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Evidence ID: HIS-EV58

Evidence: Boldness of Jesus' Disciples

Summary: The disciples' cowardice turned to boldness after Jesus' resurrection. Their transformation is perhaps the most convincing evidence for the resurrection.

Description: Even though the disciples spent three years witnessing Jesus' miracles, they were afraid when the Jewish authorities arrested Jesus. During Jesus' week of passion, they were notably absent from the Gospel narratives.

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Jesus' Twelve Disciples

Fear and Cowardice

What would cause the disciples' cowardice to be replaced with boldness? What can explain this marked difference in their lives? One minute they are fearing for their lives because of Jesus, the next minute they are putting their lives at extreme risk for Jesus.

Perhaps the most convincing evidence for Jesus' resurrection is the dramatic conversion of his disciples. Because of encountering the risen Jesus, his disciple developed a boldness that was otherwise unexplainable. This boldness was exhibited by fearless preaching, beatings, imprisonment and ultimately martyrdom.

Between the time of Jesus' arrest and the time Jesus appeared to the disciples in the locked room, the disciples are absent from the Gospel narratives. The only exceptions are the accounts of Peter's denial and John at the foot of the cross.

The disciples were very well known by the Pharisees. They assumed that the Pharisees would arrest them next and perhaps put them to death. They were fearful for not only themselves but also for their families. Essentially, the disciple abandoned Jesus and went into hiding.

The following passages highlight their fear:

• All the Disciples Fled the Garden of Gethsemane - After Jesus was arrested in the garden, the disciples fled. Peter followed Jesus to the courtyard of the high priest's house. (Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50)
• Peter Denies Jesus Three Times - It does not take Peter long to cave under the avalanche of scorn. Even the scorn of a servant girl in the courtyard causes Peter to deny Jesus. (Matthew 26:58-75, Mark 14:54-72, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:15-27)
• Disciples Cowering Behind Locked Doors - After Jesus' burial the disciples locked themselves in a room for fear of the Pharisees. Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst. He did not enter by the door because it was locked! Jesus rebukes them for their lack of faith and courage. (John 20:19, Mark 16:14)
• Some Disciples Continued in Disbelief - Even after multiple appearances and eyewitness testimonies, some of Jesus' disciple hesitated to believe. (Matthew 28:17)

Jesus warned the disciples in advance that they will experience a period of sorrow. But, after his passion, their sorrow will be turned to joy when they realize that Jesus was raised to eternal life.

¹⁶"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me." ¹⁷So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; ... ²⁰Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. (John 16:16-22)

Unbelief

The disciples did not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. This is confirmed in the Gospels of Luke and Mark.

It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. (Luke 24:10-11 NLT)

Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. (Mark 16:14)

Only after the disciples encountered the risen Jesus did they believe.

Their unbelief is epitomized by the disciple Thomas. According to the Gospel of John, Thomas disregarded the resurrection testimony of the other disciples and audaciously replied, "I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." (John 20:27)

After Jesus appeared to Thomas bodily, Thomas believed. Jesus reproached Thomas by saying, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." (John 20:29)

Belief and Boldness

After Jesus' resurrection, the disciples truly understand Jesus' mission, and their mission (Luke 24:44-49). He explained to them how he was to be sacrificed for the sin of the world, and how they were to spread this Good News to all nations. He also promised that they would receive power from God the Holy Spirit to accomplish their mission.

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

From that moment on, the disciples spoke boldly. They were arrested, beaten, imprisoned and finally martyred. The works of the disciples and the Holy Spirit are recorded in the Book of Acts.

Persecution and Martyrdom

According to first and second century writings and traditions, all of Jesus' disciples were persecuted and martyred for their faith [REF-FOX01] [REF-BAR02]. The following tables identify the method of persecution and martyrdom suffered by each of the 11 remaining apostles and other prominent disciples of the early church.

Resources:

• CLEMENT OF ROME, First Epistle to the Corinthians (REF-CEL04)

• Foxe's Book of Martyrs (REF-FOX01)

• The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (REF-HAB02)

• World Christian Trends AD 30 - AD-2200 (REF-BAR02)