“Where were the disciples after Jesua (Jesus) died.
THEY SPLIT and were never to be heard from again until Paul tracked some of them down and got statements.”
Uh...Wrong. Act records that the disciples were preaching in Jerusalem shortly after the resurrection and before Paul’s encounter with Christ. Elsewhere you mentioned it being against the law for them to write/read. Got news for you, it was against the law for them to preach Christ, and they did that (Peter and John were beaten for it, Steven was stoned to death for it.) In fact, this is a very important proof that the resurrection did, in fact, happen. If Christ did not rise from the dead, how would you account for the willingness of these individuals to risk their lives (all of them died martyrs deaths, by the way)? If they knew the resurrection was a fallacy, it is doubtful that EVERY ONE OF THEM would have subjected themselves to the lives of persecution and the death of martyrs that they were willing to endure.
As for Paul’s encounter with Christ, you reason that Jesus was a common name. But the Jesus with whom Paul had dealings said to him, “Saul, Saul why persecutest thou Me...I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” The Lord narrowed it down quite nicely which Jesus it was that was talking with him.
Historians say this about your statement (and it is well documented).
(your statement) As for Paul’s encounter with Christ, you reason that Jesus was a common name. But the Jesus with whom Paul had dealings said to him, “Saul, Saul why persecutest thou Me...I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” The Lord narrowed it down quite nicely which Jesus it was that was talking with him.
THE FACTS. Paul did not make that journey until after the crucifixion of Jesus (Jesua). The trip to Damascus was his attempt to let people know that Jesus was dead and no longer a threat. It is thought that it happened as early as one month after the crucifixion to maybe a year after.
Since there is no date given for the crucifixion one can only speculate but the travel of Paul was well documented by Herod and the Roman Legions still in Israel. (The BAD GUYS kept good records of such events).
Who did he meet on the road to Damascus? It could have been the embodiment of Jesus - or Paul could have simply had an Epiphany and converted then and there.
I don’t know. Neither do you. Documents show my version to be more correct and your only source is a 2000 old document that was pieced together by thousands of men throughout history, numerous churches, governments, kings, scribes etc.