<s>[INST] How can we be sure if Jesus spoke Aramaic? What is the historical context of Aramaic? Since Jesus was Jewish, wouldn't he have spoken Hebrew, or alternatively spoken Greek since the Gospels were written in Greek? [/INST] It is generally accepted among scholars that Aramaic was the primary language spoken by Jesus and his disciples, as it was the common language of the region during that time period. While Hebrew was also spoken by the Jewish population, it was primarily used in religious contexts and in writing, rather than in everyday conversation.

Aramaic was a widely spoken language throughout the Near East during the time of Jesus, and it was the language of the Aramean people who lived in what is now Syria and parts of Iraq. It was also used as a diplomatic language in the Persian Empire, which included parts of modern-day Iran, Iraq, and surrounding areas.

The use of Greek in the Gospels reflects the fact that they were written in a cultural context where Greek was the dominant language for literature and intellectual discourse. However, this does not necessarily mean that Jesus and his disciples spoke Greek in their daily lives. It is possible that they knew some Greek, as it was also a common language in the region due to the influence of Hellenistic culture, but it is not likely that it was their primary language.

In short, while we cannot be absolutely certain that Jesus spoke Aramaic, it is the most likely language that he and his followers would have used in their daily lives based on the historical and linguistic context of the time. </s>