Tabitha and Cornelius, imaginary persons based on characters in Acts, occupy two different places in the first-century Mediterranean world. In hearing Luke's gospel-story, how would each construe the figure of Jesus? The social location of each would play a crucial role as each "builds" the character of Jesus in dialogue with Luke's story.

The words of religion promote a hidden hypocrisy, an intellectual acceptance and a legalistic obedience which do not transform. Jesus and the Evangelists were seeking something more, as careful study of their language shows.