Introduction to Papyrus 140

Papyrus 140 (𝔓140), cataloged as PSI inv. 1971, is a fragmentary Greek manuscript of the New Testament, containing a portion of the Book of Acts. Though only a small segment of a larger codex, 𝔓140 contributes meaningful data to the textual criticism of Acts, particularly in the crucial passage narrating the martyrdom of Stephen. The text, preserved on a single papyrus leaf, provides insight into both the textual transmission and scribal tendencies present in the fifth century C.E. This fragment, while modest in extent, is a valuable witness from a transitional era when the biblical text had begun to stabilize but still reflected variation in regional copying practices.

Date of Papyrus 140 – Fifth Century C.E.

Paleographically, 𝔓140 is dated to the fifth century C.E., based on comparative analysis of its Greek uncial script. This century was marked by the growing standardization of the biblical text, particularly under the influence of the ecclesiastical centers in the Eastern Roman Empire. The fifth-century date places 𝔓140 after the period of intense manuscript diversity found in the second and third centuries, but prior to the full dominance of Byzantine textual uniformity. Therefore, this manuscript offers a snapshot of a transitional stage in the textual tradition of Acts—one where Alexandrian, Western, and Byzantine influences still interacted in the manuscript record.

The uncial hand of 𝔓140 reflects the typical formal bookhand of the fifth century, featuring large, rounded letters written with a practiced but not overly ornate hand. Its paleographic assignment is well-supported by comparisons with contemporary documentary and biblical papyri. Although the fragment is too small to determine a scriptorium or geographic provenance with certainty, the style is consistent with Eastern Mediterranean Christian scribal practices of the time.

Content of Papyrus 140 – Acts 7:54–55 (recto); 7:57–58 (verso)

𝔓140 preserves partial readings of Acts 7:54–55 on the recto and 7:57–58 on the verso. These verses form part of the climactic scene in Stephen’s defense before the Sanhedrin, leading to his violent execution. While fragmentary, the passage includes significant theological affirmations and narrative elements central to Luke’s depiction of early Christian martyrdom and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

On the recto, the manuscript contains the beginning letters of four lines from the second column of a page, representing a portion of Acts 7:54–55. This includes the famous description of Stephen being “full of the Holy Spirit” and gazing into heaven.

On the verso, the manuscript preserves the ending letters of four lines and trace remnants of a fifth line from the first column of the subsequent page. This portion corresponds to verses 7:57–58, where the hostile crowd reacts to Stephen’s vision and drives him out of the city to be stoned. Though brief, these lines include core narrative elements such as the crowd’s unanimity, the act of expulsion, and the stoning—elements that Luke uses to underscore the unjust rejection of the Gospel.

Physical Features of Papyrus 140

𝔓140 survives on a single sheet of papyrus, which preserves the layout of a codex. The fragment features two sides of writing (recto and verso), with each side preserving a partial column from a two-column format. This structure was typical of Christian codices by the fourth and fifth centuries. The recto retains the initial letters of four lines, while the verso contains the final letters of four lines and fragments of a fifth.

The fragmentary condition limits the scope of textual reconstruction, yet the manuscript is still legible in places and allows for meaningful comparison with other New Testament witnesses. The writing style is a refined biblical uncial, consistent with formal book production, though without the elaborate ornamentation characteristic of luxury codices like Codex Alexandrinus or Vaticanus.

There are no extant punctuation marks or nomina sacra preserved in the surviving lines, though the abbreviation πν̅ι (for πνεύματι, “Spirit”) confirms the use of standard scribal conventions for sacred names. This abbreviation testifies to the continuity of Christian scribal habits across centuries, and it confirms the fragment’s Christian identity and liturgical or instructional usage.

Textual Character of Papyrus 140

Although fragmentary, the readings preserved in 𝔓140 exhibit distinctive textual features that diverge from the majority text and demonstrate the manuscript’s value for textual criticism. The specific variants in Acts 7:54–55 and 7:57–58 offer data points that assist in evaluating textual traditions and scribal habits of the fifth century.

Acts 7:54–55:
The PSI edition reconstructs the text on the recto as follows:

επ α̣υ̣τ̣ο̣[ν πληρηϲ
δε ϋπ̣[αρχων
πν̅ι α̣[γιω ατε-
νιϲα[ϲ ειϲ τον

This reconstruction involves two noteworthy deviations from the standard text of Acts:

First, it transposes the words πληρης δε υπαρχων (“being full of”) to επ αυτον πληρης δε υπαρχων, reversing the expected order found in most manuscripts, including Codex Sinaiticus (01), Codex Alexandrinus (02), and Codex Vaticanus (03). This transposition may reflect either a local textual variant or scribal reshuffling for stylistic emphasis.

Second, it substitutes the dative phrase πν̅ι αγιω (“with the Holy Spirit”) for the more common πνευματος αγιου (genitive, “of the Holy Spirit”). This dative construction is grammatically sound and semantically equivalent, but its difference from the common genitive form suggests either a regional variant or interpretive alteration. The dative also aligns well with Luke’s frequent use of instrumental dative constructions elsewhere in Acts (cf. Acts 1:5; 2:4), and may represent an Alexandrian stylistic influence or a local usage not preserved in the later Byzantine tradition.

Acts 7:57–58:
On the verso, the PSI reconstruction reads:

ομοθ]υµαδο[ν
επ αυ]τον εκ-
βαλον]τεϲ δε
εξω τη]ϲ πολε
ωϲ ελιθο]β̣[ολουν

This sequence corresponds to the description of the mob’s reaction, their unified action against Stephen, and the beginning of the stoning.

Notably, the fragment omits the conjunction και at the beginning of verse 58 (“And when they had driven him out…”). This omission is significant because the conjunction is present in the vast majority of manuscripts (including 01, 03, 05, and the Byzantine text). The lack of και may reflect a regional variation or scribal simplification aimed at streamlining the narrative. While not dramatically altering the meaning, the omission subtly shifts the narrative flow, removing the connecting force between Stephen’s expulsion and the ensuing violence. This variant aligns with other early papyri and uncials that exhibit similar abbreviation or abridgment tendencies.

The wording preserved in 𝔓140 shows no alignment with the Western paraphrastic expansions known from Codex Bezae (D/05), suggesting that it is more likely to reflect Alexandrian or mixed-type traditions. While not enough text is preserved to fully classify the manuscript’s textual character, these two variants—lexical transposition and omission of conjunction—suggest a streamlined text consistent with early Alexandrian tendencies toward brevity and precision.

Summary of Textual Value

Though limited in extent, 𝔓140 demonstrates several characteristics that make it a valuable textual witness for the Book of Acts:

It preserves a transitional dative construction in place of the more familiar genitive.
It shows word-order variation that may reflect regional or interpretive nuances.
It exhibits conjunction omission, a trait common among earlier, more concise textual traditions.
Taken together, these features provide evidence of a text type leaning toward the Alexandrian tradition, though perhaps with some idiosyncratic features or influence from mixed text types circulating in the fifth century. The manuscript’s exclusion of Western expansions, coupled with its avoidance of Byzantine harmonization, strengthens its value as a representative of a more primitive text-form.

Location and Ongoing Significance

Papyrus 140 is housed at the Papyrological Institute (Istituto Papirologico “G. Vitelli”) in Florence, Italy, where it remains accessible for scholarly study and textual comparison. The preservation of this manuscript among the PSI (Papiri greci e latini) collection underscores the ongoing importance of Italian institutions in safeguarding early Christian papyri. Continued research and imaging of 𝔓140 may further clarify its place within the manuscript tradition of Acts and contribute to critical editions of the New Testament.

You May Also Enjoy

Transmissional Errors in the New Testament: A Scholarly Examination of Scribal Variants

About the Author

CLICK LINKED IMAGE TO VISIT ONLINE STORE

CLICK TO SCROLL THROUGH OUR BOOKS