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     We have considered several evidences, including the apostles’ teaching and their subsequent death in defending Jesus, as proof that Jesus rose from the dead.  Additionally, the conversion of two skeptics, James (Jesus’ brother) and Saul the pharisee (later known as Paul) argue for His resurrection.
     Jesus was considered a Rabbi (teacher) by many Jews, but His family, including James, rejected Him as being God (John 7:5).  After Jesus’ resurrection, their former skepticism would have been considered a family embarrassment.  Mere writers would have hidden that fact for the sake of zealously promoting Jesus as the divine Savior.  However, the inspired Bible writers reveal that James had been an unbeliever before Jesus’ resurrection.  Having seen the resurrected Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7), he became a Christian and later one of the leaders in the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17; 15:13).
     Saul, on the other hand, was a radical Pharisee (Acts 22:3;23:6; Galatians 1:14), whose mission was to destroy Christianity (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2; 22:4-5; Galatians 1:13).  Jesus’ message was totally contrary to Saul’s pharisaical upbringing.  Thus he saw Christians as blasphemers against God and heretics against Judaism.  That Saul’s intent to eradicate Christians, not only in Jerusalem, but everywhere, is marked by his trip to Damascus, 160 miles from Jerusalem.  While on this journey to persecute Christians, he was suddenly converted to Jesus, who revealed Himself to Saul in a vision.  Although the men who were with Saul did not experience the revelation as Saul (Paul) did, they witnessed that something strange was happening to Paul.  At that moment Paul was temporarily blinded, then through the course of the next three days became a Christian, repudiated Judaism as no longer valid and began preaching in the synagogues – the resurrected Jesus as the Messiah and Lord (Acts 9:1-22).  Further, Paul could perform miracles after becoming a Christian (Acts 15:12) and could pass this power to Christians (Acts 19:6).
     Neither James nor Saul believed in Jesus as God and Savior before His crucifixion.  However, after His resurrection, they became the most zealous Christians, boldly proclaiming that Jesus had risen from the dead.  Something remarkable happened that changed their lives — the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

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