The Synagogue Stone of Theodotos

A carver cut ten lines of Greek into limestone, and left out one letter. A small iota was added above another letter afterwards.

Scripture: But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.

Acts 6 has men from a synagogue called “The Libertines” and others disputing with Stephen in Jerusalem. What would the ground say about synagogues there?

In December 1913, archaeologist Raymond Weill was digging on the Ophel, today called the City of David, south of the Temple Mount. He found the stone in a large water cistern.

Ten lines of ancient Greek are carved on a limestone block, about seventy-five by forty-one centimetres, according to Wikipedia. It is the earliest known synagogue inscription.

Scripture: It names Theodotos, son of Vettenus, a priest and archisynagogos, which means a synagogue leader. His father and grandfather held that same title.

The building was for reading the Law and teaching the commandments. It also had a guesthouse, rooms and what are read as water installations, for lodging people in need from abroad.

Most scholars date it from the first century BCE to 70 CE, and its lettering resembles other inscriptions of the period, including Jerusalem's Temple Warning inscription.

It was found in a cistern filled with rubble from a demolished building. Its damage is usually blamed on Rome's destruction in 70 CE, though later reuse is possible.

Today it is on display at the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum, catalogued as IAA S-842.

A building made for reading, teaching and lodging travellers from abroad. Where do you picture people gathering to learn in Stephen's Jerusalem? Follow Bible Evidence for the next find, and may the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.