Why wasn't the resurrection flatly denied? The Jewish leaders (referred to as Sadducees, Pharisees, chief priests, scribes) looked at Christians as a thorn in their side, both before and after the resurrection. This is why they were so adamant about stopping Peter and John from preaching. But through it all, they never denied the resurrection that these apostles were preaching. The following passage from the book of Acts is indicative of the interaction between the apostles and the Jewish leadership. While it is a fairly long reading, it bears examination in extracting the true disposition of the Jews,

"As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, 'By what power, or in what name, have you done this?'

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 'Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.'

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, saying, 'What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.'

And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.' When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened." (Acts 4:1-21)

They wanted no part of the torturous exercise that Christ was about to endure. And apparently their cowardice did not end there. In his account of the gospel, John records in 20:19 that Jesus found the disciples behind closed doors for fear of the Jews.

"So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" (John 20:19)

"After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, 'Peace be with you.'" (John 20:26)

Even after eight days of thinking, reasoning, and considering what had happened Jesus still finds them behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Even after eight days of pondering the power of the risen Lord they are still trembling.

Why would eleven men that are hiding in a locked room soon be preaching to the people they are hiding from? According to Josephus and other ancient secular historians, eleven of the twelve apostles died as martyrs. Why would these men be hiding one day, and dying the next? I can only explain it one way--stated above by John--Jesus came and stood in their midst.

What about Peter? In Matthew 26, Peter is described as denying Christ to a servant-girl. If he is not willing to proclaim his Lord to a servant, how much less likely would he be to proclaim the Messiah to the Jewish leaders, whom he feared? Why would Peter be preaching to these very people just a few days later? Perhaps the answer is found in 1 Corinthians 15:5,

"He appeared to Cephas..."

What about James?

"For not even His brothers were believing in Him." (John 7:5)

In this passage James, the brother of Jesus, is depicted as an unbeliever, but later we read in James 1:1 that he considers himself a bond-servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. In Galatians 1:19 Paul refers to James as an apostle. What caused this dramatic change in attitude? Could it be 1 Corinthians 15:7,

"then He appeared to James..."

Perhaps the most dramatic change in attitude came from Saul of Tarsus, a Jewish persecutor of the church. Even if all of the other disciples somehow were fooled, it is clear that Saul was not. Prior to his remarkable transformation from Pharisee to Christian, Saul was completely devoted and loyal to the Jewish leadership, and committed to stamping out Christianity.

"I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished." (Acts 22:4-5)

Why would such a man, so zealous for God, so committed to the Jewish tradition, suddenly change his life so dramatically? Why would Saul (who would later be called Paul) change from a life of political power, wealth, and stature, to die a martyr for a lie? Maybe it was not a lie. Perhaps the answer is in 1 Corinthians 15:8,

"and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also."

There is a personal application here that should not be passed over. Saul's change from Pharisee to Christian was a dramatic one. Suppose someone came knocking on your door peddling a belief system that you passionately oppose. I'm not speaking of something that you don't care about, but something that you heartily oppose. Perhaps Mormonism or Hinduism. Or how about Communism, or Marxism. Here is the application: What would it take to get you to suddenly become a fervent supporter of that belief system? I have asked that question in classes from time to time and the answer is nearly always the same--a miracle.

Saul was not just indifferent about Christianity. He was actively hauling people in and throwing them in jail. He was arduously working to stamp out the cause. Then suddenly and without warning, Saul became a Christian, working just as fervently to promote the cause he once tried to destroy.

"Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, 'He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.' And they were glorifying God because of me." (Galatians 1:21-24)

The disciples were zealous and dedicated to what they believed in, but it was not a blind faith. They would not easily be swayed, and it is ridiculous to think that these men were stupid enough to be fooled by some fabricated tale of Christ's resurrection. They saw something. They were eyewitnesses to His life and resurrection, in order that they might testify to others that He has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

"We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead." (Acts 10:39-42)

When Paul was writing to the Corinthians he laid everything on the line regarding the resurrection,

"For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." (1 Corinthians 15:16-17)

In this passage Paul makes a rhetorical statement using the fact of Christ's resurrection to support the concept of resurrection. In order to use this argument there could have been no question that Christ had been raised. If there was any disbelief, not only would his argument have been in vain, but he may have caused doubts among them about Christ. Numerous other passages grant the same assumption,

"For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection," (Romans 6:5)

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11)

"For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

The writing of Justin Martyr, an early Christian leader of the second century, makes note of this same practice in the early church,

"And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits." ¹

Even the apostles themselves would have been skeptical if their faith had not been firmly rooted in a point of undeniable historical fact. And here we have the response to the very odd circumstance. People, faced with the question of Jesus as Lord, could not deny this simple yet so profound fact.

Little is known about the apostles beyond the writing of the New Testament, but according to historical church tradition and secular writings all but John died as martyrs. These are torturous and horrific deaths, which they suffered for naming Jesus Christ as Lord.

In fact, the Jewish leaders were so concerned about it that they petitioned Pilot for guards to protect the tomb. Foretelling of the resurrection shows that not only was it an expected event, but also that it was all part of God's plan. In fact, nearly 1,000 years earlier David had recorded this same event in a prophetic Psalm,

"For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay." (Psalm 16:10)

While this seems like a minor point, anyone familiar with Jewish customs in the first century can appreciate it. Women were not viewed as reliable witnesses during the time of Christ and would never have been part of a fabricated story. In fact, had the story been contrived, it would have likely been some high ranking Jewish official that spotted the empty tomb and first saw Jesus. This would have provided superior credibility. Instead the story goes like this,

"And the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.' And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshipped Him." (Matthew 28:5-9)

In keeping with Jewish custom, Jesus' body had been anointed with spices and bound in linen wrappings in preparation for burial. But these grave clothes tell a story,

"So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself." (John 20:3-7)

First, the wrappings were there, indicating that the body was not stolen. Any robber would simply pick up the body, wrappings and all, and remove it from the tomb. Especially if they were in danger of being discovered by Roman guards. No thief would take the time to remove the binding. Second, the face cloth was neatly folded. This too, is strong evidence that the body was not stolen. What grave robber would take the time to neatly fold a wrapping and set it aside?

Jesus gives a sure sign of His ascent back to heaven - the Holy Spirit will come. As with most of the important events surrounding Jesus, this event was foretold through the prophets in the Old Testament,

"I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10)

"It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days." (Joel 2:28-29)

The prophecy of Zechariah gives me chills, as he points to not only the pouring out of the Spirit, but the death, and even the manner of death, of Jesus. Peter references Joel's prophecy on the day of Pentecost as he recounts what has just happened. Prior to Peter's bold address, however, it is worth noting the cowardice that plagued the apostles, even after the resurrection of Christ. The apostles had previously spent much time behind locked doors for fear of the Jews (John 20:19,26). Matthew records an interesting attitude just prior to the ascension of Christ,

"But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful." (Matthew 28:16-17)

I find this peculiar. The eleven disciples, those closest to Christ, are all witnesses of His bodily resurrection. They are all convicted enough to worship Him as Lord; but some were doubtful. It's worth noting that this is not a reference to Thomas, the doubter. Thomas simply wanted to see the evidence that the others had already seen. Matthew is noting the doubt of those that had already seen, and had worshipped Jesus.

What were they doubtful about? It couldn't have been the resurrection; they were standing in front of Him. It seems safe to conclude, especially given the faint-heartedness exposed by John, that they were doubtful about what would happen next. Perhaps about their ability to carry on, knowing that Jesus would be gone. This is perfectly in character and calls for the reassuring word that Jesus responds with as He commissions them to go,

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

The great historian Luke records the final words of Jesus on this subject for us,

"The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said," you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:1-8)

Notice, as in John, Jesus speaks specifically to the apostles whom He had chosen. He repeats the promise that He gave prior to His death, that the Holy Spirit would come not many days from now. Additionally, He describes the specific purpose for which the power of the Holy Spirit is intended--to be witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Shortly after the ascension of Jesus, Luke records the fulfillment of the words of Christ,

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs--we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God." And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:1-12)

On the day of Pentecost, just as Jesus described, the Spirit was poured forth. The apostles begin to speak to people from many different regions each in his own language. The amazement and great perplexity of the listeners gives credence to the miracle that was occurring. From that day on the apostles would never again be found in fear of the Jews, nor would they be found doubtful. Instead, they would go about the region and the world, making disciples and confirming their testimony with the powerful works of the Holy Spirit.

On this day a change took place in the apostles that defies explanation. They went from cowardly men who would hide and deny Christ, to men who would die for their Lord. The works that they performed were further testimony of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in them. At this great event, Peter preaches the first gospel sermon and underscores this very point in his explanation of what was happening.

"This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this, which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.' Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:32-36)