From Conquest to Survival: Acts of the Apostles, Diaspora, and Epistemic Rebellion

Abstract This chapter reframes the book of Acts by moving beyond traditional missionary interpretations, often shaped by colonial and Euro-American frameworks, and toward a reading grounded in displacement and forced migration. Tracing how Acts has historically supported global missionary movements, particularly through figures like William Carey, the essay argues that the narrative is better understood as a witness to survival from the underside of empire. This reading highlights themes of diaspora, vulnerability, and mutual aid, inviting biblical readers to engage Acts as a resource for diasporic solidarity rather than missionary triumphalism.