The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as a cornerstone of Christian faith, and its historicity is underscored not only by the testimony of His followers but also by the acknowledgment of His enemies. The accounts of those who opposed Jesus provide compelling evidence for the reality of His resurrection, as they inadvertently confirm the empty tomb and the post-resurrection appearances.

The Guard at the Tomb

One of the most significant attestations comes from the Roman guards stationed at Jesus' tomb. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the chief priests and Pharisees, aware of Jesus' prediction that He would rise on the third day, requested Pilate to secure the tomb. Pilate responded, "You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how" (Matthew 27:65). The presence of Roman guards, who were highly disciplined and faced severe penalties for dereliction of duty, adds credibility to the account of the empty tomb.

After the resurrection, the guards reported the events to the chief priests. Matthew records, "When the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and instructed them: 'You are to say, "His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep"'" (Matthew 28:12-13). This bribery attempt indicates that even Jesus' enemies could not deny the empty tomb; instead, they sought to explain it away with a fabricated account.

The Jewish Leaders' Response

The Jewish leaders' reaction further attests to the resurrection. Their immediate concern was to suppress the news of the empty tomb and the resurrection. The fact that they resorted to bribing the guards and spreading a false narrative suggests that they were unable to produce Jesus' body, which would have been the most straightforward way to refute the resurrection claim.

The Testimony of Saul of Tarsus

Saul of Tarsus, later known as the Apostle Paul, serves as another example of an enemy whose life was transformed by the risen Christ. Initially a fierce persecutor of Christians, Saul encountered the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. This encounter is recorded in Acts 9:3-5 : "As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?' 'Who are You, Lord?' Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' He replied." Saul's dramatic conversion and subsequent ministry as Paul the Apostle provide powerful evidence of the resurrection's impact, even on those who initially opposed Christ.

The Spread of Christianity

The rapid spread of Christianity in the face of intense persecution also points to the resurrection's veracity. The early Christians proclaimed the risen Christ with boldness, often at great personal cost. Their unwavering conviction, despite the threat of death, suggests that they were not perpetuating a hoax but were instead witnesses to a transformative reality. The inability of Roman and Jewish authorities to produce a body or effectively quash the burgeoning movement further attests to the truth of the resurrection.

In summary, the testimony of Jesus' enemies, whether through their actions, responses, or conversions, inadvertently supports the claim of His resurrection. Their inability to counter the empty tomb and the changed lives of former adversaries underscores the profound impact of this pivotal event in history.Matthew 28:11-15
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed to the chief priests all the things that were done.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Power of Christ's Resurrection
... But the resurrection of Jesus Christ put it out of ... Never was any matter of fact better
attested; never were more precautions made use of to prevent a cheat. ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the power of christs resurrection.htm

The Life of Christ.
... There is no fact connected with the life of Christ better attested than that of
His resurrection. He was put to death by His enemies; and His body was not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the life of.htm

Proofs of the Resurrection.
... (5) They attested this fact, not only by ... The resurrection completely transformed
them; inspired them with a new conception of Christ's, kingdom as for all ...
/.../the new testament commentary vol iii john/proofs of the resurrection.htm

The First Epistle to the Corinthians
... also respecting the doctrine of the resurrection, 15. ... unity of faith that is in Jesus
Christ; and to ... canonicity of the Epistle is abundantly attested by early ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the first epistle to the.htm

The Resurrection of Christ.
... I will add the observations of Canon Farrar (Life of Christ, vol ... Our belief in the
resurrection, as an historic fact, as absolutely well attested to us ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 19 the resurrection of.htm

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and ...
... The grand fact of history, than which none is better attested - the Resurrection
of Christ - had not yet taken place, and was not even clearly in view ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the third day.htm

The Formation and Order of the Primitive Church.
... our Lord by the Roman governor, whose conscience attested the innocence of ... a powerful
argument for the truth of the resurrection and exaltation of Christ. ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture iii the formation and.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead
... the fact of his death having been attested beforehand ... die" and "live." Everybody
shall live at the resurrection. ... fruits: afterward they that are Christ's at his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the resurrection of the dead.htm

Hymns and Spiritual Songs
... Hope of heaven by the resurrection of Christ, 1 ... Christ's invitation to sinners; or,
Humility and pride ... Apostles' commission; or, The gospel attested by miracles ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/hymns and spiritual songs/

Sec. Ii. What Facts in the History of Our Saviour Might be Taken ...
... to pass according to his predictions;" this was attested by Phlegon ... the agony in
the garden, the appearance of Christ after his resurrection, and others ...
/.../sec ii what facts in.htm

What is more important, the death of Christ or His resurrection? | GotQuestions.org

Can the various resurrection accounts from the four Gospels be harmonized? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)? | GotQuestions.org

Resurrection: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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