One of the assertions made by critics of the New Testament, is the idea that what is written in the Synoptic Gospels, was penned long after Jesus appeared on earth. Atheists often write that men who never saw Jesus, created the narratives about Jesus, late in the first century. These adversaries of the New Testament say these men were not eyewitnesses, and a majority of the things attributed to Jesus—He never said or did. The problem with these statements, is that the actual 24,593 extant manuscript copies of the New Testament from the historical record, documents that these men saw and heard what they chronicle. The entire New Testament is a compilation of 27 letters that record 203 instances of eyewitness testimony in the 260 chapters of the New Testament.

Not once in the entire record of antiquity is there any evidence that proves the writers were not eyewitnesses, and they wrote late in the first century.

• When Were The Gospels Written?
• Were The Gospels Written By Eyewitnesses?

The Writers of the New Testament Say They Are Eyewitnesses

If we conduct a personal investigation concerning the Canonical Gospels of the New Testament, we quickly discern that we are reading testimony from men who were present when Jesus said and did the things recorded in these texts. These men state repeatedly that they saw and heard Jesus and there is no ambiguity in what they meant:

1. Paul: 1 Corinthians 9:1: “Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes?
2. Peter: 1 Peter 1:16: “We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes.”
3. John: 1 John 1:1:”We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.”
4. James, Paul, all the Apostles: 1 Corinthians 15:7: “Then Jesus was seen alive by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”
5. Mary Magdalene: John 20:18: “Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!”
6. Peter: Acts 5:29-32: “But Peter and the apostles replied… We are witnesses of these things…”
7. John: 1 John 1:2-3: “This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us.

Myth: Eyewitness Testimony is not Reliable:

I have heard this assertion on hundreds of occasions. Atheists pass this false information to each other, and they will tell you that even if the men who wrote their testimony about Jesus did see Him, their testimony as eyewitnesses is not reliable.

In matters of criminal law, eyewitness testimony is not considered reliable. However, in matters of historical events, the testimony of an eyewitness is one of the highest levels of confirmation for literary historical events.

Legal Analysis Of The Four Gospels As Valid Eyewitness Testimony

In just these seven New Testament citations, we can fully impeach the atheist assertion that the writers of these narratives about Jesus, were not eyewitnesses. In this essay I will present 203 (formerly 134) of these eyewitness statements from the writers of the New Testament.

The Legal Standard For Valid Evidence

Atheists often assert that eyewitness testimony is not reliable. They are simply misinformed. In matters of criminal cases, an eyewitness is not always reliable. Concerning events of history, an eyewitness is considered by literary critics as the highest form of valid evidence.

Is The New Testament A Valid Historical Narrative?

According to current and former legal standards for what constitutes valid and reliable evidence in a court of law, one of the world’s greatest legal scholars, Simon Greenleaf, said the following: “the testimony of the evangelists; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as recorded in the four canonical gospels, would stand as credible, factual evidence in a court of law.”[1]

Today, atheists and critics of the four Gospels have established standards for religious-based sources that is higher than those required for secular questions.[2] Co-founder of the Harvard School of Law, Simon Greenleaf, argued: “the burden of disproving evidence lies squarely on the shoulders of the objector.”[3] Greenleaf argued that the reader of any texts of a historical source should be approached with “a mind free from all pride of opinion, not hostile to the truth sought for, willing to pursue the inquiry, and impartially to weigh the arguments and evidence, and to acquiesce in the judgment of right reason.”[4]

Contrary to modern critics who state that the methods Greenleaf used in 1864 in determining whether the testimony of the four Gospels can be classified as legal and viable eyewitness testimony, Professor of Law Nancy J. Kippenhan writes that Greenleaf’s conclusions are a foundational work still cited by those who approach Christian apologetics on the basis of evidence.[5a]

An eyewitness is more reliable than secondhand testimony or hearsay

A majority of the texts for the New Testament were written by eyewitnesses. The writers are careful to tell the reader that they were not convinced that Jesus was God at first, but only believed after they saw Him alive after His brutal crucifixion. Various writers make clear and specific statements that what they are writing is truthful and they are not lying:

2 Peter 1:16-18: “We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father (on the high mountain).” 

1 John 1:1-3: “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 

1 John 4:14 “Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” 

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” 

The requirements for valid eyewitness testimony has been met by the surviving manuscript copies of the New Testament. In the absence of any impeaching evidence during the entire 2,000 year history of the New Testament, the testimony of the men who penned these texts, remains reliable and trustworthy to the present day.

The reason that atheists are so persistent to impeach the time and source of the New Testament, is because these documents record Jesus as crucified, dead and risen. If these documents were written late in the first century, by men who never saw Jesus, this would render these narratives irrelevant in proving that Jesus is God and Messiah. The extant manuscript copies of the New Testament are the largest, earliest written, body of historical evidence for any event of antiquity. There is no other event in antiquity that presents us with the surviving manuscript evidence we have for the New Testament.

It is possible by the timeline of events found in the New Testament, to date the preliminary completion of the Synoptic Gospels by 44 AD. When Paul departed for Asia in 45 AD, he was carrying the written testimony of these three Gospels with Him. There was no possibility that Paul could prove to people in Asia Minor that Jesus is the true Messiah, unless Paul had the written testimony of the men who saw and heard Him crucified and risen on the third day.

It was this written testimony that had been delivered to all of the Christian churches in Asia, that enabled Christians to never deny that Jesus had risen from the dead. During a period of 250 years, ten Roman Emperors executed over five million Christians simply because they refused to deny that Jesus had risen from the dead.

The Romans and Jews were both hostile towards Jesus and His followers. They had no interest in preserving a record of His death and resurrection, yet this is exactly what they accomplished by their adversarial writings about Jesus.

From the first century, when the events described by the New Testament were taking place, Romans and Jews wrote about Jesus and His followers and, without realizing, it preserved a secular, historical, non-biblical record that corroborates the death and resurrection of Jesus.

All of the primary events of Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection are described in detail in the secular, contemporaneous writings of the Romans and the Jews. 

The Resurrection of Jesus caused major difficulties for the Roman government. The fervent belief of first century Christians that Jesus had risen from the dead was a primary concern for the Roman Emperors.

The belief that Jesus had risen from the dead was considered insanity by the Roman Emperors. Should they allow this mental illness to spread throughout the provinces of the empire, Roman Emperors believed this insanity would destroy the very fabric of Roman society.

Records in the Roman archives present us with letters between governors and emperors, describing the resurrection of Jesus and how dangerous it was to the Roman way of life.

In response to this threat, ten Roman emperors executed over five million Christians during the first 250 years of Christianity.[5b]

The facts—demonstrated by the actual surviving manuscript evidence of the New Testament—proves the writers saw and heard Jesus, and these records were completed by 44 AD.

The New Testament exists today in the largest body of ancient manuscripts ever to survive time and decay. Contrary to critics, who state that these texts have been altered or are inconsistent with each other, we find that all 24, 593 manuscript copies tell us the same primary details about Jesus’ miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection. 

These manuscripts are written in fourteen different languages and come from all over the world, yet maintain a uniformity in their text, telling the same story. The only way this would be possible is if the texts were considered so important that preserving what was written was paramount. There are no other ancient texts in all of antiquity that exhibit this distinctive preservation of a singular story in so many surviving manuscripts.

When we examine the entire body of New Testament manuscripts, we find that they are all  consistent with the primary details of Jesus found today in our modern New Testament.

The New Testament records 203 citations, that these men saw and heard what they are writing about Jesus.

John states the purpose for which he wrote his testimony about Jesus

“The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.” ~John 20:30-31

1. John declares that the disciples saw Jesus
2. John said these things were written so that people might know the truth and believe
3. John tell us the reason he did not place his name on his Gospel”

John 7:18 “Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.“

This verse is something that John said, Jesus said, to all of the disciples. It apparently made a tremendous impression upon these men when they set out to write a testimony about what they had seen and heard. They didn’t want Jesus story to be about them. They were writing to document the most important events in the history of the world. They made it all about Jesus.

In modern literary forensics, a writer who intentionally omits his name from what he is writing, when he is writing about another person he considers more important, is the highest form of evidence that this person is telling the truth.

Fourteen times John says, “we know.” This is a declaration by John that what what is written in the 27 letters that comprise the New Testament, are based upon firsthand knowledge. The entire purpose for these men writing what we now read today in our New Testament, was to preserve a written testimony and place it into the historical record.

Luke Said That He Personally Interviewed The Eyewitnesses From The Early Disciples

Luke 1:1-4 “Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”

1. Luke said many people set out to write account about Jesus
2. They used eyewitness reports
3. Luke said he carefully investigated everything from the beginning
4. Luke said this is an accurate account
5. Luke did this so Theophilus can be certain this is the truth

This Essay Documents Eyewitness Statements By The Writers Of The New Testament Who Say They Saw Jesus:

1. Paul: 1 Corinthians 9:1: “Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes?
2. Peter: 1 Peter 1:16: “We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes.”
3. John: 1 John 1:1:”We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.”
4. James, Paul, all the Apostles: 1 Corinthians 15:7: “Then Jesus was seen alive by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”
5. Mary Magdalene: John 20:18: “Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!”
6. Peter: Acts 5:29-32: “But Peter and the apostles replied… We are witnesses of these things…”
7. John: 1 John 1:2-3: “This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us.
8. Mary Magdalene: John 20:11-17 “Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in… She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.”
9. Mary Magdalene/ Salome: Matthew 28:9-10 “Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb…And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.”
10. Peter: Luke 24:34 “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”
11. Two Disciples on the road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-32
12. Ten Apostles together at once: Luke 24:33-49
13. Eleven Apostles together at once: John 20:26-30
14. Seven Apostles at once: John 21:1-14
15. Twelve Apostles at once: Matthew 28:16-20
16. Over 500 eyewitnesses saw Jesus alive: 1 Corinthians 15:6
17. James: 1 Corinthians 15:7: “Then Jesus was seen by James and later by all the apostles.”
18. Eleven Apostles: Acts 1:4-9 “During the forty days after Jesus suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
19. Paul: Acts 9:3-6: “As Paul was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
20. Mary Magdalene: Mark 16:11 :But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.”
21. Paul: Acts 9:17 “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road”
22. Paul 1 Corinthians 15:8 “I also saw him.”
23. Paul Acts 22:12-21 “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.”
24. Paul: Acts 23:11 “That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”
25. Paul: Acts 26:12-18 “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me.”

Co Founder of Harvard Law School, Simon Greenleaf, and the Evidence

Simon Greenleaf, in his publication of Testimony of the Evangelists, finds that the canonical Gospels are credible evidence in spite of their supernatural implications. This is due primarily to the massive evidence we have today to validate the narratives in these texts.

Today, we understand that there are 24,593 extant New Testament manuscript copies of these ancient texts that have been under critical examination for 1,800 years.[6] Noted New Testament scholar, F. F. Bruce, describes the evidence for the New Testament as superior to any other ancient event in the history of the world.[7]

Are Greenleaf’s Conclusions For the Gospels Valid Today?

It is a valid question to ask whether the criteria Greenleaf used in 1864 would satisfy jurists today with the same conclusions. Do the conclusions of Greenleaf for the four Gospels meet the demands of evidentiary inquiry in our present world, that would be acceptable in courts of justice?

When we utilize our current Federal Rules of Evidence and apply these to the canonical Gospels, we find that they would be judged precisely the same as Greenleaf concluded in 1864.[8] According to these rules that determine whether testimony is valid in proving facts, the narratives in the four Gospels would be admitted into the courts of justice in America today.

According to these guidelines, the four Gospels meet the necessary requirements of the “Ancient documents” hearsay exception.[9] In examination of the credibility for the witnesses as the authors of the four Gospels, the Federal Rules of Evidence also finds that these witnesses are reliable.[10] When we investigate the content and context of the testimony given by the four Gospel writers, and assess the reliability and credentials of these authors, we find them to be credible witnesses according to the Federal Rules of Evidence.[11]

In the final analysis of the four canonical Gospels, according to all the rules set forth by the Federal Rules, these testimonies would be admissible and credible in a court of law.[12] The rules and methods used by Simon Greenleaf in his analysis of the four Gospels were valid when he wrote this treatise, and they are still valid today according to our current rules of law for evidence and witnesses.

“Evidence is generally admitted for consideration unless the opposing party makes an objection, at which time the burden shifts to the opposing party to provide specific grounds for the objection and to demonstrate that the offered evidence should not be admitted.”[13]

In these matters, “the benefit of the doubt is given to the party presenting the evidence, thus erring on the side of inclusion rather than exclusion, in order to consider the greatest amount of relevant information possible in the quest for the truth of the matter.”[14]

In matters of past inquiry, as well as today, the burden rests upon the objectors. Also regarding that in all times any evidence related to religious questions has been “unjustly presumed to be false until it is proved to be true,”[15] rather than accepted as truth until explicitly impeached.

According To Legal Scholar, Simon Greenleaf:

“[a] proposition of fact is proved, when its truth is established by competent and satisfactory evidence.”[16] Such evidence is the “amount of proof, which ordinarily satisfies an unprejudiced mind, beyond any reasonable doubt.”[17] The facts attested to in the Gospels “are cognizable by the senses, [and] may be said to be proved when they are established by that kind and degree of evidence which . . . would . . . satisfy the mind and conscience of a common man.”[18]

In viewing the claims of the canonical Gospels by the same standards as other evidence, Greenleaf also noted:

[T]he narrative is more likely to be true than false; and it may be in the highest degree more likely, but still be short of absolute mathematical certainty. Yet this very probability may be so great as to satisfy the mind of the most cautious, and enforce the assent of the most reluctant and unbelieving. . . . If it is such as usually satisfies reasonable men, in matters of ordinary transaction, it is all which the greatest sceptic has a right to require; for it is by such evidence alone that our rights are determined, in the civil tribunals; and on no other evidence do they proceed, even in capital cases.[19]

Upon examination by current and past legal standards for valid testimony, the New Testament meets and exceeds every standard established. The texts reveal that these men are telling the truth, and the testimony they write concerning Jesus, is true, bearing no marks of false testimony or contrivance.

Legal Analysis Of The Four Gospels As Valid Eyewitness Testimony

The First Eyewitness In The New Testament

A surprising first eyewitness to Jesus is found in all four Gospels. John the Baptist states that God sent him to baptize, and when Jesus first came to the Jordan river, he didn’t know He was the Messiah. John said that God had told him in advance that the one whom he sees the Holy Spirit descend upon, He is the Messiah.

When Jesus came to John and requested that He be baptized, John said that when he baptized Jesus, He saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Him. John certifies that Jesus is the true Messiah, the Son of God, because he saw these things happen.

“Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Son of God.” ~John 1:32-34

203 Eyewitness Statements In The 260 Chapters Of The New Testament:

The following are the citations throughout the New Testament where the writers use keywords to describe their eyewitness testimony about Jesus: “Witness, Witnesses, Seen, and Saw, 203 statements:

• Personal, with their own eyes
• Persons who saw with their eyes

Witness

1. John 1:8 “John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about (Jesus) the light.”
2. Acts 1:22 “From the time Jesus was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”
3. Acts 22:15 “For you are to be Jesus’ witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard”
4. Acts 23:11 “That night Jesus appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”
5. Acts 26:16 Jesus said to Paul: “Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future.”
6. 1 Peter 5:1 “And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ.”

Witnesses

1. Luke 24:48 Jesus said: “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.
2. John 5:31 Jesus said: “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another (John TB) who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.”
3. Acts 1:8 Jesus said: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
4. Acts 2:32 Peter said: “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.”
5. Acts 3:15 Peter said: “You killed (Jesus) the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!”
6. Acts 5:32 Peter said: “The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things.”
7. Acts 10:39 Peter said: “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day.”
8. Acts 10:41 Peter said: “God raised Jesus to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere.”
9. Acts 13:31 Paul said: “The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath. They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway. “When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead! And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel.”

Seen

1. Matthew 2:9 “After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”
2. Matthew 11:4 “Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”
3. Matthew 17:9 “As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
4. Mark 2:12 Peter said: “Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
5. Mark 5:16 Peter said: “A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.”
6. Mark 9:9 Peter said: “As they went back down the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”
7. Mark 16:11 Peter said: “After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.”
8. Mark 16:14 Peter said: “Still later Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.”
9. Luke 2:20 “The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.”
10. Luke 2:30 “Simeon was there. He took the child (Jesus) in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.”
11. Luke 5:26 “Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”
12. Luke 7:22 “Then Jesus told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”
13. Luke 8:36 “People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed.”
14. Luke 10:23 “Then when they were alone, Jesus turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it.”
15. Luke 19:37 “When Jesus reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.”
16. Luke 24:23 ““Then some women from our group of his followers were at Jesus’ tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
17. John 1:14 “So (Jesus) the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
18. John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God (before). But (now, Jesus) the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us”.
19. John 3:32 “John TB “Jesus must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else…he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!”
20. John 4:45 “At the end of the two days, Jesus went on to Galilee. He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown. Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.”
21. John 6:36 Jesus said: “But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me.”
22. John 9:37 “When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.”
23. John 12:17 “Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it.”
24. John 14:7 Jesus said: “If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
25. John 14:9 “Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?”
26. John 14:11 Jesus said: “Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.”
27. John 15:24 Jesus said: “If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father.”
28. John 20:18 “Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.”
29. John 20:25 “One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
30. John 20:29 “Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
31. Acts 4:20 “But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
32. Acts 9:27 “Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.”
33. Acts 22:15 Paul said: “I was blinded by the intense light… A man named Ananias…came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him! “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.”
34. Acts 26:16 Paul said: “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future.”
35. 1 Corinthians 9:1 Paul said: “Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes?”
36. 1 Corinthians 15:5 Paul said: “Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.”
37. 1 Corinthians 15:6 Paul said: “After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.”
38. 1 Corinthians 15:7 Paul said” Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”
39. 1 Timothy 3:16 Paul said: “Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:
    Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.”
40. 1 John 1:1 “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.”
41. 1 John 1:2 “This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life.”
42. 1 John 1:3 “We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us.”
43. 1 John 4:14 “Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”
44. Revelation 1:11 Jesus told John:  “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
45. Revelation 1:19 Jesus said to John: “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.”
46. Revelation 22:6 “Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”

Saw

Regarding texts from number 79 forward, the witness of the statements in the Book of Revelation is crucial to the issue of whether the New Testament is valid eyewitness testimony. Although not all of the statements in Revelation are not directly about Jesus, they are in a general sense, dictated by Him. John states repeatedly that he saw these things with his eyes, confirming that the testimony in the New Testament is eyewitness testimony, and was not written by people who never saw the events.

1. Matthew 2:2 “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
2. Matthew 2:10 “After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!”
3. Matthew 2:11 “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”
4. Matthew 3:16 “Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John…After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and John saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Jesus. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
5. Matthew 9:8 Jesus said: “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home! Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen.“
6. Matthew 9:9 “As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.”
7. Matthew 9:11 “Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
8. Matthew 14:26 “About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
9. Matthew 14:30 “So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.”
10. Matthew 17:8 “As Jesus spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.”
11. Matthew 21:15 “The blind and the lame came to Jesus in the Temple, and he healed them. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.”
12. Matthew 21:20 “Then Jesus said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
13. Matthew 21:32 Jesus speaking: “For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.”
14. Matthew 27:24 “Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”
15. Matthew 28:4 “Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
16. Matthew 28:17 After the resurrection: “Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!”
17. Mark 1:10 “As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
18. Mark 2:16 “But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”
19. Mark 5:6 “When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him….When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”
20. Mark 5:15 “People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.”
21. Mark 5:22 “Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.”
22. Mark 6:49 “Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror.”
23. Mark 6:50 “They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!”
24. Mark 9:8 “Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.”
25. Mark 9:14 “When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them.”
26. Mark 9:15 “When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him.”
27. Mark 9:20 “So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.”
28. Mark 15:39 “When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how Jesus had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
29. Mark 15:47 “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.“
30. Mark 16:4 “As they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.”
31. Mark 16:5 “When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.”
32. Mark 16:9 “After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw Jesus was Mary Magdalene.”
33. Luke 5:27 Luke calls Matthew a disciple “Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him.
34. Luke 7:39 “When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
35. Luke 8:34 “There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran.”
36. Luke 8:35 “People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.
37. Luke 8:36 “Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed.”
38. Luke 9:32 Luke, about Peter “Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him.”
39. Luke 9:43 Luke says Jesus is God “As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father. Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.”
40. Luke 9:54 James and John “As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.”
41. Luke 17:15 “As Jesus entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.”
42. Luke 18:15 “One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.”
43. Luke 18:43 “As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.”
44. Luke 22:49 “A crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!”
45. Luke 23:48 “When all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.”
46. Luke 23:55 “As Jesus’ body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed.”
47. Luke 24:12 “It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.”
48. John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
49. John 1:32 “Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon Jesus.”
50. John 1:34 “I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
51. John 6:2 “A huge crowd kept following Jesus wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick.”
52. John 6:14 “When the people saw Jesus do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”
53. John 6:19 “They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified.”
54. John 6:22 “The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them.”
55. John 6:24 “So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.”
56. John 8:56 Jesus speaking “Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
57. John 11:32 “When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
58. John 11:45 “So they rolled the stone aside…Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.”
59. John 19:6 “Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!” When they saw Jesus, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
60. John 19:33 “So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs.”
61. John 20:5 “Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in.”
62. John 20:8 “Then the disciple (John) who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.”
63. John 20:12 “Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.”
64. John 20:14 “Mary turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.”
65. John 20:20 “As Jesus spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!”
66. John 21:20 Peter sees John “Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
67. Acts 1:11 Angels speaking to the disciples “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
68. Acts 3:9 “Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!”
69. Acts 4:13 “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”
70. Acts 7:55 Stephen “Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
71. Acts 9:35 “Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.”
72. Acts 10:11 “The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, nd he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners.”
73. Acts 13:12 “Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.”
74. Acts 14:11 “While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet…Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!”
75. Acts 22:9 Paul said: “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me. “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’”
76. Acts 22:18 Paul said: “After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance. I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’”
77. 2 Peter 1:16 Peter said: “For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes”
78. 1 John 1:1 “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.”
79. Revelation 1:2 “This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
80. Revelation 1:17 “When I saw Jesus, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.”
81. Revelation 4:1 “Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice (of Jesus) I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”
82. Revelation 4:2 “And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and One sitting on it.”
83. Revelation 5:1 “Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.”
84. Revelation 5:2 “And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?”
85. Revelation 5:6 “Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders.”
86. Revelation 6:2 “I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head.”
87. Revelation 6:5 “When (Jesus) the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.”
88. Revelation 6:8 “I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave.”
89. Revelation 6:9 “When (Jesus) the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony.”
90. Revelation 7:1 “Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree.”
91. Revelation 7:2 “I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God.”
92. Revelation 7:9 “I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before (Jesus) the Lamb.
93. Revelation 8:2 “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.”
94. Revelation 9:1 “Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.”
95. Revelation 9:17 “And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow.”
96. Revelation 10:1 “Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire.”
97. Revelation 10:5 “Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven.”
98. Revelation 12:1 “Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head.”
99. Revelation 12:3 “Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads.”
100. Revelation 13:1 “Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God.”
101. Revelation 13:3 “I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast.”
102. Revelation 13:11 ” Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon.”
103. Revelation 14:1 “Then I saw the Lamb (Jesus) standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
104. Revelation 14:6 “And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.”
105. Revelation 14:14 “Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.” (Jesus called Himself the Son of Man, 77 times in the NT).
106. Revelation 15:1 “Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion.”
107. Revelation 15:2 “I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast…”
108. Revelation 15:5 “Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open.”
109. Revelation 16:13 “And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.”
110. Revelation 17:3 “So the angel took me in the Spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast…”
111. Revelation 18:1 “After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor.”
112. Revelation 19:11 “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True (Jesus), for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.”
113. Revelation 19:17 “Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: “Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared.”
114. Revelation 19:19 “Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse (Jesus) and his army.”
115. Revelation 20:1 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand.”
116. Revelation 20:4 “Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
117. Revelation 20:9 “When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison…He will gather them together for battle…And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth.”
118. Revelation 20:11 “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.”
119. Revelation 20:12 “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.”
120. Revelation 21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.”
121. Revelation 21:2 “And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”
122. Revelation 21:22 “I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”
123. Revelation 22:8a ” I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things.”
124. Revelation 22:8b “And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me.”

See

1. Matthew 9:29 “They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Then their eyes were opened, and they could see!”
2. Matthew 13:16-17 Jesus speaking to the disciples: “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.
3. Matthew 15:1 “Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus.”
4. Matthew 16:28 Jesus: “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
5. Matthew 20:34 “Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.”
6. Acts 1:10 “Jesus said: And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.
7. Acts 2:16 “Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd… what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel…people of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.”
8. Acts 2:33 Peter said: “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.”
9. Acts 7:56 “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
10. Acts 8:6 Philip: “Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed.”
11. Acts 22:13 Paul: “A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!”
12. Acts 22:14-15 Paul: “Then Ananias told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.”
13. Romans 1:13 Paul “I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles.”
14. Romans 15:21 Paul: “I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand” (Isaiah 52:15).
15. Hebrews 2:9 Paul: “What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.”
16. Revelation 1:11 Jesus to John: “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
17. Revelation 1:12-19 John: “When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven golden lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like (Jesus) the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.  “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.”
18. Revelation 17:6 John: “I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.”

The Preceding Are The 203 Eyewitness Statements Found In The New Testament

This is the historical, eyewitness evidence that has existed since these events first took place. These men didn’t know or understand that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, until after He had risen from the dead. It was upon Jesus’ resurrection that these men set out to write down all the things they could remember about what He had said and done.

Near the time of Jesus’ departure from earth, He told His disciples that after He was crucified and had risen from the dead, He would send the Holy Spirit to live in each believer, and He would “bring to their remembrance, all things concerning Jesus.” The Holy Spirit reminded the men who saw and heard Jesus, what had happened, so that they could write an accurate account of all they saw and heard.

Jesus expected these men to immediately write down what had happened, and send these letters out to the churches that existed at that time. We see Jesus saying this to John in Revelation chapter 1:11

“Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

After He had risen, Jesus told these men that He called them to be His witnesses, and tell the whole world what they had seen and heard. The only way this was possible was by the use of letters sent out by couriers to the churches. These churches copied the letters and sent them to places further and further away, until news reached the known world.

Jesus told His disciples: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus commanded these men who saw and heard Him, to send their testimony to every place in the known world. This is exactly what they did, we have the evidence this is true, in the extant 24,593 manuscript copies of the New Testament. These surviving manuscript copies of the New Testament come from all over the world, written in 14 different languages.

We have nearly complete copies of the entire New Testament, dated from 175-225 AD. Original Papyrus autographs are only known to survive for up to 200 years, due to the harsh conditions of the first century. Since we have nearly the entire New Testament from 175 AD, it is certain that these original Papyrus autographs, were penned early in the first century.

The New Testament Is A Reliable, Eyewitness, Historical Narrative, Of True Events, Concerning Jesus. He Proved He Is God By His Words And Miracles That Only God Is Capable Of

NOTES:

[1] a. Nancy J. Kippenhan, Assistant Professor of Law, Liberty University School of Law (B.S., M.B.A., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; J.D., magna cum laude, Widener University School of Law). b. Simon Greenleaf, LL.D. (1783–1853) was appointed Royall professor of law in the Law School of Harvard University from 1833 until 1846, and later succeeded Justice Joseph Story as the Dane professor of law in 1846. John Henry Wigmore, Preface to SIMON GREENLEAF, A TREATISE ON THE LAW OF EVIDENCE (16th ed. Little, Brown & Co. 2001) (1842).
[2] TESTIMONY, supra note 5, §§ 3, 27, 48.
[3] Id. §§ 28, 33, 41.
[4] 9. Id. § 1.
[5a] 1. “A rational defense for the existence of God . . . [using b]oth reason and scientific evidence . . .” Louis Hoffman, Postmodernism Dictionary, POSTMODERNISM AND PSYCHOLOGY,http://www.postmodernpsychology.com/Postmodernism_Dictionary.html (last visited Oct. 9, 2010).
2. See, e.g., PAMELA BINNINGS EWEN, FAITH ON TRIAL 52 (1999); JOSH MCDOWELL, EVIDENCE FOR CHRISTIANITY 263 (2006); LEE STROBEL, THE CASE FOR CHRIST 58 (1998).
[5b] 1.Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, Publisher: ReadHowYouWant, December 19, 2011, ISBN: 1459633199, Kindle Edition 2.Chuck Smith, “The Tribulation and the Church,” The Word For Today, Publishers, August 5, 2011, Kindle Edition. 3. Maurice M. Hassatt, “Martyr.” The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. IX, Robert Appleton Company, 1910
[6] STROBEL, supra note 11, at 81; see also Preface to IAN WILSON, JESUS: THE EVIDENCE 6-7 (1996). (This edition incorporates the “considerable number of discoveries relating to Jesus that there have been since 1984, such as the discovery of a fishing boat of his time; of the bones of the high priest Caiaphas; and of what may be the oldest known fragments of a gospel text”).
[7] a. STROBEL, supra note 11, at 82 (citing F.F. BRUCE, THE BOOKS AND THE PARCHMENTS 178 (1963)) (“There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament.”); see also WILSON, supra note 17, at 23.
[8] Federal Rules For Evidence. (2009).
[9] Federal Rules For Evidence. 803(16); TESTIMONY, supra note 5, § 9; see infra Table 1 (comparing Greenleaf’s evidentiary principles to corresponding modern rules).
[10] Compare TESTIMONY, supra note 5, §§ 12–25, with People v. Farrell, 34 P.3d 401, 406-07 (Colo. 2001) (considering factors to assess reliability of hearsay testimony). While such reliability tests do not overcome a criminal defendant’s right to cross-examine witnesses against him, Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004), these “indicia of reliability” continue to demonstrate what it means for a witness to provide credible testimony. See also infra note 168, 174.
[11] TESTIMONY, supra note 5, §§ 12-14 (analysis of Matthew as author), §§ 15–17 (Mark), §§ 18–22 (Luke), §§ 23–25 (John), §§ 29–44 (examining the credibility of the authors and the reliability of their testimony); see also infra Part II.B.1-2.
[12] TESTIMONY, supra note 5, § 48.
[13]  Federal Rules For Evidence. 103(a)(1); TESTIMONY, supra note 5, §§ 8–10
[14] a.Nancy J. Kippenhan, Assistant Professor of Law, Liberty University School of Law.
b. Relevant evidence means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.”); see also FED. R. EVID. 402 (“All relevant evidence is admissible . . .”); FED. R. EVID. 403 (favoring admission, but excluding evidence “if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice”). See United States v. Dennis, 625 F.2d 782, 797 (8th Cir. 1980) (“In weighing the probative value of evidence against the dangers and considerations enumerated in Rule 403, the general rule is that the balance should be struck in favor of admission.”).
[15] See, e.g., TESTIMONY, supra note 5, §§ 10, 28, 33.
[16] Id. § 27.
[17] Id. (emphasis added).
[18] Id. (emphasis added).
[19] Id. § 41.

Categories: Agnostics and Skeptics, Atheists, Bible, Christian Progressives, Exegesis and Hermeneutics, Eyewitnesses, God's Sovereignty, Jesus is the Messiah, New Testament Apologetics, New Testament Manuscripts, Reliability of the Bible, Reliability of the New Testament, Robert Clifton Robinson, Salvation is a free gift, Studying the Word of God, The Claims of Jesus, The Existence of God, The Four Gospels, The Historical Crucifixion of Jesus, The Historical Jesus, The Historical Jesus, The Historicity of Jesus, We must repent

Tags: Eyewitness Testimony, Jesus is the Messiah, New Testament Criticism, New Testament Forensic Evidence, The New Testament as a Historical Document, When were the Gospels written?