Bible passage: Matthew 20:17-19
Prophet: Jesus
Written: During the first century
One of the unique qualities about Jesus Christ as a religious figure is that he prophesied his own death and resurrection. One example is found in Matthew 20:17-19. Each of the four Gospels of the New Testament, which were written by Jesus' followers and contemporaries, testify that Jesus was resurrected.
Many of the people who saw Jesus after he was resurrected became evangelists, traveling to places in Africa, Asia and Europe to tell others about Jesus. The evangelists were often persecuted by non-believers and sometimes they were executed. The Bible records the deaths of two early evangelists named Stephen (Acts 7:1-8:3) and James (Acts 12:1-4).
And the deaths of others, including Peter and many of the other of the Apostles, as well as Paul the evangelist, were later recorded by Christian historians.
More details about the martyrdom of the Apostles and other early Christian evangelists can be found in an article at about-jesus.org, entitled "What happened to the 12 Apostles?"
- Research and commentary is based on the book 100 Fulfilled Bible Prophecies. © Ray Konig and AboutBibleProphecy.com.
Here is Matthew 20:17-19:
17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them,
18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death
19 and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"
(New International Version translation)