17:13; 20:3, 19; 21:27–32; 22:22, 30; 23:12–27, 24:18; 26:21).
4. Attempts to use official channels to censure or punish Christian preachers (e.g., 4:2–3, 17–21; 5:17–18, 33–40; 6:8–14; 8:1–3; 9:1–2, 21; 12:1–3, 11; 17:5–9; 18:12–17; 21:11; 22:4, 30; 24:1–9, 27; 25:2–3, 7, 13–19; 26:2, 7, 9–11).
5. Competition with Christians in the realm of magic (e.g., 13:6–12; 19:13–19).
I would argue that the first category might be better labeled “Positive/Neutral,” but labels aside, Setzer’s survey does show that the presentation of Jewish responses in Acts is varied.
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