testimonies

The credibility of any historical event depends on eyewitness testimony. In the case of Jesus Christ, the evidence is overwhelming: those who claimed to have seen Him resurrected were so convinced that they willingly endured persecution and death rather than deny their testimony. The dramatic transformation of Jesus’ followers—many of whom initially doubted and even abandoned Him—into bold preachers willing to die for their faith is one of the strongest arguments for the truth of the resurrection. If it were a fabrication, why would so many suffer and die for what they knew to be false?

The New Testament is filled with claims from eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after His crucifixion. These testimonies come from multiple independent sources, written within the lifetimes of the witnesses, making them highly credible according to historical standards.

One of the most remarkable transformations is that of Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul. Initially a fierce persecutor of Christians, Paul encountered the risen Jesus and became the most influential missionary of the early church. He recounts this event in his letters:

“He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:5-6).

Dr. Gary Habermas, a leading scholar on the resurrection, states:

“Paul’s testimony is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for the resurrection, as he was a hostile witness who had nothing to gain by converting.” (The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, 2004).

Before Jesus’ resurrection, His disciples were afraid and in hiding. Peter, one of Jesus’ closest followers, denied Him three times out of fear (Luke 22:54-62). However, after witnessing Jesus alive, Peter boldly preached the gospel—even in the face of death.

His speech in Acts 2:32 is clear:

“This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.”

His transformation was so powerful that he was later crucified upside down for his faith—refusing to recant.

A well-established principle in history is that people will not willingly die for something they know to be false. While some may die for a cause they believe in (even if it's wrong), no one suffers extreme persecution and execution for something they knowingly invented.

Early historical sources document the violent deaths of Jesus’ disciples:

• Peter – Crucified upside down in Rome (c. 64-67 AD).
• James (brother of John) – Beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2).
• Thomas – Speared to death in India for spreading the gospel.
• Andrew – Crucified on an X-shaped cross in Greece.
• Paul – Beheaded in Rome under Nero’s reign (c. 67 AD).

Dr. Sean McDowell, in his book The Fate of the Apostles, states:

“There is strong historical evidence that the apostles truly believed they saw the risen Jesus. Their willingness to suffer and die is best explained by the fact that they were convinced He had risen.”

The martyrdom extended beyond the apostles. Roman historians recorded how early Christians were tortured and executed for refusing to renounce Christ.

• Tacitus (c. 116 AD) describes how Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome:
  “Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or doomed to the flames.” (Annals, 15.44).
• Pliny the Younger (c. 112 AD), a Roman governor, wrote to Emperor Trajan seeking advice on how to deal with Christians, noting:
  “They affirmed, however, that the sum of their guilt was this: they met regularly before dawn to sing hymns to Christ as to a god.” (Letters to Trajan, 10.96).

This historical record confirms that early Christians were willing to endure persecution rather than deny their faith.

If Jesus had not truly risen, what would explain the dramatic shift in His followers?

• They had no political or financial gain. Christianity was not a movement of power—it was a path to suffering.
• They had everything to lose. They faced imprisonment, torture, and death for their beliefs.
• They could have stopped it at any time. No one recanted. Even when given the chance to deny Jesus, they chose death instead.

Dr. N.T. Wright, a historian and theologian, states:

“The only plausible explanation for the transformation of Jesus’ disciples is that they genuinely believed they had seen the risen Christ.” (The Resurrection of the Son of God, 2003).

The unwavering testimony of the apostles and early Christians provides strong historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. The fact that they willingly suffered and died rather than deny what they had seen suggests that they were not following a myth or a lie—they were bearing witness to the truth.

The challenge remains: If the resurrection was powerful enough to change the lives of those who saw it firsthand, what does that mean for us today?