*** SHOW NOTES (not a transcript) ***

Lead:

Pop quiz: How many of the original twelve apostles were martyred? Don't be so sure. But there is a key fact to remember as it relates to apologetics.

Intro:

Pop quiz: How many of the original twelve apostles were martyred? Don't be so sure. But there is a key fact to remember as it relates to apologetics.

Yesterday you’ll recall that we started by pointing out that most Christians who are martyred are accused of sedition — inciting people or some other crime against the state. And our reading ended with Stephen performing signs and wonders and Luke writes that his big ol’ can of whoopass was too much for those who contested him. So then his opponents resorted to false witness, he gets arrested, and as he’s about to answer the false charges, the ruling body looks and sees his face look like that of an angel.

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Bible Segment:

Passage: Acts 7-8
Translation: HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 100
Words: ~2330

All Our Minds Segment:

Witness. One who tells what he has seen or personally experienced in a court of law (cf. Jn 3:11). The term may also refer to the testimony which he has given. In the Bible a witness may also be a monument or memorial which signifies that a certain action has been taken or agreement made.
God himself is the greatest of all witnesses. He describes himself as a “swift witness” against the workers of iniquity (Mal 3:5) and expressly mentions those who “swear falsely.” The Father bears witness to the Son (Jn 5:37; 8:18). Jesus Christ is called the faithful witness (Rv 1:5) and his works are a witness to who he is (Jn 5:36). All of the prophets give witness to the salvation which is in Jesus (Acts 10:43). God bears witness to those who believe, by giving them the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:8), who bears witness with the spirits of believers that they are children of God (Rom 8:15–17; cf. 1 Jn 5:9–12).(1)

And from Sean McDowell’s awesome book…

As for the individual apostles, the historical evidence leads to the following assessments regarding the likelihood of their martyrdoms:
1. Peter—the highest possible probability
2. Paul—the highest possible probability
3. James, brother of Jesus—very probably true
4. John, the son of Zebedee—improbable
5. Thomas—more probable than not
6. Andrew—more plausible than not
7. James, son of Zebedee—the highest possible probability
8. Philip— as plausible as not
9. Bartholomew—as plausible as not
10. Matthew—as plausible as not
11. James, son of Alphaeus—as plausible as not
12. Thaddeus—as plausible as not
13. Simon the Zealot— as plausible as not
14. Matthias—as plausible as not.
In sum, there are three apostles in the category of the highest possible probability, one that is very probably true, one that is more probable than not, one that is more plausible than not, seven that are as plausible as not, and one that is improbable. Thus, of the 14 apostles, six are at least more plausible than not, seven are as plausible as not, and only one, John, is lower than plausible. More evidence may arise some day that would alter these findings, but currently (these are) the most reasonable conclusions.

The bottom line

Have you ever been so in love that you would sacrifice for someone or something? That’s what Jesus did for you, and I’d guess that you’ve experienced at least a hint of that in your life. We may or may not be called to lay down our lives, but here’s a key thing to remember as a Christian casemaker:

Why is it that none of the apostles ever recanted?

Using the language of probability, we should probably be careful with “we know with total certainty,” but to date no, none, zip, nada evidence exists that they did. So why?

If they knew the resurrection to be a lie, don’t you think at least one out of fourteen would have tried to save his own skin? I’d just leave you with that question like you can leave it with someone else. Why is it that, facing sometimes horrific deaths, that they would endure that and not deny Jesus?

Wisdom Segment:

Passage:
Translation: HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Verses:
Words: ~

Love you!

-R

ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.

Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.

Sources and resources:

Thank you for supporting this ministry should you choose to use the Amazon affiliate link behind the citation.

(1) Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Witness,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 2154–2155. (This two-volume set is out of print, but I still use it a lot. There are used copies available).

Sean McDowell, The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus (New York, NY: Taylor and Francis, 2015), Kindle, 264. (This is textbook, but it’s awesome. Link.)

#907: Acts 7-8 | Witnesses & martyrs, part 2