A Bent-Over Woman in One of the Synagogues. A Narrative Study of Luke 13:10-21

In the last few decades, scholars have dedicated much attention to the overall portrayal of women in Luke-Acts. They have pointed out their prominent role. All this attention given to women in Luke-Acts begs questions on the origin of those episodes and the sources used by Luke in composing his male-female episodes. The present study takes into consideration a well-known passage, the healing of the woman in the synagogue (13:10-17). While this passage has been studied by various scholars, the author aims to apply narrative criticism to reveal the hidden gems of the passage that the historical-critical approach might have overlooked. It also challenges the traditional way of reading that particular story. It contends, among others, that the complement of time ἐν τοῖς σάββασιν (13:10) should be understood as plural and not as a singular. The words of the indignant leader of the synagogue who opposes the healing on the Sabbath seem to confirm this hypothesis. The study also demonstrates that the double parable teaching, the parable of the Mustard Seed (13:18-19) and the parable of the Yeast (13:20-21), that follows immediately the healing are integral part of the preceding story just like another parable teaching (14:7-24) follows the healing of the man with dropsy (14:1-6).