2. Credibility of Witnesses Factor #1: Honesty of the Witnesses
FOUR Motives That Prompt One to Testify
Avarice: Desire for Money
Is that why the apostles testified? (Phil. 4:11-12)
Ambition: Desire for Prestige
Is that why the apostles testified? (1 Cor. 4:13)
Anxiety: Desire to Escape Trouble or Persecution
Is that why the apostles testified? (Acts 5:17-42)
Assurance: Confident in Knowledge of What They’d Seen
This is why the apostles testified!

3. Credibility of Witnesses Factor #2: Competency of the Witnesses
Competency refers to one’s capacity and opportunity to observe and obtain knowledge of that which he testifies
To what extent did they see the resurrected Lord?
“Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have” (Luke 24:39)
“Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:27)
“We have heard…we have seen with our eyes…we have looked upon, and our hands have handled” (1 John 1:1)
“…to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days…” (Acts 1:3)

4. Credibility of Witnesses Factor #3: Number of Witnesses
Mary Magdalene at the tomb (John 20:11-17; cf. Mark 16:9-11)
Group of women disciples (Matt. 28:9-10; Luke 24:10)
Peter (Cephas) (1 Cor. 15:5; Luke 24:34)
Two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35; Mark 16:12)
Ten of the apostles, without Thomas (John 20:26-29; Luke 24:34-43)
“The twelve” = all 11 apostles, w/ Thomas (1 Cor. 15:5; John 20:26-29)
Seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-23)
Over 500 brethren at once, greater part remain to present (1 Cor. 15:6)
James, his half-brother (1 Cor. 15:7)
All the apostles, on mountain in Galilee (1 Cor. 15:7; Matt. 28:16-20)
Disciples on Mount of Olives at His ascension (Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:3-9)
Stephen (Acts 7:55-56)
Paul (Saul) on the road to Damascus (1 Cor. 15:8; Acts 9:3-6, 17; 22:6-11)
John on the isle of Patmos (Rev. 1:12-20)

5. The VERDICT:
“This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32)

6. The Empty Tomb’s Verifiable Truth #1: Jesus Was Really Dead!
The soldiers in charge of the execution observed that Jesus “was already dead” on the cross (John 19:33)
“One of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out” (John 19:34)
Pilate verified with the centurion that Jesus was really dead (Mark 15:43-45)
No one today can claim He didn’t die, when EVERY unbiased and expert eyewitness said that He was dead

7. The Empty Tomb’s Verifiable Truth #2: The Disciples Did Not Steal the Body!
Why would they want it? What’s their motivation?
This lie was started by the Jewish council & Roman guards (Matt. 28:11-15)
The disciples were not expecting a resurrection (Mark 16:11-13; Luke 24:10-27; John 20:25)
Why would they preach a known hoax/lie, and then suffer persecution and death for a hoax/lie?

8. The Empty Tomb’s Verifiable Truth #3: The Enemies Did Not Steal the Body!
Why would they want it? What’s their motivation?
The dead body of Jesus was right where they wanted it to be
They had no intention of the body being removed, which is why they set the guard (Matt. 27:62-66)
If they had taken it, they could have easily produced the body, while the apostles preached that Jesus was raised, and destroyed the Christian message
The Roman garrison and the Roman seal prevented ANY HUMAN from tampering with that tomb!

9. The Empty Tomb’s Verifiable Truth #4: Jesus Was Raised from the Dead By God!
When ALL human explanations for the empty tomb are eliminated, there remains ONLY ONE CONCLUSION: The Divine one!
“This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32)

10. The VERDICT:
“He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:4)

11. Will you believe that He is the Son of God? (Rom. 10:9)
Will you repent and turn from your sins? (Acts 17:30)
Will you confess your faith in Him? (Rom. 10:10)
Will you be buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him to walk in newness of life? (Rom. 6:3-4)
Having all of your sins forgiven (Acts 22:16)
Having been added to His church (Acts 2:47)
Having been registered in heaven (Heb. 12:23)
Will you walk faithfully with Him? (Col. 3:1-4)