Event New Testament
The resurrection of Jesus
Also known as Easter, The empty tomb
On the first day of the week the tomb of Jesus was found empty, and He appeared alive to Mary Magdalene, to the disciples, and, according to Paul, to more than five hundred people at once. The New Testament proclaims that God raised Him bodily from the dead.
Why it matters. Without the resurrection, Paul writes, faith is futile. With it, death is defeated and Jesus is vindicated as Lord.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: medium
The accounts name different women and different sequences of appearances. FaithGraph presents each witness list separately and notes that early testimony (1 Corinthians 15) predates the written Gospels.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
The crucifixion of Jesus precedes The resurrection of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe Gospels narrate the burial on the day of preparation and the empty tomb on the first day of the week.
Evidence:The resurrection of Jesus precedes The ascension of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceActs states that Jesus appeared over forty days before being taken up.
Cleopas witnesses The resurrection of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceCleopas recognizes the risen Jesus at Emmaus and reports it in Jerusalem.
Evidence:James, brother of Jesus witnesses The resurrection of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidencePaul's summary says the risen Jesus appeared to James.
Evidence:John the apostle witnesses The resurrection of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJohn records seeing the risen Jesus and testifies to it as the author.
Evidence:Mary Magdalene witnesses The resurrection of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceMary Magdalene is named first among those who found the tomb empty, and John records her seeing the risen Jesus.
Matthias witnesses The resurrection of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceMatthias was chosen precisely to be a witness of the resurrection with the Eleven.
Evidence:Paul witnesses The resurrection of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidencePaul lists his meeting with Jesus on the Damascus road as the last of the appearances, and Ananias calls him a witness.
Peter witnesses The resurrection of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidencePeter runs to the empty tomb, and Paul lists an appearance to Cephas.
Thomas witnesses The resurrection of Jesus
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThomas sees and confesses the risen Jesus.
Evidence:The resurrection of Jesus develops the theme Resurrection
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe raising of Jesus is the event on which the whole theme rests.
Evidence:The resurrection of Jesus explicitly fulfills Isaiah 25:8
Explicit fulfillmentHigh confidencePaul frames the saying as coming to pass through the resurrection Christ has begun as firstfruits.
The resurrection of Jesus explicitly fulfills Psalms 16:8-11
Explicit fulfillmentHigh confidencePeter states that David foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ in this psalm; Paul makes the same claim at Pisidian Antioch.
Evidence:The resurrection of Jesus explicitly fulfills Psalms 2:7
Explicit fulfillmentHigh confidencePaul says God fulfilled the promise by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm.
Evidence:Other responsible views
- Raising up as appearance or as resurrection: Some read raising up in Acts 13:33 as God bringing Jesus onto the scene, with the resurrection first named in verse 34; either way Paul frames the psalm as fulfilled in Jesus.