Was Jesus Christ Who He Said He Was?

The Jewish teacher from Nazareth claimed to be the promised MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah"). and Son of God. Could His assertions be true? Can we find evidence to back up His bold statements?

Many of us wonder about God's existence. Is He real? Is the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. truly His Word? Was Jesus Christ who He said He was, the very Son of God?

Is there historical proof to which we can turn for verification? Is there a single event that offers compelling evidence that God indeed exists and Jesus of Nazareth was truly His Son?

Yes, there is one such event. Many do not believe it ever took place. Most people know of the event but have never really considered its implications—but it makes all the difference in the world if it happened.

What is this event? It is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Jesus said this event would serve as a sure "sign" proving that He was indeed who He claimed to be (Matthew 12:38-40 [38] Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
[39] But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
[40] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

See All...; Matthew 16:1-4 [1] The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
[2] He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
[3] And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
[4] A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

See All...; Luke 11:29-30 [29] And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
[30] For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

See All...; John 2:18-21 [18] Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
[19] Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
[20] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
[21] But he spake of the temple of his body.

See All...).

But did it happen? If it didn't, then you have no reason to believe that the way of life that Christ brought was any different from any other religion. If it didn't happen, there was nothing special about Jesus of Nazareth. He was merely another devout man, albeit one who laid the foundation for one of the world's major religions, like Muhammad or the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.

But if it did happen there is one great difference between Jesus and all other religious teachers. Jesus Christ died and was raised to life again.

Can we know whether this truly happened? What are the implications if it did take place?

Much of the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. focuses on the life of this Jewish religious teacher. The four biblical narratives, the Gospels, culminate with His death and resurrection. It was the bringing back of Jesus from the dead that separates Him from any other religious teacher or philosopher who has ever lived. If Jesus was not resurrected from the dead, then neither He nor His followers have any special claim.

Can we find evidence for Christ's resurrection? Can you prove it? Many people claim personal spiritual experiences and a turnaround in their lives as proof. This may be proof to the believer, but would a skeptic accept this as evidence?

There is indeed a great deal of skepticism about the resurrection of Jesus. Several theories have been put forth to explain the claim that He was resurrected. Most revolve around assertions that:

Jesus didn't really die; He fainted away on the cross and recovered later in the grave.

He did die, but His body was secretly removed from the grave, either by enemies or friends.

The claimed encounters with Jesus after His death and resurrection were either fabrications or hallucinations on the part of the disciples based on their belief in a MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah"). who would not die and the ability of the mind to conjure up visions to support what it wants to believe.

Ultimately only two explanations are possible for Christ's death, the disappearance of His body and His reappearance. Either these were actions of God, or they must be accounted for with purely earthly or naturalistic explanations.

What about the theories that have been put forth to dismiss the accounts of His resurrection? As we will see, they have serious difficulties when we examine the facts.

At this point we might ask, How do we know the facts are facts? Some even claim that the death, burial and resurrection stories are but myths comparable to the legends of Krishna, Osiris, Attis, Adonis, Dionysus, Mithras and other supposed deities. Is the story of the founder of Christianity no different from theirs, merely the product of sorrow, imagination and hope?
Attack on the historical records

Historical facts ultimately stand or fall on eyewitness accounts of events. Such accounts often can be verified with similar descriptions from other eyewitnesses. Historians can piece together events with confidence if the versions are noncontradictory, similar in details, plausible and accepted at the time they were written.

The accounts of the life, death and burial of Jesus are some of the most authentic in ancient historical records. Historian Will Durant, in his volume Caesar and Christ, a part of his massive work The Story of Civilization, quotes the Jewish scholar J. Klausner: "If we had ancient sources like those in the Gospels for the history of Alexander or Caesar, we should not cast any doubt upon them whatsoever."

The GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . accounts, however, have been placed under severe scrutiny. "One of the most far-reaching activities of the modern mind has been the 'Higher Criticism' of the Bible—the mounting attack upon its authenticity and veracity," writes Durant (Caesar and Christ, 1972, p. 553).

He comments on the concerted attempt to discredit what many scholars have come to see as reliable historical accounts. "In its enthusiasm of its discoveries the Higher Criticism has applied to the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. tests of authenticity so severe that by them a hundred ancient worthies—e.g. Hammurabi, DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., Socrates—would fade into legend" (Durant, p. 557).

In other words, this respected historian recognizes a deliberate attempt to discredit the Bible—especially with respect to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—that we do not find directed toward other historical figures. We should ask why that should be.
Telling evidence

What evidence is contained in the accounts passed down to us, and what does it tell us? The claim that a man died and then rose from the dead certainly deserves a healthy skepticism. Extraordinary claims deserve extraordinary proof. Can we find such proof?

The four Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Two of the four—Matthew and John—were among the 12 original disciples and personally involved in many of the events they recorded. Most BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. scholars believe Mark's GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . is largely the account and personal recollections of the disciple Peter as recorded by his close friend and companion Mark (1 Peter 5:13The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
See All...). Luke was a painstaking historian who interviewed eyewitnesses to prepare his biography of Jesus (Luke 1:1-4 [1] Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
[2] Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
[3] 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,
[4] That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

See All...).

The accounts are indeed in agreement and point to the resurrection of Jesus as a historical reality that took place exactly as the Gospels record.

Apologist William Lane Craig in his booklet God, Are You There? does an excellent job of summarizing three features of the burial-and-resurrection story widely accepted by New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. historians that give the strongest credibility to the truth of the accounts:

Jesus was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea.

Because Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the same Jewish high court that condemned Jesus, he is unlikely to be a Christian invention. Mark's GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . tells us that "Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, ... taking courage, went into Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus" (Mark 15:43Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
See All...). "Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb" (verse 46).

No one trying to contrive and pawn off a fabrication would have invented a person who did not exist and say he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jewish nation. Members of the Sanhedrin were widely known. Because Joseph was a respected public figure, many people would have known the location of his tomb. If Jesus had not been buried in his tomb, the ruse would have been all too easy to verify.

Women were the first to discover that the tomb was empty.

Mark also records for us the detail that three women—Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James; and Salome—approached the tomb at the earliest light to anoint the body of Jesus with spices. Finding the heavy stone door rolled back, they entered the tomb and were shocked and afraid when they saw a young man, clothed in a long white robe, sitting on the right side. The man told the women, "He is risen!" and instructed them to go and tell Jesus' other disciples (Mark 16:1-8 [1] And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
[2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
[3] And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
[4] And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
[5] And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
[6] And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
[7] But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
[8] And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

See All...).

In the society of the day, the testimony of women was held in such low regard that they were not even permitted to serve as witnesses in a court of law. How remarkable is it, then, that women were the acknowledged discoverers of Jesus' empty tomb?

Had someone fabricated the story at a later date, as many critics assume to have been the case, the plot surely would have made male disciples such as Peter and John the discoverers of the empty tomb. That it was women who are the chief witnesses to the fact of the empty tomb is best explained by the straightforward truth that the women named were indeed the actual discoverers.

The GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . writers faithfully record what for them was an awkward and potentially embarrassing detail. They even record that the disciples did not believe the women's report: "Then [the women] returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest ... And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them" (Luke 24:9-11 [9] And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
[10] It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
[11] And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

See All...).

Those who had Jesus condemned and executed acknowledged that the tomb was empty and His body missing.

What was the reaction of Jesus' enemies to the disciple's declaration that Jesus was alive again after having been executed? Did they respond that the disciples were lying, that Jesus' body still lay in the rock-hewn tomb? No. Did they claim that the disciples were hallucinating? No. Instead they bribed the Roman soldiers responsible for guarding the sealed tomb to spread a cover story, to claim that Jesus' disciples had come and stolen His body while they slept.

Read the account in Matthew 28:11-15 [11] Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
[12] And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
[13] Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
[14] And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
[15] So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

See All.... This was the authorities' attempt to explain why the body was missing and could not be found. We have evidence that the tomb was empty from the very enemies of Christ.
Eyewitness accounts of His appearances

On multiple occasions and under various circumstances individuals and groups of people saw Jesus alive after knowing He had died. William Craig comments: "This is a fact which is virtually universally acknowledged among New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. scholars ... The list of eyewitnesses to Jesus' resurrection appearances which is quoted by Paul guarantees that such appearances occurred."

Notice what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: "... He was seen by Cephas [Peter], then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time" (1 Corinthians 15:5-8 [5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
[6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
[7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
[8] And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

See All...).

How did Paul receive this information? He was acquainted and had spoken with the people involved. He had heard the account in their own words. Most who could verify it were still alive.

If these appearances were not true, people were alive who knew the parties involved and would have known it was not true. Such eyewitness accounts cannot be dismissed as fantasy; they must refer to actual events that were witnessed by many people alive at the time of Paul's writing. Paul even lists the names of the best known of the witnesses so others could verify the facts for themselves.
The disciples' astounding transformation

One of the major proofs of the resurrection of Jesus is the dramatic change in the lives of His disciples.

The GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . accounts are not flattering to the disciples (further evidence that they didn't fabricate the story). At the time of Christ's arrest and trial, all His disciples forsook Him and fled (Matthew 26:56But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
See All...). Peter, who avowed he would always stand by Jesus, cursed and swore, denying that he knew Him (verses 69-75). Jesus, we remember, foretold Peter's weakness and even forewarned His disciples that they would also be offended because of their association with Him (verses 31-35).

Within a short time, however, we see the apostles speaking to large crowds and openly declaring that Jesus came back from the dead. They boldly confronted the civil and religious authorities with the fact that Jesus had been killed and raised to life again. They defied orders under threat of imprisonment if they continued to speak about this man Jesus (Acts 4:1-23 [1] And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
[2] Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
[3] And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
[4] Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
[5] And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
[6] And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
[7] And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
[8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
[9] If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
[10] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
[11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
[12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
[14] And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
[15] But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
[16] Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
[17] But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
[18] And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
[19] But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
[20] For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
[21] So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
[22] For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
[23] And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

See All...). They courageously faced beatings and endured death threats because they preached that He was alive and was the MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah"). (Acts 5:17-42 [17] Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
[18] And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
[19] But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
[20] Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
[21] And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
[22] But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
[23] Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
[24] Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
[25] Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
[26] Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
[27] And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
[28] Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
[29] Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
[30] The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
[31] Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
[32] And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
[33] When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
[34] Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
[35] And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
[36] For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
[37] After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
[38] And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
[39] But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
[40] And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
[41] And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
[42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

See All...).

Whereas only weeks before they had denied they even knew Him, now nothing could stop them from openly publicizing what they knew to be true. Only one explanation for their new unshakable belief is plausible. They saw Jesus Christ alive after they knew He was dead. They spoke with Him, ate with Him, received extensive instructions from Him, spent time with Him and touched Him.

These men gave the remaining years of their lives—and ultimately life itself—for the one they knew had conquered death. Had they all been only participants in a giant hoax, could we believe these men would give their lives for something they knew to be a lie?
Peter's transformation

The apostle Peter is the best known of the disciples whose lives were so remarkably changed. His boldness on the Feast of Pentecost was amazing. At the temple he addressed a huge crowd of people, from which 3,000 became disciples of Jesus the MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah")..

Peter spoke to people who lived in Jerusalem and all of Judea as well as many other parts of the Roman world. They were in Jerusalem to observe Pentecost as God had commanded in Deuteronomy 16. Peter reminded them that they all knew who Jesus was and what had happened to Him seven weeks earlier at the Passover feast (Acts 2:22-24 [22] Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
[23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
[24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

See All...).

Peter fearlessly proclaimed they were the ones who had crucified the promised MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah")., but that God had raised Him up.

The reaction of the people is quite telling. There is no denial, no outcry, no attempt to stone Peter for this apparently outrageous charge. They knew of the events surrounding the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Christ. They knew that many—perhaps even some of those standing there listening to Peter—had shouted for Christ's blood. They knew of the strange disappearance of the body from the tomb, a mystery no one had been able to solve.

They had heard of other strange events that took place at the time: the mysterious darkness that descended on the land as Jesus was being crucified, people being resurrected from the grave and walking the streets of Jerusalem, and the massive veil in the magnificent temple tearing from top to bottom with no apparent cause. How were these events to be explained? What did they mean? Peter was giving them the amazing explanation—an explanation that would require them to make a decision that would affect the rest of their lives.

Peter contrasted the empty tomb of Jesus with the nearby tomb of Israel's greatest king, DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical.. "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day" (Acts 2:29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
See All...). His point was unmistakable: Everybody knew where DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical.'s tomb was, and that was where the king's body was buried. But Jesus, unlike DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., was no longer bound by the grave!

Jesus of Nazareth, Peter declared, had been raised up by God—and there were many witnesses to that fact. Once again there was no argument from the crowd. On the contrary, the people asked what they should do now that they, too, were convinced that Peter was right. Peter replied that they should repent and be baptized and they also would receive the Holy Spirit as had the disciples on that very day.

The only way you can explain the dramatic transformation of the disciples from a scared, frightened band ready to throw everything away and flee in despair back to Galilee is that Jesus left behind dramatic and powerful evidence: an empty tomb. Ordinary men from ordinary walks of life, who had denied their Master and failed Him miserably, suddenly changed almost overnight into dynamic leaders of a Church that was to defy and challenge the ancient pagan world, propelled by a powerful transformative experience.
James, half brother of Jesus

Perhaps an even more remarkable transformation took place in the life of James, the half brother of Jesus (James was the natural son of Mary and Joseph; Jesus was the son of Mary and God the Father). Notice how J.P. Moreland describes events in James's life as recorded in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. and contemporary history:

"Why did these men change? Why did they undergo hardship, persecution, pressure and martyrdom? Consider James the brother of Jesus. Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, tells us that he died a martyr's death for his faith in his brother. Yet the Gospels tell us that during Jesus' life, he was an unbeliever and opposed Jesus.

"Why did he change? What could cause a Jew to believe that his own brother was the very son of God and to be willing to die for such a belief? It certainly was not a set of lovely teachings from a carpenter from Nazareth. Only the appearance of Jesus to James (1 Corinthians 15:7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
See All...) can explain his transformation.

"As with James, so it is with the other disciples. One who denies the resurrection owes us an explanation of this transformation which does justice to the historical facts" (Scaling the Secular City, 1987, pp. 178-179).
Paul the persecutor

The apostle Paul is another remarkable example. As a devout Jew he was resolutely convinced that a resurrection had not taken place. He persecuted members of the early Church for believing in such nonsense. He staked his whole mission in life on his conviction that the resurrection was a fabrication and the movement was a threat to every tradition he held sacred.

This new movement, he was convinced, deserved to be stamped out by any means, including imprisonment and execution (Acts 22:4And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
See All...)—and this would be his personal crusade. Then something happened. Jesus Christ appeared to Paul and spoke to him.

Paul was not a man given to the vivid imaginations of superstitious people. He was a level-headed intellectual. Yet he later was prepared to defend his zeal for Christ before hostile mobs as well as governors, kings and other rulers. In the end Paul was prepared to die for what he knew was true: Jesus was indeed the MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah"). and was alive and well at the right hand of God.
Who was Jesus?

Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
See All...). He asked the Pharisees, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" (Matthew 22:42Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical..
See All...).

This is the ultimate question. Is He a figment of our imaginations? Is He a mythological figure? Was He merely an ordinary man with better-than-average religious teachings whose philosophy happened to take hold? Or is He the power of the universe?

The question of who Jesus was is decisively answered by His death—predicted by Himself and the Hebrew prophets—and His resurrection. These crucial events proved Jesus was indeed the promised MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah")., the Christ, the Son of God.
The power of the resurrection

Paul's chief aim in life was turned upside down. What would he say if you had asked what was the most important thing to him after he had seen Jesus? His answer: "... I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ... , that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, ... [and that] I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:8-11).

The bringing back to life of Jesus from the dead changed everything for His disciples. It can change everything for you too. It is only through the certainty of the resurrection of Jesus that you can be assured that others, too, will be raised from the dead. "... If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men" (1 Corinthians 15:17-19 [17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
[18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
[19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

See All..., New International Version).

You, too, can be changed by belief in Jesus' atoning sacrifice and resurrection. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will give you life as well (Romans 8:11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
See All...) if that power dwells in you. It is the power that can change your life. The death and resurrection of Christ guarantee it. GN