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An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists, by the Rules of Evidence Administered in Courts of Justice / With an Account of the Trial of Jesus cover

An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists, by the Rules of Evidence Administered in Courts of Justice / With an Account of the Trial of Jesus

Chapter 72: § 58. Levi's feast. Capernaum.
By Simon Greenleaf
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About This Book

The author applies rules of courtroom evidence to the narratives of the four Gospels, systematically testing their oral and documentary testimony. He arranges a harmony of events into chronological sections covering birth and early life, successive public ministries and Passover-period episodes, the passion, resurrection, and ascension, aiming to reconcile overlaps and apparent discrepancies. A focused legal analysis examines the procedures and testimonies related to the trial, comparing practices and assessing credibility, consistency, and corroboration. Supplementary notes and an appended trial account offer commentary for readers and students on evidentiary method and on applying juridical standards to the evaluation of religious testimony.

§ 58. Levi's feast. Capernaum.

Matthew.Mark.
CH. IX. 10-17.CH. II. 15-22.
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house,166 behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.15 And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole, have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth,167 I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.18 And the disciples of John, and of the Pharisees, used to fast: and they come, and say unto unto him, Why do the disciples of John, and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment: for that which is put in to fill it up, taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up, taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
Luke.
CH. V. 29-39.
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house; and there was a great company of publicans, and of others that sat down with publicans and sinners?
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering, said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old: if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new, agreeth not with the old.
37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles, and both are preserved.
39 No man also having drunk old wine, straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
[pg 208]

§ 59. The raising of Jairus's daughter. The woman with a bloody flux. Capernaum.

Matthew.Mark.
CH. IX. 18-26.CH. V. 22-43.
18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.22 And behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet.
19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
20 And behold, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.25 And a certain woman which had an issue of blood twelve years,
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment:
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.40 And they laughed him to scorn. But, when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha-cumi: which is, being interpreted, Damsel, (I say unto thee) arise.
42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Luke.
CH. VIII. 41-56.
41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:
42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a-dying. But as he went, the people thronged him.
43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44 Came behind him and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter, and they that were with him, said, Master, the multitude throng thee, and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead: trouble not the Master.
50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52 And all wept and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not: she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
[pg 210]

§ 60. Two blind men healed, and a dumb spirit cast out. Capernaum.

Matthew.
CH. IX. 27-34.
27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it unto you.
30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils, through the prince of the devils.
[pg 212]

§ 61. Jesus again at Nazareth, and again rejected.

Matthew.Mark.
CH. XIII. 54-58.CH. VI. 1-6.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?And he went out from thence, and came into his own county; and his disciples follow him.
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?2 And when the sabbath-day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary,168 the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
5 And he could there do mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
58 And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief.
[pg 214]

§ 62. A third circuit in Galilee. The Twelve instructed and sent forth. Galilee.

Matthew.Mark.
CH. IX. 35-38. CH. X. 1, 5-42.CH. VI. 6-13.
CH. XI. 1.
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness, and every disease among the people.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
CHAP. X.
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease.7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits;
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans, enter ye not.8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses;
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes,169 nor yet staves: (for the workman is worthy of his meat.)
11 And into whatever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into a house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house, or city, shake off the dust of your feet.11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet, for a testimony against them. Verify, I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, then for that city.
15 Verily, I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.170
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord: if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the house-tops.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.171
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.
40 He that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones, a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily, I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
CH. XI.
And it came to pass when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.And he went round about the villages teaching.
12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
Luke.
CH. IX. 1-6.
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.
[pg 220]

§ 63. Herod holds Jesus to be John the Baptist, whom he had just before beheaded. Galilee? Perea.

Matthew.Mark.
CH. XIV. 1, 2, 6-12.CH. VI. 14-16, 21-29.
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,14 And king Herod heard of him, (for his name was spread abroad,) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
2 And said unto his servants,172 This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
6 But when Herod's birth-day was kept,173 the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birth-day made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee:
22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod, and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me, by and by, in a charger, the head of John the Baptist.
9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison;
11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother.
12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
Luke.
CH. IX. 7-9.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded; but who is this of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
[pg 222]

§ 64. The Twelve return. Jesus retires with them across the lake. Five thousand are fed. Capernaum. N. E. coast of the lake.

Matthew.Mark.
CH. XIV. 13-21.CH. VI. 30-44.
13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile: for there were many coming and going,174 and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
15 And when it was evening his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
41 And when he had taken the five loaves, and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.44 And they that did eat of the loaves, were about five thousand men.
Luke.John.
CH. IX. 10-17.CH. VI. 1-14.
10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place, belonging to the city called Bethsaida.After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip,175 Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?
6 (And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.)
12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. (Now there was much grass in the place.) So the men sat down in number about five thousand.
14 (For they were about five thousand men.) And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties176 in a company.11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes, as much as they would.
15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
16 Then he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world.
[pg 224]