We have no idea who Theophilus
is, but based on what Luke wrote we know he had a problem – he didn’t know who was telling him the truth
about Yeshua (Jesus).
Many have undertaken to draw up a
narrative of the events that have been accomplished among us, just as they
were handed down to us by those who from the
first were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word. With this in
mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning,
I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth about the
things you have been taught.[1]
Theophilus contacted the man we call Luke to investigate
this matter for him and Luke’s final report was published in two volumes – The Gospel
of Luke & The Acts of the Apostles. For some
reason, over a century later, when the first attempts to create the New
Testament canon began, some of the men decided to insert the Gospel
of John between part one and part two parts of Luke’s report. Many
scholars have concluded that Luke wrote his report around 80 CE, which is very important because it would mean the Temple had
been destroyed approximately a decade earlier by the Romans. It also means that key characters in his report – Peter and Paul had also been executed over a decade earlier by the Romans, and over forty years had passed
since the Romans crucified Jesus. The Romans were consistent weren’t they?
Where did Luke go to do his research? The opening verses above
reveal Luke’s sources – “the first were eyewitnesses
and ministers of the word.” The Greek word translated “ministers” is HUPERETAI tells us who the eyewitnesses
were and Luke reveals exactly who they were and where he found them.
Yeshua gave the scroll back to the men that were in
charge of them at local synagogues. The person in charge of the scrolls was called
the hazzan.
Below is some information about the role of the hazzan, and it provides insights about what you would have seen if
you had been at a synagogue service when Yeshua was called upon to read from and
teach the Hebrew Scriptures.
The hazzan sat in the middle of the synagogue, on the wooden
"bimah" and would select people to read aloud from the Torah. He took
the scrolls from the ark in which they were stored, unrolled them to the
appointed readings, and then reroll them and put them away afterwards. He blew
the shofar to announce the beginning of Sabbath, and other holy days, from the
roof of the synagogue. He was responsible for taking care of the lamps and
would accompany pilgrims on journeys to the Temple. He was also responsible for
teaching the children to read.[3]
Since it was Yeshua’s custom to attend the synagogue,[4]
then at least once every week he would have been in the presence of a hazzan. These men were actively involved
in their communities and would have known about the other things that Yeshua did
in there, too. As you read the accounts of the events recorded in the Gospel
of Luke and the Book of Acts, notice where the
events took place and this will provide clues about which hazzan provided Luke with the information.
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