With a Subtitle: Ten first-century discoveries that confirm the Gospels and silence the myth of Christ.

A brief Excerpt: Skeptics call Jesus a myth, but archaeology tells a different story. From the Pilate Stone to the House of Peter, ten first-century discoveries confirm the people, places, and events of the Gospel record.

The Author is: Debra Hodges

Introduction

Skeptics often compare Jesus Christ to mythical figures like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy because they see all of them as mythical or symbolic rather than historical or divine. They believe this because of their materialistic worldview, which denies the existence of the supernatural and treats all religious beliefs as human inventions or cultural traditions. Their comparison falls short of the reality and truth of Jesus’ historical existence for historical, theological, and archaeological reasons.

Background

Christians in the first century and early Christian apologists such as Justin Martyr and Tertullian also faced skepticism about Jesus and had to defend the fact that He wasn’t just a myth or legend to Roman authorities and pagan philosophers. They did this using the same mechanisms we use today, with resurrection evidence, fulfilled prophecy, transformed lives, and eyewitness testimony. Their most powerful defense of Jesus as not only a real human being but also the divine Son of God came from living out the truth they proclaimed. They were willing to face persecution and death rather than deny what they knew to be true.

The Stones Continue to Cry Out

Back in 1997, Randall Price, professor of archaeology at the University of Texas, authored his famous book The Stones Cry Out: What Archaeology Reveals About the Truth of the Bible (Harvest Publishers). He had participated in many archaeological digs in Israel, and in his book, he discussed ancient artifacts discovered, such as pottery shards, stone inscriptions, ancient scrolls, and ancient coins, related to the patriarchs, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Exodus, Jericho, King David, the Ark of the Covenant, and the physical existence of Jesus.

Dr. Titus Kennedy (PhD, University of South Africa) is a field archaeologist who works primarily with sites of the ancient Near East. He is also the director of Shepherd’s Theological Seminary’s Biblical archaeology program and a research fellow at the Discovery Institute. He has written many excellent books on Biblical archaeology, including Excavating the Evidence for Jesus, Archaeology and the People of the Bible, Unearthing the Bible, and The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands. In all his books, he invites readers to see for themselves whether the story of Jesus stands up to historical and archaeological scrutiny.

The following are some of the discoveries that Dr. Kennedy discussed in his books, depicting real people, places, and events related to the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Pilate Stone

This ancient artifact was discovered by archaeologists in 1961 in Caesarea Maritima, Israel. It was made of limestone and used as a step in a stairway inside the ruins of an ancient Roman theater. The inscription on it reveals the name Pontius Pilatus, the Roman prefect of Judea under Emperor Tiberius. This discovery confirms the existence of the official who presided over Jesus’ trial (Luke 23:1–4).

The Caiaphas Ossuary

Unearthed in 1990 during construction work in a burial cave south of Jerusalem, this ancient artifact is an ornately carved bone box bearing the inscription “Joseph son of Caiaphas.” It most likely refers to the Jewish high priest who condemned Jesus to be crucified (Matthew 26:57–68) and provides direct archaeological evidence of one of the key figures in the trial of Jesus.

The Synagogue at Capernaum

Excavations in Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee have revealed the black basalt remains of a first-century synagogue beneath the current 4th- to 5th-century Byzantine-era synagogue. This discovery aligns with the Gospels’ accounts of Jesus teaching and performing miracles in Capernaum (Mark 1:21–28).

The Pool of Bethesda and the Pool of Siloam

Both of these pools, mentioned in John’s Gospel, have been rediscovered in Jerusalem. The Pool of Bethesda is where Jesus healed the paralyzed man (John 5:2). It was discovered near the Sheep Gate in the Old City and still retained its five porticoes. The Pool of Siloam was the site where Jesus healed the man born blind (John 9:7). It was uncovered in 2004 in the southern part of the City of David outside the Old City walls. The pool is fed by the Gihon Spring through Hezekiah’s Tunnel. These discoveries confirm the accuracy of the details in the accounts of these two miracles of Jesus recorded in John’s Gospel.

The Nazareth Inscription

William Froehner acquired this marble tablet, dating to the first half of the first century, in 1878. Inscribed on it is an imperial edict (decree of Caesar) forbidding the removal of bodies from tombs upon penalty of death. Many scholars cite it as evidence for the Biblical accounts of Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 28:11–15). Recent studies show that the marble it’s made from matches marble from a nearby quarry on Kos, a small island off the southwestern coast of Turkey. [1]

The Galilean Boat (“Jesus Boat”)

Discovered in 1986 on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee during a drought, this first-century fishing boat matches the type of boat used by Jesus’ disciples (Luke 5:1–3). The discovery of this ancient boat supports the Biblical record for the kind of fishing vessels used by Christ’s disciples.

The Temple Mount and Herodian Structures

The Western, Southern, and Eastern walls surrounding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem are actually parts of the retaining walls that formed the massive foundation for Herod’s Temple. These colossal stones, 100 feet tall and weighing 2–5 tons each, confirm the grandeur of the Second Temple described in the Gospels (Mark 13:1–2).

The Magdala Synagogue

Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus whose hometown was Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. In 2009, the site was excavated, and a first-century synagogue was discovered, dating back to the time of Jesus’ ministry (Luke 8:2). This discovery offers a tangible link to her and to Jesus’ Galilean ministry.

The House of Peter

During excavations near the Sea of Galilee in 1968, archaeologists discovered a first-century house in Capernaum beneath the ruins of a 5th-century Byzantine church, which early Christians revered as the house of the Apostle Peter. This discovery links to the account in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law there (Mark 1:29–31). St. Peter’s Church, built on this site in 1990, allows visitors to view the ancient structures through a glass floor.

The Heel Bone with a Crucifixion Nail

In 1968, inside a first-century tomb in Jerusalem, archaeologists discovered an ancient heel bone pierced through with an iron nail. This grisly artifact provides direct evidence of Roman crucifixion practices in the first century. It confirms the Gospel account of the method of Jesus’ execution (John 19:16–18).

Byzantine Churches Preserve the Memory of Christ’s Miracles

Christian archaeology began with the Empress Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. After her son legalized Christianity in AD 313, she played a crucial role in identifying and preserving sacred sites in the Holy Land related to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The Byzantine Empire (AD 330–1453) continued this work for centuries, building churches over these sites to preserve the memory of Jesus’ miracles and inspire worship. It was a deliberate strategy to build them over former Greek and Roman temples, shrines, and statues to demonstrate Christianity’s victory over paganism. [2]

Faith and Evidence in Harmony

While archaeology can’t produce saving faith, it can strengthen it by showing that the Biblical record is trustworthy. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14, BSB). The resurrection is a historical claim, attested by both religious and secular scholars, and the empty tomb, early Christian burial practices, and the rapid spread of Christianity all point to its reality.

Dr. Titus Kennedy’s books faithfully preserve the results of his research at over 18 sites spanning 6 countries. His discoveries remind us that Christianity is not a myth or legend but is rooted in history.

Conclusion

Titus Kennedy’s Excavating the Evidence for Jesus [3] affirms that the stones of history do indeed cry out in testimony to Christ (Luke 19:40). These archaeological discoveries of ancient inscriptions and first-century ruins of temples and Jewish synagogues continue to confirm the truth of Scripture.

References

1. Chaffey, T. (n.d.). Nazareth Inscription study debunks evidence for Christ’s resurrection? Answers in Genesis. https://answersingenesis.org/jesus/nazareth-inscription-study-debunks-evidence-for-christs-resurrection/?srsltid=AfmBOooA-cGbE6HNZcnpOMWhlNgyWpBtbtFgwhfxWdhZNbv5vkKTUKkg

2. Shpigel, N. (2020, November 1). Byzantine church built over temple to Pan found in Israel. “Like pilgrims left graffiti” — Archaeology. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2020-11-01/ty-article/.premium/byzantine-church-pan-temple-found-israel-golan-archaeology/0000017f-e01e-d3a5-af7f-f2be90a50000

3. Kennedy, Titus. Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: The Archaeology and History of Christ and the Gospels. Harvest House Publishers, 2022.