Yes — the Resurrection of Christ is true, confirmed by His many infallible proofs and the transformed boldness of the disciples.
In Acts 1:3, Christ showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days. Les Feldick points to the change in Peter—who denied Christ in fear but after the resurrection stood boldly before Rome—as one of the strongest proofs. The appearances were bodily, not a mere spirit, as Jesus invited the disciples to handle Him.
Acts 1:3 — This is the key verse establishing the forty-day period of Christ's post-resurrection appearances and the many infallible proofs.
Luke 24:39 — Jesus proved His resurrection was physical by showing His hands and feet and telling the disciples to handle Him.
John 20:8-9 — John saw the evidence in the empty tomb and believed, even though the disciples did not yet know the Scripture that He must rise again.
Acts 1:3 says, "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." This verse records that the resurrected Christ was seen by His disciples for forty days after His suffering, and that these appearances were infallible proofs—not vague impressions or fantasies. In Luke 24:36-39, when Jesus suddenly stood among the disciples, they were terrified and supposed they had seen a spirit. Jesus answered, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." This shows that His resurrection body was physical and touchable. John 20:8-9 adds that John entered the tomb, saw the evidence, and believed, even though "as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."
Les Feldick points to Acts 1:3 as the only place in Scripture that gives the time element from the Resurrection to the Ascension—forty days. During those days, Christ showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs, and the disciples saw Him with their eyes as He spoke of things pertaining to the Kingdom. Les says the single greatest proof of the Resurrection is the man Peter himself. At Christ's arrest, Peter denied Him with an oath and the disciples scattered in fear. After the resurrection, Peter was afraid of no one—not Rome, not the Jews—and Les observes that all the eleven apostles, as far as he can tell, were martyred without fear because they had witnessed the power of resurrection. Les also emphasizes that the disciples were not expecting the Resurrection; they were terrified and thought they saw a spirit until Jesus invited them to handle Him. This bodily, touchable resurrection is the bedrock of the Gospel—it is not enough to believe Jesus was a good man or that He died.
Acts 1:3 states that Christ showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days. Les notes that this is the only Scripture verse that gives the time element from the Resurrection to the Ascension. The disciples saw Him with their eyes, and in Luke 24, when they thought He was a spirit, Jesus told them to handle Him because a spirit does not have flesh and bones. In John 20, John saw the evidence in the empty tomb and believed. These visible, touchable appearances are the infallible proofs Scripture records.
Les Feldick says if there is one proof of resurrection above all others, it is Peter himself. On the night of the arrest, Peter swore with an oath that he did not know Jesus, and the disciples scattered in fear for their lives. After the resurrection, Peter never again cowered before a young maid; he stood up to Rome. Les observes that all the eleven apostles, as far as he can tell, were martyred without fear because of the truth of the resurrection. The same power gives believers boldness today, because men can kill the body but cannot touch the invisible, immortal part that will one day be resurrected.
John 20:9 says, "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." Les comments that even after three years with Christ, the disciples had no idea He was going to rise. In Luke 24, when Jesus appeared, they were terrified and supposed they saw a spirit. Jesus answered by showing His hands and feet and telling them to handle Him. Their initial unbelief makes the testimony of the resurrection even more convincing—they were not expecting it and still became bold witnesses.
The Forty Days of Infallible Proofs
Les points to Acts 1:3 as the only verse that gives the time element of Christ's post-resurrection appearances: forty days, during which He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs.
Peter's Transformation as Proof
Les identifies Peter himself as the strongest proof of the resurrection: the same man who denied Christ with an oath and scattered in fear became bold and unshakable after seeing the risen Lord.
Seen With Their Eyes
Les emphasizes the verb in Acts 1:3: the disciples saw Christ with their eyes during the forty days as He spoke of things pertaining to the Kingdom.
Death Was Real; Resurrection Was Real
Les explains that Christ was truly dead for three days and three nights before He arose the third day according to the Scriptures, proving the resurrection was not a sham.
The Eleven Martyred Without Fear
Les says the total attitude of the eleven changed after the resurrection—Peter stood up to Rome and all the apostles, as far as Les can tell, were martyred without fear because of the truth of the resurrection.
The Bedrock of the Gospel
Les contrasts Peter's collapse at the arrest with his post-resurrection fearlessness, showing that the resurrection is the bedrock of the Gospel—it is not enough to believe Jesus was a good man or that He died.
The Empty Tomb and John's Belief
Les points out that John saw the evidence in the empty tomb and believed, even though the disciples did not yet understand the Scripture that He must rise again.
A Bodily, Touchable Resurrection
Les shows from Luke 24 that the disciples were terrified and thought they saw a spirit, until Jesus invited them to handle Him, proving a spirit does not have flesh and bones—the Resurrection was physical.
Acts 1:3: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
This verse provides the key time element and the many infallible proofs of the resurrection.
Luke 24:39: Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Jesus proved His resurrection body was physical and touchable.
John 20:8: Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
John saw the empty tomb evidence and believed.
John 20:9: For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
The disciples were not expecting the resurrection, making their testimony more convincing.
Acts 1:3 says Christ was seen of them forty days after His passion, showing Himself alive by many infallible proofs. Les notes this is the only verse that gives that time element from the Resurrection to the Ascension.
No. John 20:9 says as yet they knew not the Scripture that He must rise again. In Luke 24 they were terrified and thought they saw a spirit until Jesus showed His hands and feet and told them to handle Him.
Peter denied Christ at His arrest and the disciples scattered in fear. After the resurrection, Peter and the other apostles were bold before Rome and, as Les notes, were martyred without fear because they had witnessed the power of resurrection.
Watch the Teaching: Christ's Resurrection Body: What Yours Will Look Like