Who Are "The Common People"?

[Richard Aberdeen]

What is translated in most versions of the New Testament as "common people", means "crowd" in Greek. However, the vast majority of the "crowd" who followed Jesus around were most likely regular average people, rather than the elite of society.

The religious leaders often hung nearby because they were trying to trick and trap Jesus into saying something they could use to accuse him. Thus the "crowd" who responded overwhelmingly positive to Jesus, does not refer to them. In Acts 26:22 and Romans 12:16, what is translated as "common people" means "lowly" people in Greek. "The Jews" refers to the religious leaders, not to all Jews, as is often the excuse for horrific persecution of Jewish populations.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica article "Judaism", the average people of the time slightly before the birth of Jesus (and most likely also during the life of Jesus) had come to hate the religious leaders. This may well explain why the "crowd" "heard Jesus gladly", while they had ceased to listen to or obey their religious leaders. Jesus often makes sarcastic sport of the conservative religious leaders of his time, which may be why the common people heard him gladly.

Compare today, where many 'churches' are going bankrupt because nobody wants to hear their twisted nonsense, while Jesus doesn't appear to have a conservative bone in his body. If the common average people do not respond positively to your message, then whatever is being promoted is most likely at odds with the real First Century Jesus, who could hold the "crowd" in rapt attention for days on end.

 

[ScottA]

What is translated in most versions of the New Testament as "common people", means "crowd" in Greek. However, the vast majority of the "crowd" who followed Jesus around were most likely regular average people, rather than the elite of society.

The religious leaders often hung nearby because they were trying to trick and trap Jesus into saying something they could use to accuse him. Thus the "crowd" who responded overwhelmingly positive to Jesus, does not refer to them. In Acts 26:22 and Romans 12:16, what is translated as "common people" means "lowly" people in Greek. "The Jews" refers to the religious leaders, not to all Jews, as is often the excuse for horrific persecution of Jewish populations.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica article "Judaism", the average people of the time slightly before the birth of Jesus (and most likely also during the life of Jesus) had come to hate the religious leaders. This may well explain why the "crowd" "heard Jesus gladly", while they had ceased to listen to or obey their religious leaders. Jesus often makes sarcastic sport of the conservative religious leaders of his time, which may be why the common people heard him gladly.

Compare today, where many 'churches' are going bankrupt because nobody wants to hear their twisted nonsense, while Jesus doesn't appear to have a conservative bone in his body. If the common average people do not respond positively to your message, then whatever is being promoted is most likely at odds with the real First Century Jesus, who could hold the "crowd" in rapt attention for days on end.

You make some good points, but do remember the crowd also turned against Jesus, yelling "Crucify him!"

Then you make a peculiar statement and claim that "Jesus doesn't appear to have a conservative bone in his body." That sounds like a personal bias. Extreme personal bias. Jesus was indeed conservative--His every word and act was calculated and ordered--and He also spoke harshly, even whipping some and turning over the tables of those who made a mockery for their own gain of what was also supposed to be conservatively ordered.

 

[Richard Aberdeen]

You make some good points, but do remember the crowd also turned against Jesus, yelling "Crucify him!"

Then you make a peculiar statement and claim that "Jesus doesn't appear to have a conservative bone in his body." That sounds like a personal bias. Extreme personal bias. Jesus was indeed conservative--His every word and act was calculated and ordered--and He also spoke harshly, even whipping some and turning over the tables of those who made a mockery for their own gain of what was also supposed to be conservatively ordered.

The crowd didn't do that on their own. The religious leaders stirred up the crowd by making false accusations against Jesus.

 

[ScottA]

The crowd didn't do that on their own. The religious leaders stirred up the crowd by making false accusations against Jesus.

As far as the religious leaders are concerned, that much is true of them. But as for the crowd, many joined the religious leaders to follow them against Christ, which they did not have to do. It was a choice.

 

[Rockerduck]

Jesus made it a point to call to Himself the most disrespected of society. All the worst sinners, and don't forget fisherman were low class too.

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 that none of us were called for being wise or mighty or noble.

Jesus told a parable about the Wedding feast in Matthew 22:10-So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was full.

In the parable of the Great Supper; Luke 14:21 -So that servant came and reported these things to his master, then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame, and the blind.

Yes the crowds were common people and those going to heaven are common people.

 

[Richard Aberdeen]

As far as the religious leaders are concerned, that much is true of them. But as for the crowd, many joined the religious leaders to follow them against Christ, which they did not have to do. It was a choice.

I am not excusing them, just pointing out what the NT says. It says they "stirred up the people". We have plenty of examples of this today, where a crowd of people is easily stirred up. Just look at a Trump rally or a crowd blindly chanting "USA, USA"; many in such a crowd probably nothing about other countries while pretending the U.S. is the best. Such sheep-like blindness is common among crowds of people.

On the cross, Jesus says "father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

 

[ScottA]

I am not excusing them, just pointing out what the NT says. It says they "stirred up the people". We have plenty of examples of this today, where a crowd of people is easily stirred up. Just look at a Trump rally or a crowd blindly chanting "USA, USA"; many in such a crowd probably nothing about other countries while pretending the U.S. is the best. Such sheep-like blindness is common among crowds of people.

On the cross, Jesus says "father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

It is as I expected--you are merely ranting a POLITICAL pet peeve. And the reason I am calling you on it is because you obviously don't know you are rooting for the enemy. But these are the times of the Holy Spirit, so forgiveness will not come to all offenders.

You have been warned.