How did the things Jesus said and did when He was alone get recorded in the Gospels?

Answer

There are several instances in the Gospels where Jesus’ words are quoted or His actions are described during moments when He was alone. For instance, when Jesus spent forty days in the desert (Matthew 4) or prayed in the Garden at Gethsemane (Mark 14), He was solitary. How did others know what He said or did, given that there were no witnesses to these events?

The Gospel accounts were not written contemporaneously with the events, like a daily journal entry; instead, they were compiled later, similar to most historical narratives, relying on memory, research, and compilation. Matthew and John personally witnessed most of the events they narrate. Mark and Luke had access to these eyewitnesses. In fact, Luke mentions that he “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” before composing his Gospel «it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, », (Luke 1:3). It is very likely that Mark gathered information for his Gospel from the apostle Peter «The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. », (1 Peter 5:13). Another significant advantage the writers had— and this is crucial— is that they were inspired by the Holy Spirit «All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: », (2 Timothy 3:16). In fact, Jesus had assured them that the Spirit would help them remember “everything I have said” «But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he

Shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” , (John 14:26).

Still, how did the disciples know what transpired when they were away from Jesus? One possible explanation is that the Holy Spirit informed them of the events as they recorded their accounts. Believing the Gospels to be inspired, we can readily accept this explanation.

Another possibility is that Jesus later recounted to His disciples what they had missed. None of the disciples were present with Jesus during the wilderness temptation in Matthew 4, but Jesus spent over three years with them. It is plausible that He shared with them what had occurred at some point during those three years. Similarly, Jesus was alone when He conversed with the woman at the well in John 4, yet their dialogue is extensively quoted. A logical explanation is that Jesus later briefed His disciples. Alternatively, John might have obtained the account from the woman, considering that the disciples stayed in her city for two days after her conversion “So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.”, (John 4:40).

Following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples over a span of forty days, “speaking to them about the kingdom of God” “to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”, (Acts 1:3). During those forty days, Jesus would have had ample opportunity to inform the disciples of all the occurrences when they were not present. In any case, the events of Jesus’ life that God intended for us to know— including those that took place in solitude— were conveyed to the disciples.

These events were documented. The important thing is that God intended for us to know. The occurrences were either revealed to the disciples at a later time, either by Jesus or by another person, or the apostles received the specifics directly from the Holy Spirit as they recorded God’s Word.