Proof The Gospel of Luke & Acts of The Apostles Used Josephus - Dr. Steve Mason

Steve N. Mason is a Canadian historian of Judea in the Graeco-Roman period, best known for his studies of Josephus and early Christian writings. He was professor of classics, history and religious studies at York University in Toronto. He has been Kirby Laing Chair of New Testament Exegesis at Aberdeen University (2011–2015) and works today at the University of Groningen, Holland.

He discusses how the author of Luke/Acts knew and used Josephus works for his writings.

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Thank you to C Morrison for creating the time-stamps

C Morrison
00:01:45 Dr. Steve Mason Introduced
00:04:10 Talk begins on best evidence used for hypothesis. "Was Josephus a source for Luke/Acts?"
Striking overlaps/similarities in Josephus, Luke/Acts.
00:12:00 - Three assumptions: Rhetorical Training, Josephus, Lived reality (events)
00:26:30 - Graph showing Josephus, Luke/Acts narrative parallels
00:36:40 Historical events (Problems with Bible narrative of Quirinius' Census; Josephus' selective narrative of Quirinius)
00:53:30 Luke's mention of Lysanius of Abila
01:09:00 Theudas in Acts: Example of Troublesome "Prophets"
01:25:10 "The Egyptian" and "sicarii" (Acts 21:30-38) Luke copies story from Josephus.
01:46:40 Pharisees: "Most exact school of Philosophy" Mark, Matthew, John have starkly opposite view of Pharisees than Luke/Acts. Where does Luke get this view from?

Super Chat questions
02:11:45 - Q1: Why doesn't Luke/Acts discuss the death of Paul?
02:16:20 - Q2: Did Jesus (name or origin) come from Josephus?
02:19:50 - Q3: If Luke was using Josephus as a source, how late was the author writing?
02:26:40 - Q4: Hallucination Hypothesis, Did Peter and Paul suffer from PTSD, Post-Bereavement?
02:36:40 - Q5: In Acts, High Priest authorizes Paul to pursue Christians, later on slaps Paul but doesn't recognize him. Were there two authors?
02:39:40 - Q6: Roman's killed rebel leaders AND their followers. The Early church started in Jerusalem. Were the leaders not in danger?
02:45:00 - Q7: When did Christianity change from a "belief" to a "hierarchy"?
02:51:20 - Q8: Scholars that wrote about labour, trade and industry in the ANE?
02:54:35 - Q9: Do Christian churches have Paul's Christian writings?
03:12:20 - Q10: Thoughts on Roman Provenance Theory
03:17:20 - Q11: Did he ascend to the cosmic sperm bank (Acts 1)?
03:21:20 - Q12: Is Paul turning the Theology of the Dead Sea Scrolls into the opposite of its original intention?
03:44:05 - Q13: Was Luke/Acts written by Luke, companion of Paul? Why doesn't Luke name himself in the Preface?
03:49:10 - Q14: Are Judas of Sepphoris and Judas of Gamala the same person spoken by Josephus?

#MythVision #SteveMason #History

[MythVisionPodcast]

If anyone would be willing to time stamp this video, I will gladly put it in the description as well as give you credit for doing so. I love you all!

[cmorrison]

Time Stamps:
00:01:45 Dr. Steve Mason Introduced
00:04:10 Talk begins on best evidence used for hypothesis. "Was Josephus a source for Luke/Acts?"
Striking overlaps/similarities in Josephus, Luke/Acts.
00:12:00 - Three assumptions: Rhetorical Training, Josephus, Lived reality (events)
00:26:30 - Graph showing Josephus, Luke/Acts narrative parallels
00:36:40 Historical events (Problems with Bible narrative of Quirinius' Census; Josephus' selective narrative of Quirinius)
00:53:30 Luke's mention of Lysanius of Abila
01:09:00 Theudas in Acts: Example of Troublesome "Prophets"
01:25:10 "The Egyptian" and "sicarii" (Acts 21:30-38) Luke copies story from Josephus.
01:46:40 Pharisees: "Most exact school of Philosophy" Mark, Matthew, John have starkly opposite view of Pharisees than Luke/Acts. Where does Luke get this view from?

Super Chat questions
02:11:45 - Q1: Why doesn't Luke/Acts discuss the death of Paul?
02:16:20 - Q2: Did Jesus (name or origin) come from Josephus?
02:19:50 - Q3: If Luke was using Josephus as a source, how late was the author writing?
02:26:40 - Q4: Hallucination Hypothesis, Did Peter and Paul suffer from PTSD, Post-Bereavement?
02:36:40 - Q5: In Acts, High Priest authorizes Paul to pursue Christians, later on slaps Paul but doesn't recognize him. Were there two authors?
02:39:40 - Q6: Roman's killed rebel leaders AND their followers. The Early church started in Jerusalem. Were the leaders not in danger?
02:45:00 - Q7: When did Christianity change from a "belief" to a "hierarchy"?
02:51:20 - Q8: Scholars that wrote about labour, trade and industry in the ANE?
02:54:35 - Q9: Do Christian churches have Paul's Christian writings?
03:12:20 - Q10: Thoughts on Roman Provenance Theory
03:17:20 - Q11: Did he ascend to the cosmic sperm bank (Acts 1)?
03:21:20 - Q12: Is Paul turning the Theology of the Dead Sea Scrolls into the opposite of its original intention?
03:44:05 - Q13: Was Luke/Acts written by Luke, companion of Paul? Why doesn't Luke name himself in the Preface?
03:49:10 - Q14: Are Judas of Sepphoris and Judas of Gamala the same person spoken by Josephus?

[tinyguy]

Watching Derek’s eyes sparkle with intense interest while Dr. Mason speaks made these four hours go by so fast. Love you Derek for making this discussion happen and for your passion in these topics.

[RobinPillage.]

Damn you Mythvision! I see these 4 hr discussions and always think, Ha! No way I'm down for a 4 hr commitment, but the topic is interesting so I'll just listen for a bit...and then I'm stuck listening for the next 4 hrs 😑
Every. Single. Time.

[tavuzzipust]

Steve Mason is always very informative. It raises the question of the when and where of the circulation of the works of Josephus.

[danielmalinen]

This is a really good point because 2000 years ago there was no Wikipedia, internet, television or radio, where the necessary information could be retrieved. The books of Josephus were the first source from which the author of Luke-Acts was able to obtain information about the conditions in the Middle East, the Asia Minor, and the rulers of that eastern area (such as Lysanias who was ruler of Abila c. 40 BCE!). Josephus was the first and the only who wrote about the Jewish War and the destruction of the temple. And, at the time, that information was not available anywhere other than the works of Josephus which gives to us good reason to believe that why Luke-Acts uses the works of Josephus as its source.

[scottduke]

Amazing episode today, @Mythvision Podcast!! Thanks for bring Dr. Mason on today, Derek!!!

[stewartthorpe]

I'm on my third 3 hr plus Dr Mason video today 😆 Thank goodness I'm on holidays. Love Dr Mason videos on MythVision

[williewoolery]

I always heard Canadians are nice and when I realized he was Canadian from the CD super chat, I had to chuckle. Ha...u just commented about how delicate he can with his answers! At first I thought you were laying it on a little thick in the beginning of the show but I'm a convert! It was all well deserved praise. For scholars like Dr. Mason to willingly spend 4 hours of his time and expertise answering questions and sharing his presentation is beyond awesome. ID LOVE TO KNOW THE Podcast Dr. Mason mentioned he did or does. If I'd had this kind of content, my servant from audible and the great courses I could have skipped college and just bought a big tv (imagine a life size Bart Ehrman anytime you wanted to get your Bible on!) and a house with my savings! I apologize for running on like this. i guess I'm just trying to say a big Thank You to you both! I'll never dismiss the war of 1812 again! 🤢

[JohnBernay-uc]

Steve N. Mason is Exciting as a Teacher Please Give us More of him. I love to be Excited!

[petermetcalfe]

That was fascinating. Dr Mason and Jonathan Pierce are two of my favourite guests you've ever had on your channel.

[smb]

Top Form, so well presented. A zillion years ago I took a theology elective - how Paul is presented. Raised evangelical with a Sunday School level of understanding I was increasingly worried (I was still a believer) as time passed. The professor was "old school" and used a large blackboard(!) with Acts on one side and the letters on the other. He'd add or edit the subject - "visions", "miracles", "journeys", "time frames", "wrong people", "relation with disciples"

I still recall his polite explanations of the contradictions and his suggestion that "Luke" makes sense if he was writing 50-60 years after the alleged events using stories, Josephus, mixing dates and people, presenting a sanitized version of the Paul-disciples battles.

[mattstan]

How can you not love Dr Mason, wonderful teacher. Thank you Derek and Dr Mason

[davidtipton]

Fascinating! Good information from Dr. Steve Mason...I watched the lecture attentively! Makes me want to read Josephus...Thanks Derek and Dr. Mason!

[johnkneeshaw]

I'm always here for a Steve Mason video.

[davethebrahman]

I very much respect the way that Dr Mason doesn’t claim more for his position than the facts can stand. If only everyone were like this!

[exoplanet]

Information packed talk. Prof. Mason's insightful work would be easier to digest by us non-experts if he used a few figures. For example: One showing side-by side passages of Josephus vs. Luke, Another showing the roman rulers named by both authors, perhaps accompanied with a map. Finally, it would help to have a single concluding sentence for each major point. For example, what I concluded from the first half was: "Luke appears to have read Josephus, misunderstood certain parts, and repackaged parts to make his point". I"m not sure if that's accurate though.

[sebolddaniel]

This is what is best about Mythvision: Steve Mason's and Dennis Mc Donald's literary comparative analyses. This clarifies so much.

[carlosrios]

Dr. Bart Ehrman is always a good listen.

[semremkes]

Fantastisch hoop snel weer iets te zien Steve Mason. Deze aflevering al 2 keer bekeken