The Skeptics Annotated Bible (783 page)

36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

(8.1-9) The disciples wonder where they’ll get food for thousands of people. But they ought to know by now, since Jesus did that trick in Mark 6.34-44. This “doublet” was probably the result of two oral traditions of the same story.

8
In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat,
Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them
,

2
I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat
:

(8.1-2)
“Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat.”

3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

4 And
his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

(8.4)
“His disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?”

5 And
he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

(8.5)
“He asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.”

6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and
he took the seven loaves
, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them;
and they did set them before the people.

(8.6)
“He took the seven loaves … and they did set them before the people.”

7 And
they had a few small fishes: and
he blessed, and commanded to
set them also before them.

(8.7)
“They had a few small fishes: and … set them also before them.”

8
So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

(8.8)
“So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.”

9 And
they that had eaten were about four thousand
: and he sent them away.

(8.9)
“They that had eaten were about four thousand.”

10 And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

11 And
the Pharisees
came forth, and
began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven
, tempting him.

12
And he
sighed deeply in his spirit, and
saith
, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you,
There shall no sign be given unto this generation
.

(8.11-12)
“The Pharisees … began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven … And he … saith … There shall no sign be given unto this generation.”
360 Did Jesus perform any signs and wonders?

13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

(8.22-25) Jesus cures a blind man by spitting in his eyes.

22 And
he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him
, and besought him to touch him.

(8.22)
“He cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him.”
429 Where did Jesus cure the blind man?

23 And
he
took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had
spit on his eyes, and
put his hands upon him, he
asked him if he saw ought.

(8.23)
“He … spit on his eyes, and … asked him if he saw ought.”
419 How did Jesus cure the blind man?

(8.24-25) Jesus’ spit did not completely cure the blind man. So Jesus tried again. He put his hands on the man’s eyes and, this time, the blind man “saw every man clearly.”

24 And
he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking
.

(8.24)
“He looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.”

25
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

(8.25)
“After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.”

26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

(8.27-28) There were various opinions about the identity of Jesus. Some thought he was Elijah or one of the prophets. And many thought he was a risen John the Baptist. With credulity like that just about anyone could later be passed off as the risen Christ.

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them,
Whom do men say that I am?

(8.27)
“Whom do men say that I am?”

28 And
they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

(8.28)
“They answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.”

29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

31 And
he began to teach them, that the Son of man must
suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and
be killed, and after three days rise again.

(8.31)
“He began to teach them, that the Son of man must … be killed, and after three days rise again.”
367 Did Jesus forewarn the apostles of his death and resurrection?