Though this study bears the name of a single author, numerous individuals and institutions have been involved in its production. It is their contributions I would here like to acknowledge.

    First and foremost, I would like to thank my dissertation supervisor, Dr. Victor P. Furnish, not only for his scholarly guidance and keen editorial eye, but also for his encouragement and support throughout this project's development. Likewise, this study has been enhanced through the incisive comments and suggestions of two other members of my dissertation committee, Dr. Jouette M. Bassler and Dr. C. Clifton Black, II. I would also like to express my gratitude to the fourth member of the committee, Dr. G. Peter Richardson, both for his own scholarly contributions within the field of Ancient Synagogue studies and for his willingness to evaluate this study in its final form. My thanks also goes to Dr. Joseph B. Tyson for his suggestions on the use of Luke-Acts as a historical source, and for his review and critique of several portions of this manuscript.

    This study would not have been possible without the archaeological insights of Dr. James F. Strange, whose architectural analyses of the Galilean-type synagogue serendipitously coincided with the thesis emerging from the literary and epigraphic evidence I was beginning to explore. His comments on numerous archaeological details have been incorporated throughout this study.

    I also appreciate the advice of Dr. Roger Bagnall with respect to the epigraphic issues arising at various points. Similarly, I am grateful for the comments of Dr. Paul Trebilco on the Mindus Faustus inscription, dealt with in chapter four, and for the willingness of Dr. John H. Kroll to provide access to some as yet unpublished inscriptions from the synagogue at Sardis that are of relevance to the interpretation of this dedication. I would also like to thank Dr. Lee I. Levine for his relaying of information about the recently discovered structure at Kiryat Sefer, which may yet prove to be a Second Temple synagogue. I regret that, because we were simultaneously involved in parallel projects, I was not able to incorporate into this study the insights of Dr. Levine's forthcoming book, The Ancient Synagogue, which promises to set a new standard for synagogue research.

    I am similarly grateful to Dr. J. Andrew Overman for relaying to me information on the recently discovered synagogue at Chersonesus, though as it turns out, the structure has not been securely dated to the first century. His comments on the Bosporus manumission inscriptions were likewise thought-provoking. I would also like to express my appreciation to Dr. Ramsay MacMullen for our helpful discussion of the role of emotions in religion and for his encouragement of my pursuit of this type of research within New Testament studies. Likewise, I appreciated the comments of Dr. Leander Keck on the relationship between the synagogue and the ekklęsia. My thanks also goes to Dr. Richard Oster for his bibliographic suggestions and to Paul Gavrilyuk for his help in translating some of the secondary literature written in Russian.

    Among the institutions assisting in this research, Southern Methodist University has, of course, been foremost. I am particularly grateful to the university for the bestowal of a John Hick's fellowship which allowed me to visit or re-visit many of the sites discussed in this study. I am also grateful for the assistance of the staff at the Bridwell Library, particularly that of James Powell, who labored tirelessly to fulfill my innumerable book and journal requests. The staff of the Graduate Program of Religious Studies at SMU has been equally supportive, especially Lucy Cobbe, the administrative assistant of the program. Faculty and fellow students within the program provided much-needed moral support, as did family, friends and parishioners from St. John's and St. James' Episcopal churches in Dallas, and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Miami.

    Last, but not least, I would like to thank my wife, Chris, and my sons, Christopher and Peter, for all their love and care throughout this process. It is on their behalf that this book is dedicated.