Herod vs. John: Historical Accuracy of Gospels 

Josephus quotes: “Now, when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it should be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod’s suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death.” (Antiquities 18.5.2) “About this time Aretas (the king of Arabia Petrea) and Herod had a quarrel, on the account following: Herod the tetrarch had married the daughter of Aretas, and had lived with her a great while; but when he was once at Rome, he lodged with Herod, who was his brother indeed, but not by the same mother; for this Herod was the son of the high priest Simon’s daughter. However, he fell in love with Herodias, this last Herod’s wife, who was the daughter of Aristobulus their brother, and the sister of Agrippa the Great. This man ventured to talk to her about a marriage between them; which address when she admitted, an agreement was made for her to change her habitation, and come to him as soon as he should return from Rome; one article of this marriage also was this, that he should divorce Aretas’s daughter. So Antipas, when he had made this agreement, sailed to Rome; but when he had done there the business he went about, and was returned again, his wife having discovered the agreement he had made with Herodias, and having learned it before he had notice of her knowledge of the whole design, she desired him to send her to Macherus, which is a place on the borders of the dominions of Aretas and Herod, without informing him of any of her intentions. Accordingly Herod sent her thither, as thinking his wife had not perceived anything; now she had sent a good while before to Macherus, which was subject to her father, and so all things necessary for her journey were made ready for her by the general of Aretas’s army and by that means she soon came into Arabia, under the conduct of the several generals, who carried her from one to another successively; and she soon came to her father, and told him of Herod’s intentions. So Aretas made this the first occasion of his enmity between him and Herod, who had also some quarrel with him about their limits at the country of Gamalitis. So they raised armies on both sides, and prepared for war, and sent their generals to fight instead of themselves; and, when they had joined battle, all Herod’s army was destroyed by the treachery of some fugitives, who, though they were of the tetrarchy of Philip, joined with Aretas’s army. So Herod wrote about these affairs to Tiberius; who, being very angry at the attempt made by Aretas, wrote to Vitellius, to make war upon him, and either to take him alive, and bring him to him in bonds, or to kill him, and send him his head. This was the charge that Tiberius gave to the president of Syria.” (Antiquities 18.108-115) “Now, some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist; for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness… Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God’s displeasure against him.” (Antiquities 18.116-117) Marcherus is "on the borders of the dominions of Aretas and Herod.” (Antiquities 18.111).

Jesus is King

Herod could literally have his own reality show with how much drama he went through and caused lol.

Thank you for your work. You helped in my conversion to Jesus, and now I'm sure Bible is real word of God.

Time for skeptics to move the goalposts again

Seeing how history lines up with the gospels is always a jaw dropping experience

Really interesting stuff ^^ Also an interesting fact: today, we have surviving coins with the face and name of Salome (the princess who danced at the party where they decided to kill John)

This whole family loves the name “HEROD”

I just read again The Gospel according to John yesterday. Jesus loves him, and so do I. Keep spreading the good news!

I honestly can’t understand how Christianity critics can use the gospels not falling exactly in line with the historical narrative as a reason for it being fiction. If anything, I would expect the Bible to sensationalize the historical events.

In Mark 10:19 when the a young man asks Jesus what he must do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus responds "You know the commandments", and the first he mentions is "Do not commit adultery". Jesus had a strong message to the people in that area about divorce and adultery.

I hope you keep posting videos like this. We need Christians who are great teachers as well as memers. You'd be surprised how influential memes can be in proving a point.

Loving this series!

Rocking and rolling, day in and day out. Excellent work as usual.

Jesus, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Thank God for this channel.

I love how you put the puzzle pieces together. I wish I could say that this is one of your best videos, but how can I do that when they're all winners?

love these videos!!! have watched all of them in one night!!!

Hey man. Is this just your blessed insight or do you also rely on commentaries? Because if you do I would very much like to also get these commentaries because I love how the puzzle pieces come together. Would you please tell me which ones if you do use them, if not then please write your own.

This video was amazing. I'm blown away with how great your information is and how well you deliver it

Every time thankful for your work

love the editing lol, great video!

Can you make a video defending the early dating of the book of Daniel?

Herod could've avoided all of this simply by watching a kitchen sink installation tutorial by Testify. Shame he didn't.

Thank you

Love these small conformations

thanks so much!

Muy bueno!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, until the ages of ages, amen.

For my judgment, this I plea, nothing but the blood of Jesus! Not by works that I have done, nothing but the blood of Jesus! 👍🔥

Hahaha i love that Herod is depicted as a coomer.

These videos are awesome! Love the visuals 😂

1:32 - So not only would it be unlawful for him to marry his brother's wife, but wouldn't it also be unlawful for him to marry his niece? I read Leviticus somewhat recently, but I forget the exact details. Seems like I remember verses that forbid things like seeing the nakedness of your aunt, so I would think that would also apply to a niece and uncle?

This is a genuine question from a believer, but I saw a comment from when you helped debunk satan's guide to the bible saying that Humans basically have neural pathways to affirming divinity, so that all things present in the bible and other religions can be treated as humans making things up in order to feel safe. Was wondering what you thought about that. Personally, I don't believe it, but it is hard to argue against.

Live by Scripture Pray all day every day

Unrelated but have y'all ever heard of "He's/She's a Christian of course he/she would write an account that supports Christianity" argument? I think that's stupid because when Christianity is proven true and you're a witness, it's weird for you not to be a Christian afterwards. Have a good day.

Hey, Testify. Your videos are very interesting. May I ask, apparently it is agreed upon Luke and Matt copied a lot of their Gospels from Mark. Do you agree with that?

Even in peacetime Roman soldiers were stationed all over the empire, and the empire was also almost always at war.

thoughts on Gary's minimal facts for the resurrection?

Your point is completely perfect when I connect this video with Mark 11 vs 27-30 when the elders came to Jesus and asked him which authority he used to speak and Jesus asked them if the authority of John the Baptist was from God or men and the elders were afraid they'll be stoned because John the Baptist was highly regarded as a prophet among the people and also in John when Jesus was addressing the religious authorities he cites John the Baptist as his testimony that he comes from God showing that John the Baptist was highly revered among the people

im not hating, i actually absolutely love these, i REALLY just want to justify why matthew's genealogies deviates from luke and mark, and they're on the first chapters of each gospel

Hey guys, i just read an article on "colonizer Jesus vs Historixal Jesus" and want to know more information if anyone has resources, thanks.

I do not understand why the truth Christ spoke about divorce differs from that of the old testament. I understand that rules change with the circumstance they are built for so that crimes were more harshly treated in ancient times out of necessity for the survival of a community. It could be that the difference between male and female virginity (given that only women can become pregnant) is being reflected. I would be grateful for a response to give clarity to my incomplete speculations.

Epic

This wpuld be all that context the spooderman fallacy ignores that Spiderman Comics would get WRONG.

Mark’s gospel sends Jesus out into the wilderness with a sense of urgency, and by the time he returns John has been imprisoned without explanation. His arrest is communicated in passing, as though it is implicit for his audience. Stranger still is his absence for the next five chapters, until ch. 6 where Mark shares about John’s death before even expounding upon the circumstances that led to it. I think these narrative choices are some of the strongest evidence for John’s historical legitimacy, and yet, Mark appears to be downplaying John’s significance in order to shift credit for his movement over to Jesus. Or, perhaps Mark feels too distant from these early events to give a detailed testimony, and so he only shares that which he’s been made privvy? Curious to hear what others think.

Terrifying that Jesus said nothing more to him after he beheaded John. If Herod isn't willing to listen to John to repent. Then given God's mission on earth to bring men to repentance and Salvation cannot be fulfilled by speaking to Herod who won't listen anyway.

Learning about mount sinai and sodom and Gomorrah was refreshing

But...but.. muh spoiderman! What about that?!

It's been a while since I read this portion of the Gospels, but did Herod really want to kill him?. I thought I vaguely remember something about Herod not really wanting him to be executed, but honored the girl's request. But I can't remember if I got that from people or scripture. Surely Herod executing John like that would make people perceive him as a martyr, and cause even more resentment towards Herod, considering that John had influence with the people.

Genuine question: Why did Jesus claim John the Baptist was the second coming of Elijah when John himself denied this? Does this not mean that Jesus failed the prophecy in Malachi that Elijah must bodily return before the messiah will appear?

I'm convinced the deniers Could time travel and put their hands through the holes in Jesus's hands and still deny what they're seeing.

"Theres alot of herods in this story." And buddy, if youre getting confused wait until three ladya all named Marry show up

Fun fact: despite being largely atheistic, the majority of Quebec still celebrated our patron saint: John, on the 24th of June

Jesus is King! Christ is Risen, brothers and sisters!❤☦️

Why was it unlawful for him to be married to her?

Locust are an unclean unkosher animal right? Why did John eat them?

I almost thought this was about Elijah

Testify cranking out solid Christian content? Business as usual. Testify becoming a meme god? Surprising! 😳🤔

0:27 maybe I'm just nitpicking but I'm a bit bothered that the puzzle with Josephus has a flat side on it (aka it's on the border) and looks like (!) it will connect with the gospel puzzle but this one doesn't have a flat side but otherwise great video.^^

Why can’t it be both? Because that’s HERESY

"But wait, there's more!" Remember Jesus's words in Luke 14 about a king sitting down to count the cost before he goes to war? Yeah, that's talking about Herod going to war against his FIL as well.

The Gospels are accurate, they are legit!

Unbelievers do Not Even consider History or they would Not be Unbelievers. For a true believer the Word Of GOD is enough proof that Jesus is the Saviour of The World. AMEN. Great video that people should watch to learn about the History of Jesus. Amen.

You Pentecostal savage , you ! xD

OOOOOOOOOH!!

Humans really stay messy smh

Pilate thought the Pax Romana was pretty boring, he liked bashing heads.

No wonder Jesus left after he heard about John, it was not his time yet...

history does not confirm the bible !

No… no it doesn’t

I realized i forgot to subscribe to bro