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The reference is certainly laconic, and at first the details seem incompatible with what is known about Jesus’ death.  However, once it is observed that the phrase “hanged” was a manner of speech that was used to signify crucifixion (as in “hanged from a tree”), the passage may be interpreted as providing important support for Jesus’ death, around the Passover, in part because of accusations of blasphemy (enticing Israel to apostacy) and because of his wonderworkings (taken as sorcery, i.e. the product of devilish aid – an accusation recorded in the gospels).  The act of stoning is not directly paralleled in the gospels, though John's gospel does record such an attempt.  It is important not to push this harmonization too far, especially because it misses the point, which is to observe a plausible Jewish record of key feature's of Jesus’ life.

The reference is certainly laconic, and at first the details seem incompatible with what is known about Jesus’ death.  However, once it is observed that the phrase “hanged” was a manner of speech that was used to signify crucifixion (as in “hanged from a tree”), the passage may be interpreted as providing important support for Jesus’ death, around the Passover, in part because of accusations of blasphemy (enticing Israel to apostacy) and because of his wonderworkings (taken as sorcery, i.e. the product of devilish aid – an accusation recorded in the gospels).  The act of stoning is not directly paralleled in the gospels, though John's gospel does record such an attempt.  It is important not to push this harmonization too far, especially because it misses the point, which is to observe a plausible Jewish record of key feature's of Jesus’ life.

=== The boldness of the early Christian church and the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ ===

== The boldness of the early Christian church and the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ ==

''See also:'' [[Christian Apologetics and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ]] and [[Christian apologetics]] and [[Evidential apologetics]] and [[Historicity of Jesus|Historicity of Jesus Christ]]

''See also:'' [[Christian Apologetics and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ]] and [[Christian apologetics]] and [[Evidential apologetics]]

Eric Lyons, M. Min. wrote about the explosive growth of early Christianity:

Eric Lyons, M. Min. wrote about the explosive growth of early Christianity:

A few weeks [later] these very same men and women who had huddled in secret (John 20:19) were fearlessly and openly proclaiming the resurrection of Christ—even before the Sanhedrin that was responsible for Christ’s death (Acts 4-5). The only thing that can account for this immediate and miraculous change is that they were absolutely convinced they had encountered the bodily resurrected Christ.<ref>[https://jashow.org/articles/evidence-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus-christ-from-the-dead/ EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD], John Ankerberg website</ref>}}

A few weeks [later] these very same men and women who had huddled in secret (John 20:19) were fearlessly and openly proclaiming the resurrection of Christ—even before the Sanhedrin that was responsible for Christ’s death (Acts 4-5). The only thing that can account for this immediate and miraculous change is that they were absolutely convinced they had encountered the bodily resurrected Christ.<ref>[https://jashow.org/articles/evidence-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus-christ-from-the-dead/ EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD], John Ankerberg website</ref>}}

== Proponents of the Myth argument ==

== Proponents of the Myth argument ==