1.10 Steve Mason - Josephus, Jesus, and Luke's Sources

Dec 12, 2025

01:16:36

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Who was Josephus? What does he say about Jesus? And did the author of Luke-Acts copy from Josephus? I sat down with Steve Mason, one of the world's leading Josephus scholars, to investigate the evidence.

Watch this interview instead

What we uncover is remarkable: the same unusual Greek terminology, the same historical figures mentioned in the same configurations, and historical "mistakes" in Luke that only make sense if the author was working from Josephus's account.

📚 EVIDENCE COVERED:

- The Quirinius census problem (and why it matters)

- Judas the Galilean and Theudas

- why Luke gets them backwards

- "The Egyptian" and the Sicarii - a smoking gun?

- Why Luke calls the Pharisees "the most accurate school"

- The mysterious Lysanias of Abilene

Steve's Books

- Steve Mason, Josephus and the New Testament (Affiliate Link)

- Steve Mason, "Jews, Judaeans, Judaizing, Judaism: Problems of Categorization in Ancient History." (That Famous Paper)

My Article on Jews/Judaeans - Wayward Jews, God-fearing Gentiles, or Curious Pagans?

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