Circumstantial Evidence for the Resurrection

This Sunday Matt DeWitt will teach on the circumstantial evidence that leads to a firm conviction that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead. This week we will look at biblical text that has been used to support that evidence; today we'll compare texts from two different books of the Bible.

Read Mark 14:66-72 and Acts 5:25-32

Context: The text from Mark is believed to be documentation of Peter's experiences with Jesus. Jesus has just been arrested, and this is Peter's response. In the text from Acts, the apostles have been persecuted by the Sadducees. Peter has been jailed, but was released by an angel f the Lord who told him to "Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life."

Text:
Mark 14:66-72

66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.
68But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.[a]

69When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." 70Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."

71He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."

72Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[b] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice[c] you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept.

Footnotes:

Mark 14:68 Some early manuscripts entryway and the rooster crowed
Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have the second time.
Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have twice.

Acts 5:25-32

25Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." 26At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

27Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."

29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."(NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Is this really the same person????