Here are a few other specific details found in John’s gospel:
- People in Israel tried to stone Jesus for ‘speaking blasphemy’ (John 8:31); a cultural practice going back to the Old Testament (Leviticus 24:16)
- Recent digs within the last fifty years have verified Caiaphas as the high priest of Israel at that time (John 11:49)
- People waved palm branches as Jesus entered Jerusalem. This was a form of welcoming national rulers; as many people thought Jesus was coming to drive out the Romans (John 12:13)
- Modern archeology has proven that there were, in fact, five colonnades at the pool at Bethsaida (John 5:2)
- Stone jars were in use at this time for carrying water (John 2:6)
- There was open hostility between the Samaritans and Israelites (John 4:9); a fact further validated by ancient historian Josephus