Be my Witneses Acts 1:6ff

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses (martyr in Greek) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

•“witness” today mean “tell others about Jesus”. But in Luke, “witness” means “testify as eye witness”.

Acts 1:21ff• 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who

have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness (Greek martyr) with us of his resurrection.”

• 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Luke 24:45

• 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses (Greek martyr)of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed

with power from on high.”

From the Beginning – Jesus intention

This concept of disciples whose witness spans from John’s baptism to the ascension is not limited to Luke. It stems from Jesus.

John 15:26-27

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

• Mark focused on Peter

• Mark utlizes an “inclusio” to highlight Peter’s fulfillment of the maximal requirement.

(Peter …....................................................................Peter)

3:16 “As Jesus passed along the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Simon’s brother Andrew casting a net … Jesus said to them, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

16:7 Women at the empty tomb told to tell “disciples AND Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee, there you will see him.”

Maximal Qualitification Embbedded in Mark, Luke, John

Mark’s Gospel as Peter’s Witness

• External Testimony

Papias AD 95-120 – “Mark, in his capacity as Peter’s interpreter, wrote down accurately as many things as he [Peter?] recalled from memory.

• Internal evidence

from 1:16 – 14:72 Peter was there till trial scens

6:14-29 (about Herod)

10:35-40 (James and John asked Jesus to sit at his sides)

14:1-2 , 10-11, 55-56 (oppoents plotting to kill Jeus)

Luke’s Inclusio• Luke affirms Mark’s Inclusio of Peter: Peter was the first

disciple named, as well as lqast disciple named. (4:38, 24:34)

• Luke added Inclusio of women:

8:2-3Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others (femine) These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

24:9-10 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others (feminie) with them who told this to the apostles.

(Peter (women [resurrection] women) Peter)

John’s Inclusio• John 21:20-24 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom

Jesus loved was following them. ..24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

• John 1:40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Who is the other one? John subtly suggested to readers he was the one.

Early Church identified the beloved disciple to be John.

Mark 6An example of the beauty of multiple attestation

35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages[e

]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Mark 6

39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Example: Apostolic Multiple AttestationFeeding of the 5000

• Mark 6:31 many people were coming and going

• Mark 6:39 in groups on the green grass

• John 6:4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

• John 6:5 Jesus asked Philip where to buy bread

• John 6:7-8 Philip and Andrew replied

• John 1:44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from Bethsaida

• Luke 9:10 The feeding took place near Bethseida

• John explains Mark (“many people” – Passover time, “green grass” – Green is green in spring after winter rain of Mediterranean climate)

• Luke explains why Jesus as Philip and why Andrew chimed because the location is their home town

Named and Unnamed Characters in 4 Gospels

General statistics – about 50%/50% for named/unamed in each Gospel.

General categories:

(1) Public persons were named. E.g. Herod, Pilate, Augustus Caesar

(2) Recipients of miracles/healings not named

(3) Apostles named.

(4) One-timers not named.

(2) And (4) – so if exceptions are named, why?

Theories:

•Novelistic Interest

•As Eyewitnesses who can vouch for the truth of the story in which the names were embedded.

Naming of Characters – Novelistic Interest? Novelistic Inventions?

• The 3 Wisemen

– Western Christianity - Melchior, Casper, Balthazar

– Syrian Christianity - Larvandad, Gushnasaph, and Hormisdas

– Ethiopian Christianity - Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater

– Armenians Christinaity - Kagpha, Badadakharida and Badadilm

• Psedo-Philo, Biblical Antiquities (AD 100?) Cain’s wife has name, Samson’s mother, Witch of Endor, etc.

• Apocryphal Infancy Gosepl of Thomas – Jesus’ school teacher named Zachaeus, playmate named Zenon

Mark anonymous Luke Matthew1.23 demoniac 4.23  1.40 leper 5.12 8.022.03 paralyzed man with friends 5.18 9.023.01 man with withered hand 6.06 12.105.02 demoniac 5.27 8.28

7.25Syrophoenician woman and

daughter 15.227.32 deaf and dumb man 0.658.22 blind man9.17 man with epileptic son 9.38 17.15

10.17 rich man 18.18 19.1611.01 two disciples 19.29 21.01

12.42 poor widow 21.02 14.03 woman who anoints Jesus 26.07

14.13 2 disciples22.08 Peter,

John 14.14 man with water jar 22.1 14.14 owner of house 22.11 26.1814.47 man who draws sword 22.5 26.5114.47 slave of high priest 22.5 26.5114.51 young man fled naked no14.54 high priest 26.5814.66 servant girl 22.56 26.6915.27 two bandits 23.32 27.3815.39 centurion 23.47 27.54

Named Persons in 4 GospelsExcluding public figures, apostles, parents of Jesus, names in genealogies or OT quotes•Jairus ande daughter

•James, Joses, Judas, Simon, bros of Jesus

•Susanna

•Mary Magdalene, Joanna wife of Chuza, Susanna

•Zacchaeus

•Nicodemus

•Bartimaeus

•Simon of Cyrene. Father of Alexander and Rufus

•Malchus

•Mary mother of James and Joseph

•Mary of Clopas

•Cleopas

•Mary, Martha, Lazarus

•Simon the leper

Observations• Many of these named individuals were in Jerusalem before

or after the resurrection

• Many of them were witnesses of Christ’s resurrection

• The concentration of witnesses in Jerusalem should be understood in light of Jesus’ command “you shall ne my witnesses in Jerusalem …”

• Passing on the tradition (written or oral) is an essential part of “witnessing”

• I Cor 11:23, 15:3, John 21:24

• Erhman’s “telephone game” is a bad model for the writing of the Gospels. A better model – A parent teaching a child something, with constant reminders, and write down instructions.

Cases of named witnesses• Cleopa

• Simon of Cyrene

• Mary, Martha, Lazarus

• Sergius Paulus

• Publius

• James the Just

• Simon his brother, and other brothers I cor 9:5

• Saul – student of Gamaliel – Paul’s rabinnic training is all over the pages

Jesus’ as miracle worker

• Scholars have identified the following references in the Talmud that some conclude refer to Jesus:[81]

• Jesus as a sorcerer with disciples (b Sanh 43a-b)• Healing in the name of Jesus (Hul 2:22f; AZ 2:22/12; y Shab 124:4/13;

QohR 1:8; b AZ 27b)• As a torah teacher (b AZ 17a; Hul 2:24; QohR 1:8)• As a son or disciple that turned out badly (Sanh 193a/b; Ber 17b)• As a frivolous disciple who practiced magic and turned to idolatry

(Sanh 107b; Sot 47a)• Jesus' punishment in hell (b Git 56b, 57a)• Jesus' execution (b Sanh 43a-b)• Jesus as the son of Mary (Shab 104b, Sanh 67a)

Observations about Named Persons

• 1. Luke and Matthew show no tendency to attach names due to “novelistic interest”.

• 2. It is only natural for the Gospel writers to name individuals because they function as validators of the Gospel acct.

• 3. Many of these names were located at or near Jerusalem – thus providing a readily accessible source of the origin of these accounts, and the on-going validation of the oral/written till thse people passed away. (Gospels subject to internal Quality Control!)

• 4. Feeding of the 5000