We read Acts 13 as part of family worship this evening. The following passage opened up a question I had never considered before.

The context is Paul's sermon in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch. In the sermon he quickly summarizes the history of the children of Israel and the prophecy concerning Christ, and then transitions to John the Baptist.

Note especially v 25. The verse is consistent with and resembles the wording in Mark 1:7 , Luke 3:16 , John 1:27 and is similar to Matthew 3:11 .

Here's my question. None of the above passages concerning John the Baptist, to our knowledge, were published at the time Paul gave the sermon. Where would Paul have gotten knowledge of John the Baptist right down to the detail of knowing almost word-for-word what John the Baptist actually said, and would eventually be recorded as inspired Scripture?

'I'm thinking one of three possibilities -

A) The risen Christ revealed it directly to Paul.
B) An apostle (likely Peter) or possibly John Mark told Paul about it.
C) Paul witnessed the baptism of John with other Pharisees and was among the lot termed "brood of vipers" by John, Matthew 3:7 .

I have Matthew Henry and Calvin and didn't find anything there. Other possiblilities? Thoughts?

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~Jay~
Husband of ENS, father of J II. | Indian Trail, NC
Currently disabled due to health issues
Communicant Member, Precentor | Presbyterian Reformed Church of Charlotte, NC | Presbyterian Reformed Church

Off the cuff, I would go with something like choice B. I didn't find anything in John Gill's commentary regarding it, and Luther did not mention anything regarding it, at least in referencing that particular verse. I would say that both A and C are possible, but, I think it would be somewhat safe to speculate that B probably happened, even if A and C occurred. Paul spent time with Peter, and especially with those under Peter's influence.

That's my thinking for now.

Blessings!

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Charles Plauger
Member/Grace Reformed Church
Oakland, MD

I would go with B. But let us not rule out that the Gospels could have been written before Paul preached that sermon.

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~Keon Garraway~ Brooklyn, NY Member of Franklin Square OPC

Love for God demonstrated by the love for our children in giving them a God centered education is the only hope for our country. by David Morrow
Pslam 71:20 [Thou], which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

This may have been something John the Baptist said very often, especially since we know he was to prepare the way of the Lord. Perhaps it was more widely known than we might think?

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Taylor Otwell
Member -- Oak Cliff Baptist Church
Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA

Did we ever hear any cry out on their deathbed that they have been too holy, that they have prayed too much, or walked with God too much? – Thomas Watson, The Godly Man’s Picture

I think the most likely option is B.

The gospels themselves may not have been written yet (although even among "scholars" the dating of the gospels continues to trend earlier), but this doesn't mean Paul couldn't have known this information. There were plenty of sources available both from those who were witnesses to these events (which weren't much earlier than Paul's sermon), and surely early written accounts of these life-changing events, which may or may not have been some of the sources Luke refers to in Lk. 1:1-4.

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Ranger
SBC, but personally confess the 1689 LBCF
Yunnan, China

"If we regularly beheld the glory of Christ, our Christian walk with God would become more sweet and pleasant, our spiritual light and strength would grow daily stronger and our lives would more gloriously represent the glory of Christ. Death would be most welcome to us." - John Owen