Christ’s Resurrection: Scriptural Basis

Scriptural Basis—The Facts

Accounts of His Resurrection

Written Accounts in the Four Gospels

The Gospel according to Matthew

Matthew 28:1-10 (1) Now late on the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. (2) And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended out of heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. (3) And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow. (4) And for fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. (5) And the angel answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are seeking Jesus, the crucified. (6) He is not here, for He has been raised, even as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. (7) And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has been raised from the dead, and behold, He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Behold, I have told you. (8) And they went away quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report this to His disciples. (9) And behold, Jesus met them, saying, Rejoice! And they came to Him and took hold of His feet and worshipped Him. (10) Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid, Go and report to My brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see Me.

The Gospel according to Mark

Mark 16:1-8 (1) And when the Sabbath was past, Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Him. (2) And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb as the sun rose. (3) And they said to one another, Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb? (4) And when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, for it was extremely large. (5) And when they entered into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, clothed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. (6) And he said to them, Do not be alarmed. You are seeking Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has been raised; He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him. (7) But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee. There you will see Him, even as He told you. (8) And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

The Gospel according to Luke

Luke 24:1-12 (1) Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb; (3) but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) And while they stood perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. (5) And they became frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, and the men said to them, Why are you seeking the living One among the dead? (6) He is not here but has been raised. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, (7) saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise up. (8) And they remembered His words. (9) And returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (10) Now they were Mary the Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the rest of the women with them, who told these things to the apostles. (11) And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they did not believe them. (12) But Peter rose up and ran to the tomb; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen clothes alone, and he went away to his own home, marveling at what had happened.

The Gospel according to John

John 20:1-18 (1) Now on the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene came early to the tomb while it was yet dark and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. (2) She ran therefore and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him. (3) Peter therefore went forth, as well as the other disciple, and came to the tomb. (4) And the two ran together, yet the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came first to the tomb. (5) And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; however, he did not enter. (6) Then Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beheld the linen cloths lying there (7) and the handkerchief which had been over His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded up in one place apart. (8) At that time therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, entered, and he saw and believed; (9) for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He had to rise from among the dead. (10) The disciples therefore went away again to their own home. (11) But Mary stood outside at the tomb weeping. Then as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb (12) and beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. (13) And they said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him. (14) When she said these things, she turned backward and beheld Jesus standing there, yet she did not know that it was Jesus. (15) Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She, supposing that He was the gardener, said to Him, Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away. (16) Jesus said to her, Mary! She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, Rabboni! (which means Teacher). (17) Jesus said to her, Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God. (18) Mary the Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, I have seen the Lord, and that He had said these things to her.

Written Accounts | Summary Table

Prophecies | Types | Accounts | Witnesses