When the New Testament talks about what happens and explains people s heart and motives is it because that a disciple was there with them or what? For example take Matthew 27:1-10. Who s reporting these facts? -- Michelle (London)

Sometimes eyewitness reports were relied upon (2 Peter 1:16) sometimes written sources (see the prologue to Luke). Sometimes God even revealed things that no one else could have known or remembered (John 14:26 16:13). Matthew 27 is an easier passage because there would have been scores of witnesses! Usually with a little bit of creativity it is not hard to imagine how the writers knew the things they knew. Of course it is always also possible that God moved them in a special way endowing them with knowledge entirely beyond them.

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