EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

799

1 John 1:1“That which was from the

beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,

…

800

1 John 1:1…which we have looked at and

our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of

life.”

801

Acts 1:1-3“The first account I composed,

Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,…

802

Acts 1:1-3…until the day when He was

taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to

the apostles whom He had chosen…

803

Acts 1:1-3…To these He also presented Himself

alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to

them over a period of forty days…

804

Acts 1:1-3

…and speaking of things concerning the kingdom of God.”

804

“This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all

witnesses.”

Acts 2:32

806

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him to life. And

we are witnesses of this fact!”

Acts 3:15

807

“So they called the apostles back in and told them never

again to speak or teach about Jesus…

Acts 4:18-20

808

…But Peter and John replied, ‘Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?...

Acts 4:18-20

809

…We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have

seen and heard.”

Acts 4:18-20

810

“The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead –

Acts 5:30-32

811

http://mutt-man.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/07/tvpal_ea0115j_2.jpg

…whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree…”

Acts 5:30-32

812

“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews

and in Jerusalem…

Acts 10:39-40

813

…They killed Him by hanging Him on a tree, but God raised Him

from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen.”

Acts 10:39-40

814

“…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, …that

He was buried,…

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

815

…that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter

and then to the Twelve…


816

…After that He appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time,

most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep…


817

…Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last

of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”


818

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be

revealed.”

1 Peter 5:1

819

“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and

coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…

2 Peter 1:16

820

…but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”

2 Peter 1:16

821

“When they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead,

they did not break his legs…

John 19:33-35

822

…Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood

and water…

John 19:33-35

823

…The man who saw it has given testimony and his testimony is

true."

John 19:33-35

824

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with

them when Jesus came…

John 20:24-30

825

…So the other disciples were saying to him,

‘We have seen the Lord!’…

John 20:24-30

826

…But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the

imprint of the nails,…

John 20:24-30

827

‘…and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not

believe.’…

John 20:24-30

828

…After eight days, His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the

doors having been shut…

John 20:24-30

829

…and stood in their midst and said,

‘Peace be with you!’

John 20:24-30

830

…Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger,

and see my hands;…

John 20:24-30

831

‘…and reach here your hand and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but

believing.’…

John 20:24-30

832

…Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

Jesus said to him,…

John 20:24-30

833

…‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they

who did not see and yet believed.’…

John 20:24-30

834

…Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the

presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book…”

John 20:24-30

835

“…This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was

confirmed to us by those who heard him…

Hebrews 2:3-4

836

…God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,

and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.”

Hebrews 2:3-4

837

“The things that mark an apostle – signs, wonders and miracles –

were done among you with great perseverance.”

2 Corinthians 12:12

838

The Trial of Jesus

839

Why Jewish authorities wanted

Jesus executed N.T. Wright

840

1. They considered Jesus a “false prophet” who was

leading Israel astray.

Five Reasons

841

2. Jesus claimed authority over the greatest Jewish symbol –

the Temple – he would personally replace the

role of the Temple.

Five Reasons

842

3. Jesus saw Himself as the Messiah…he could become

the focus of serious revolutionary activity.

Five Reasons

843

4. Jesus was a political risk whose actions might provoke the wrath of Rome upon the

nation.

Five Reasons

844

5. Jesus made blasphemous claims placing Himself

alongside the God of Israel.

Five Reasons

845

James M. Boice6 Charges

Against Jesus

1. Threatening to destroy the Jewish temple.

(Matthew 26:61)

846

http://e4unity.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/boice.jpg


Against Jesus

2. Accused of being an evildoer.

(John 18:30)

847



Against Jesus

3. Charged with perverting the nation.

(Luke 23:2)

848



Against Jesus

4. He had forbidden Jews to pay taxes to Caesar.

(Luke 23:2)

849



Against Jesus

5. He stirred up the people.

(Luke 23:5)

850



Against Jesus

6. Cited for having made Himself a king.

(Luke 23:2)

851


“He claimed to be the unique Son of God, which they judged

blasphemy.”

James M. BoiceThe Real Accusation

852


►Jews: concerned with religious implications of Jesus’ actions.

►Romans: concerned with politics, economics, and the authority of Rome.

853

Jesus replied to the governor’s question,

“Are you the King of the Jews?”

854

“It is as you say,” he gave them grounds for execution.

855

Six Trials

3 Roman

3 Jewish

856

“There can be no doubt that a confession such as this was sufficient in Roman law for

conviction of the defendant.” (Reflections on the Trial of Jesus)

Justice Haim Cohn Supreme Court of Israel

857

R.E. Grant“The Trial of Jesus in the Light of History”

“…both Jews and Romans interpreted Christ’s remark as a

reference to kingship…

858

…was interpreted by the Jews and Romans as carrying seeds of rebellion against the Roman

power.”

R.E. Grant“The Trial of Jesus in the Light of History”

859

Dr. David Flusser Hebrew University - Jerusalem

THE JEWISH PROBLEM

860

The rebellion would bring reprisals and strict oversight by the Romans

861

Should outbreak take place by His supporters better to hate Roman

governor862

“Roman authorities punished not only the individuals who incited the people against the Romans...

Solomon ZeitlinJewish Quarterly Review

863

…but the leaders of the people as well. In some respects, the Jewish leaders were held as hostage for

the obedience of the Jewish people to the Roman State…


864

…Many Jewish leaders, by the circumstance of the political

condition, had to act as informers against some of the dissenters and

revolutionaries…


865

…among their own brethren in order to save their own lives.”


866

THE ROMAN PROBLEM

Dr. David Flusser Hebrew University - Jerusalem

867

The Roman Problem

►Should he refuse – Tiberius infuriated

868

“Failure to bring the potential menace to the governor’s attention while it could be

checked…

Dr. David FlusserThe Roman Problem

869

…might well prove costly to them in the long run and lead to

reprisals and to stricter oversight.”


870

“…Should he [Pontius Pilate] refuse to follow the advice of the

local leaders…


871

…who knew their tricky and incomprehensible fellow

countrymen…


872

…as no Roman could ever hope to do, and should this individual

prove a serious menace…


873

…well might he tremble at the thought of his own fate at the

hands of the outraged Tiberius.”


874

“…a dozen uprisings in Palestine since Pompey first conquered the

land in 63 B.C...Most of them subdued by Roman forces…

Dr. Paul L. MaierProfessor Western Michigan University

875

…another Messianic rebellion under Jesus of Nazareth would

only shatter the precarious balance of authority…”


876

“Jesus provided the grounds for a sentence of death from both the

Jewish authorities (i.e. capital blasphemy)…

Dr. Craig EvansAcadia Divinity College

877

…and the Roman authorities (i.e. treason and sedition).”

Dr. Craig EvansAcadia Divinity College

878

“The leaders of the Jewish people were thus able to present Jesus to

Pilate as a seditious trouble-maker…

N.T. WrightBritish Scholar

879

…to their Jewish contemporaries (and later generations of rabbinic Judaism as a false prophet and a

blasphemer leading Israel astray…

N.T. WrightBritish Scholar

880

Religious Motive

881

Religious Motive

Many teachings were being questioned by those influenced by Jesus

882

The Crucifixion of Christ

883

Evidence for Jesus’ death

(Non-Christian sources)

Cornelius Tacitus (AD 55-120)

Considered by many to be greatest ancient Roman historian

884



JosephusJewish scholar

(AD 37-97) 885



Jewish Talmud (AD 70-200)

886



“…they [the Romans] succeeded in perfecting an almost scientifically

conceived technique which produced the maximal pain…

887



…together with a death struggle of an adjustable duration.”

888



Early 1st century BC

Alexander Janaeus executed 800 prisoners

889



4 BC

Governor of Syria

executed 2000 Jews

890



“Josephus records no crucifixions of Jews during the first part of the

Roman prefecture in Judea (AD 6-40)…

891



…but ample attestations of crucifixions during the second part

(AD 44-66).”

892

Cicero

Considered death by crucifixion, “the most cruel and hideous of

tortures.”

893

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CiceroBust.jpg

“…even the Romans…pitied the victims.”

Will DurantHistorian

894

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/WillDurant1961.jpg

“The pain was absolutely unbearable.

In fact, it was literally beyond words to describe…

Alexander MetherellM.D., PhD

895

…they had to invent a new word: Excruciating

Literally meaning ‘out of the cross’”

Alexander MetherellM.D., PhD

896

His conclusion: The New Testament account of Christ being nailed to the cross

was false and misleading…

Dr. J.W. HewittHarvard Theological Review

897

…Crucifixion by use of nails was considered legendary.

Dr. J.W. HewittHarvard Theological Review

898

A Dead Man Speaks(June, 1968)

899

V. Tzaferis discovered four cave-tombs north of Jerusalem (near

Mount Scopus)

900

Family tombs held 15 ossuaries containing bones of 35

individuals

901

Found name of Yohanan Ben Ha’galgal in Ossuary #4

7-inch spike driven through the heel bone902

†Date from late second century BC to 70 AD

†Moisture helped preserve the bones

903

On describing the pain…

“One of the principle nerves, the median, crosses the wrist joint…

Dr. Smalhout

904

…The nail almost always came into contact with this nerve.

Touching or damaging a nerve causes the maximal amount of

pain possible…

Dr. Smalhout

905

…The nerve became stretched over the sharp sides of the nail like

the strings over the bridge of a musical instrument…

Dr. Smalhout

906

…Stimulation of the median nerve produced such severe cramps in

the thumb that it bent across the palm so violently that the

thumbnail embedded itself in the flesh.”

Dr. Smalhout

907

Process of Scourging

JAMAJournal of the

AmericanMedical

Association

On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ

Vol 255. No. 11, March 21, 1986

Article byWilliam D. Edwards, MD;Wesley J. Gabel, MDiv;

Floyd E. Hosmer, MS, AMI

908

http://www.frugalsites.net/jesus/

“The usual instrument was a short whip…with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths…

909

…in which small iron balls or sharp pieces of sheep bones were tied at intervals…

910

…the man was stripped of his clothing, and his hands were tied to an upright post…

The back, buttocks, and legs were flogged…

911

http://www.holytrinity.ok.goarch.org/images/Image2.jpg912

…The scourging...was intended to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse or death…

913

…As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim’s back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions…

914

…and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin and Subcutaneous tissues…

915

…then as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles.”

916

Dr. Smalhout

“Damage to such an extensive skin area and contusion of such a

large amount of muscle is comparable in severity…

917

Dr. Smalhout

…to a deep burn involving half the body surface…

…without medical attention such an injury could end fatally within a few hours to several days later.”

918

Alexander Metherell

•University of Miami medical degree •University of Bristol – England doctorate in engineering •Made a detailed examination of Christ‘s whipping at the hands of the Romans

919

Alexander Metherell

“The soldier would use a whip of braided leather thongs with metal balls woven into them. …

920

Alexander Metherell

…When the whip would strike the flesh, these balls would cause deep bruises or contusions, which would break open with further blows. …

921

Alexander Metherell

…And the whip had pieces of sharp bone as well, which would cut the flesh severely. …

922

http://www.holytrinity.ok.goarch.org/images/Image2.jpg923

…The back would be so shredded that part of the spine was

sometimes exposed by the deep, deep cuts. …

925

…The whipping would have gone all the way from the shoulders

down to the back, the buttocks, and the back of the legs. …

926

…One physician said, ‘As the flogging continued, the

lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and

produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh.’ …

927

…Eusebius described flogging by saying, ‘The sufferer‘s veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels of the victim

were open to exposure.’ …928

Alexander Metherell

…We know that many people would die from this kind of beating even before they could be crucified. At

the least, the victim would experience tremendous pain and go

into hypovolemic shock.”929

†The Jews were limited by their laws to forty lashes.

†The Romans had no such limitations.

930

“For even when they [the Christians] were so torn by whips that the internal structure of their

flesh was visible (veins and arteries)…

“The Martyrdom of Polycarp”

931

“…they endured it so patiently that even bystanders had pity and

wept.”

“The Martyrdom of Polycarp”

932

“…a mass of swollen and bloody flesh.”

Will DurantHistorian

933

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/WillDurant1961.jpg

Purpose for Breaking Legs

934

†Shins were intentionally broken

†Crurifragium: “The act of breaking the legs with a heavy club or mallet.”

935

“Sedecula” – Seat

936

“Sedecula” – Seat

“Air drawn in but not

exhaled”937

“As the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the

muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain…

Dr. Truman Davis

938

…With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward.

Hanging by His arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the

intercostal muscles are unable to act…

Dr. Truman Davis

939

…Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled.

Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short

breath…

Dr. Truman Davis

940

…Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and bloodstream and

the cramps partially subside…

Dr. Truman Davis

941

…Spasmodically, He is able to push Himself upward to exhale

and bring in the life-giving oxygen.”

Dr. Truman Davis

942

†Orthostatic collapse (insufficient blood flow to brain and heart) would follow.

†To avoid, the victim would push up by his feet to improve circulation.

943

†To hasten the death, authorities would break the victim’s legs below the knees.

†Rapid suffocation or coronary insufficiency followed.

944

John Dominic Crossan

said that the death of Jesus by crucifixion “is as sure as anything

historical can ever be.”

945

Spilling of Blood and Water

946

John 19:34“…and immediately blood and

water came out.”

947

Quintillian

Declamations malores 6:9

“As for those who die on the cross, the executioner does not forbid the burying of those who

have been pierced.”

948

“We are told on eyewitness authority that ‘blood and water’ came out of the pierced side of

Jesus (John 19:34-35)…

Michael GreenBritish Author

949

…The eyewitnesses clearly attached great importance to

this. Had Jesus been alive when the spear pierced His side…


950

…strong spouts of blood would have emerged with every

heartbeat. Instead, the observer noticed semi-solid dark red clot

seeping out…


951

…distinct and separate from the accompanying water serum. This is evidence of massive clotting in the blood in the main arteries…


952

…and is exceptionally strong proof of death…


953

…because the evangelist could not have realized its significance

to a pathologist…


954

…The ‘blood and water’ from the spear-thrust is proof positive that Jesus was already dead.”


955

FURCA

956

“…a piece of wood in the form on an inverted V on which the shaft of two-wheeled carts rested on when

they were in the stables…

Dr. Pierre Barbet

957

…When a slave was punished, the furca was placed astride the nape of his neck, his hands were bound

to the two arms…

Dr. Pierre Barbet

958

…and marched through the neighborhood while he was made

to proclaim his offense.”

Dr. Pierre Barbet

959

“…Since a furca was not always obtainable, they began to use a long piece of wood…for barring

doors called the patibulum…

Dr. Pierre Barbet

960

…The patibulum weighed approximately 110 pounds and was strapped to the victim’s shoulders.”

Dr. Pierre Barbet

961

http://www.unlimitedglory.org/realitypassion3.jpg

Patibulum

962

Roman Customs Applied

963

†Titulus (or sign)

“Jesus the Nazerene, the

King of the Jews.”

964

†Divided up garment

Cast lots

965

†4 executioners certified his

death

966

“True, there is a recorded instance of a victim being taken

down from a cross and surviving…


967

…The Jewish historian Josephus (who had gone over to the Roman

side in the rebellion of 66 AD), discovered three of his friends

being crucified…


968

…He asked the Roman general Titus to reprieve them and they

were immediately removed from their crosses…


969

…Still, two of the three died anyway, even though they

apparently had been crucified only a short time…


970

…In Jesus’ case, however, there were the additional complication of scourging and exhaustion, to say nothing of the great spear

thrust…


972

…that pierced His rib cage and probably ruptured His

pericardium.

Romans were grimly efficient about crucifixions:


971

…Victims did NOT escape with their lives.”


973

“If the Persians did not invent the crucifixion, they practiced it on a

large scale.”

Herodotus/Thucydides

974

†The Persians consecrated the ground to the god, Ormayed…

†Execution [by crucifixion] would not defile the ground because the body did not touch it.

975

As advisor to Titus during the siege of Jerusalem, he had

observed many crucifixions and called them “the most wretched

deaths.”

Flavius JosephusJewish Historian

976

Solid Rock Tomb

977

William Lane Craig3 Types of Rock Tombs

978

1. Kokhim: Tunnels perpendicular to walls of the tomb.…6-7 feet deep…Three in each of three inner walls of the tomb…Body inserted headfirst

979

2. Acrosalia: Semi-circular niches

…2½ feet above floor

…2 – 3 feet deep

…Contains flat shelf or trough for body

980

3. Bench tombs containing a bench around three walls on which the body could be laid.

981

http://198.62.75.1/www1/ofm/sbf/escurs/Ger/122Tomba-internoBig.jpg

Acrosalia tombs have been found near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher…the traditional site for Jesus’

grave.

982

Reasons for Confidence in Burial of Jesus

983

1. Paul confirms the burial story in I Corinthians 15:3-5

…The material Paul drew from can be traced to within 3-8 years of

Christ’s death.

984

1. Paul confirms the burial story in I Corinthians 15:3-5

…The burial story can be traced back so close to the time of

Christ’s death that legendary development is impossible.

985

2. The Burial is not surrounded by adornment or embellishment;

986

3. No early documents exist that refute the story as presented in the

Gospels;

987

4. How could Jewish authorities-who had tried for so long to get rid of Jesus-

not pay attention to his burial?

988

5. If Christians invented Joseph, why would they make a hero of a member of the very court that was responsible

for Jesus’ death?

989

Jewish Burial Procedures

990

BURIAL BEFORE SUNSET

991

It was Jewish custom in Jerusalem prior to the fall in

A.D. 70 to remove the crucified and bury them prior to sunset.

992

Seder Nezikin The Babylonian Talmud

“If he is left [hanging] overnight, a negative command is thereby

transgressed. For it is written…

993

…‘his body shall not remain all night upon the tree…


994

“but thou shalt surely bury him the same day for he is hanged

[because of] a curse against God.’”


995

Body Preparation

996

►Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea prepared Christ’s body for burial (John 19:38-42)

►Body would be placed on a stone table in the burial chamber.

997

In accordance with Jewish burial customs, the body of Jesus was then

wrapped in a linen cloth. 998

Seventy-five pounds of aromatic spices, mixed together to form a

gummy substance, were applied to the wrappings around the body.

999

“Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of

myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight…

John 19:39-40

1000

…40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen

wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”

John 19:39-40

1001

1. Washed with warm water…this was so important that it was even

permitted on the Sabbath (Babylonian Talmud)

A.P. BenderJewish Quarterly Review

1002

2. Washing must not be done alone


1003

3. Body must be moved by two or more people


1004

4. Laid on a board with feet towards the door


1005

5. The mouth is covered


1006

6. The face is lifted upwards


1007

7. Washed left side first, then right side


1008

8. Hair and nails are cleaned


1009

9. Verses are cited, ending with:


1010

“And I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean.”

Ezekiel 36:25


1011

10. Water on floor cleaned up immediately


1012

Aromatic Spices

† 75-100 pounds were used for Christ’s burial

1013

Aromatic Spices

†Gamaliel (grandson of Jewish scholar Hillel)

†…86 pounds used†When Herod died, 500 servants

were needed to carry the spices

1014

Linen Cloth

† No ornamentation or stain on cloth

† Sewn by women

† No knots permitted

1015

Linen Cloth

† No one could be buried in fewer than three separate garments.

1016

Linen Cloth

† Body would be wrapped in linen cloth starting at the feet.

1017

Linen Cloth

† Spices are mixed with gummy myrrh and placed between folds of cloth.

† Torso would be wrapped to armpits

1018

Linen Cloth

† Arms placed outside wrapping, then wrapped up to the neck.

† Separate cloth was wrapped around the head.

1019

“Myrrh used was a drug which adheres so closely to the body

that the grave clothes could not be easily removed.”

John Chrysostom4th Century A.D.

1020

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

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