Selected story
Jesus' Ministry and Miracles
Read the cited context and compare 14 documented textual points.
Comparison 4 of 34
Jesus' Ministry and Miracles
The two accounts at a glance
Bible
World English BibleJesus heals, teaches, performs signs, feeds crowds, and shares a final meal with disciples; the canonical Gospels do not narrate clay birds or cradle speech.
Qur'an
Sahih InternationalJesus forms birds from clay by God's permission, heals, raises the dead by God's permission, and responds when the disciples request a Table from heaven.
These are concise account summaries with exact references. Open the complete texts at these passages →
14 documented comparison points
The comparison reads the four Gospel ministry narratives and every Qur'anic passage describing Jesus' mission, teaching, disciples, and signs. The crucifixion is a separate linked story because it has its own complete comparison. Labels use one standard: agreement means both texts state the point; additional detail means one adds a non-conflicting detail; omission means one is silent; ambiguity means an identity or meaning is not explicit; contradiction means both texts state mutually exclusive claims. Stylistic wording alone is not counted.
The setting and chronology of Jesus' ministry
The Gospels place Jesus in named first-century locations, rulers, festivals, synagogues, villages, Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem, with a narrative movement toward Passover and the cross.
The Qur'an gives no continuous ministry chronology and names no Galilean towns, Judean rulers, baptism, Passover sequence, or journey to Jerusalem.
Baptism and temptation
Jesus is baptized by John, the Spirit descends, a heavenly voice identifies him as Son, and he is tempted in the wilderness.
No baptism by John or wilderness temptation of Jesus is narrated.
Jesus' identity and sonship
The Gospels call Jesus Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man, Lord, and in John the eternal Word made flesh; Jesus receives worship in several scenes.
Jesus is Messiah, son of Mary, God's word, spirit from Him, servant, prophet, and messenger, while divine sonship and worship of Jesus are explicitly rejected.
The body of Jesus' teaching
The Gospels preserve extended teaching on God's kingdom, repentance, ethics, prayer, money, judgment, discipleship, and Jesus' identity through sermons, parables, disputes, and private instruction.
Jesus' speeches are brief and focus on servanthood, signs, confirmation of Torah, permission concerning some laws, worship of God, and announcement of a messenger after him.
How miracle authority is expressed
Jesus heals and commands nature and spirits directly, often with first-person authority, and forgives sins in ways that prompt questions about divine authority.
Jesus repeatedly says or is reminded that his signs occur by God's leave, preserving a clear distinction between the messenger and God.
Which miracles are named
The Gospels narrate many healings, exorcisms, nature miracles, feedings, and raisings, usually with named places and witnesses.
The Qur'an names healing the blind and lepers, raising the dead, revealing stored food, and other signs, but does not narrate most Gospel miracle scenes individually.
Birds made from clay
The canonical Gospels contain no miracle in which Jesus shapes a bird from clay and gives it life.
Jesus forms the shape of a bird from clay, breathes into it, and it becomes a bird by God's leave.
Knowledge of stored food
The canonical Gospels do not present knowledge of what people eat and store in their houses as one of Jesus' announced signs.
Jesus says he will tell people what they eat and what they store in their houses as a sign.
The disciples' names and number
The Gospels name the Twelve, describe their callings and failures, and distinguish them from a wider circle of followers.
The disciples are called helpers or apostles and affirm belief, but they are not named or numbered.
The table requested from heaven
The Gospels narrate feedings and the Last Supper, but no scene in which the disciples request a table from heaven for reassurance and are warned of punishment for unbelief afterward.
The disciples ask Jesus for a table spread from heaven so they may eat and know he told the truth. Jesus prays, and God couples the gift with a warning.
The transfiguration
Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John; Moses and Elijah appear, and the heavenly voice identifies Jesus as the beloved Son.
No transfiguration scene, appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus, or heavenly declaration at that event is narrated.
The final meal and new covenant
At the Last Supper Jesus identifies bread and cup with his body and blood and speaks of covenant, betrayal, and his approaching death.
The table-from-heaven episode does not identify food with Jesus' body or blood, institute communion, or announce an atoning death and new covenant.
A messenger announced after Jesus
The Gospels do not record Jesus naming a future human messenger called Ahmad. John's farewell discourse identifies the promised Comforter or Advocate as the Holy Spirit.
Jesus tells Israel that he confirms Torah and brings good news of a messenger after him whose name is Ahmad.
How the ministry reaches its climax
All four Gospels move toward arrest, Roman trial, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, appearances, and commissioning of witnesses.
The Qur'an gives no continuous passion narrative. It denies that Jesus' opponents killed or crucified him and says God raised him.
What do both texts share?
- Both texts attribute healings and other signs to Jesus.
- Jesus is associated with a community of disciples.