Black Spirituality Religion : Archaeology and the New Testament

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The Synagogue in Capernaum​

Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum according to Mark 1:21-22 and Luke 4:31-36. Luke 7:1-10 records how Jesus healed the slave of a Roman centurion posted locally. The people encouraged Jesus to heal the slave because the Roman officer had built their synagogue. The black basalt foundations of this 1st century synagogue (a dating confirmed by pottery finds beneath the floor) can be seen today under the remains of the 4th century lime-stone synagogue in Capernaum.

Archaeology and the Historical Reliability of the New Testament

Peter S. Williams examines the historical reliability of the New Testament in the light of the findings of archaeology. “On the whole … archaeological work has unquestionably…

www.bethinking.org

 

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30 People in the New Testament Confirmed

Purdue University scholar Lawrence Mykytiuk examines the religious and political figures in the New Testament who can be identified in the archaeological record and extra-biblical writings.

www.biblicalarchaeology.org

Religious Figures
1	Jesus	Jewish preacher, healer, and teacher; called Christ; crucified by order of Pilate; then said to have risen	c. 27–30 C.E.	All NT books except Third John, but most often in the four Gospels	Tacitus, Annals; Josephus, Antiquities; Lucian of Samosata, Passing of Peregrinus; Celsus, On the True Doctrine (via Origen, Against Celsus); Pliny the Younger, Epistulae	No inscribed monuments or coins
2	Gamaliel the Elder	Renowned Pharisee who rescued the apostles	c. 20–50 C.E.	Acts 5:34–39; 22:3	Mishnah: Orlah; Rosh ha-Shanah; Yebamoth; Sotah; Gittin; Josephus, Life	No inscribed monuments or coins
3	John the Baptist	Jewish preacher of repentance; beheaded by Herod Antipas	c. 26–29/30 C.E.	Matthew 3:1–15; 11:2–18; Mark 1:1–9; 6:14–29; Luke 1:5–23; 7:18–33; John 1:6–8, 19–37; 3:23–34; Acts 1:5; 13:24–25; etc.	Josephus, Antiquities	No inscribed monuments or coins
4	James	Jesus’s brother; Jerusalem church leader; martyr	c. 30–62 C.E.	Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; Acts 15:13; 21:18; Galatians 1:19; 2:9, 12	Josephus, Antiquities	No inscribed monuments or coins
5	Ananus/Annas	Son of Seth/Sethi; High Priest and founder of a dynasty of high priests; first to interrogate Jesus	High priest 6–15 C.E.	Luke 3:2; John 18:13, 19–24; Acts 4:6	Josephus, Antiquities	No inscribed monuments or coins; Akeldama tomb potentially his​
6	Caiaphas	High Priest during Jesus’s trial	High priest 18–36/ 37 C.E.	Matthew 26:3, 57; Luke 3:2; John 11:49; 18:13–28; Acts 4:6	Josephus, Antiquities	No inscribed monuments or coins; inscribed ossuaries potentially name him
7	Ananias	Son of Nebedaios, High Priest at Paul’s trial	High priest 53–59 C.E.	Acts 23:2; 24:1	Josephus, Antiquities	No inscribed monuments or coins; Masada ostracon might name him
Roman Emperors
8	Augustus	Roman Emperor	31 B.C.E.–14 C.E.	Luke 2:1	Numerous	Numerous
9	Tiberius	Roman Emperor	14–37 C.E.	Luke 3:1	Numerous	Numerous
10	Claudius	Roman Emperor	41–54 C.E.	Acts 11:28; 18:2	Numerous	Numero
11	Nero	Roman Emperor	54–68 C.E.	Acts 25–26; 28:19	Numerous	Numerous