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Evidence ID: HIS-EV67

Evidence: Empty Tomb Testimony from Women, Peter & John

Summary: Jesus' tomb was found empty by the women, Peter and John. All that remained were Jesus' burial linens. Two angels greeted the women and instructed them to seek Jesus in Galilee.

Description: Many theories abound regarding the empty tomb of Jesus. Was Jesus' body buried in the tomb? Did Jesus' disciples steal his body? Or did Jesus rise from the dead and vacate his tomb?

The biblical accounts for the empty tomb of Jesus are found in the Gospels. These accounts indicate that Jesus' tomb was found empty on the first day of the week, the day after the Sabbath. The facts from these accounts are summarized below:

• A violent earthquake occurred early Sunday morning (Matthew 28:2).
• The soldiers on duty for the watch were so shocked by the angels' appearance that they fainted (Matthew 28:3-4).
• The empty tomb was first discovered by women (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1).
• The stone was rolled away from the tomb entrance and the official Roman seal on the tomb was broken (Mark 16:3-4, Luke 24:2). No guards were found present at the empty tomb.
• The women were greeted by two angels in dazzling white as they entered the tomb (Mark 16:5, Luke 24:4-5).
• Jesus body was missing from the tomb (Matthew 28:5-6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:5-6).
• The empty tomb was later discovered by Peter and John (Luke 24:9-12, John 20:2-10).
• All that remained in the tomb was Jesus burial face cloth (folded), and the collapsed body linen (not folded) (John 20:5-7).

The eyewitnesses of the empty tomb were (in order) Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, John and Peter.