Moving along in the series I will now look at two Jewish sources that make mention of Jesus and His followers. The first source this post will deal with is the Talmud.
For some short and quick history the Talmud is a combination of the Mishnah and the Gemaras. The Mishnah is a collection of oral tradition that was written down and organized by subject matter. The Gemaras is the commentary of the Mishnah. The quotation that mentions Jesus is found in the Babylonian Talmud in the location Sanhedrin 43a.
On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, 'He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.' But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover![1]
What we can gather from this short passage is the following facts[2]:
- Jesus' death was by crucifixion (hanging).
- The time of this event was on the eve of Passover.
- For a forty day period it was announced that Jesus would be stoned. This is consistent with Jewish practice and though it is not recorded explicitly in the New Testament, there seem to be glimpses of this being recorded (John 8:58-59; 10:31-33, 39).
- Jesus was judged to be guilty of "sorcery" and spiritual apostasy in leading Israel astray by his teaching.
- He lacked anyone coming to his defense and as a result he was killed.
- Habermas, Gary R. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ. Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing, 2008, 202-205.
- Ibid.