The Eyewitnesses
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The apostles referred to themselves throughout the New Testament as eyewitnesses. The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection name at least 16 people who were eyewitnesses to the risen Savior. Over a 40-day period, Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3; 13:31). In one of his epistles, Paul recorded that Jesus was seen by over 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom were still alive at the time of his writing (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).
The apostle Peter testified: “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
And the apostle John testified: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you” (1 John 1:1–3).
It is difficult to refute eyewitness testimony, especially when those testifying are willing to suffer persecution and even death for what they claim to have witnessed, as Jesus’ first followers were. People don’t give their lives for what they know to be a fabrication.—Keith Phillips
The eyewitness authority of the Gospel accounts
Many skeptics reject the eyewitness authority of the Gospel accounts, even though the early Church selected and embraced the canonical Gospels based primarily on the eyewitness authority of their authors. … As a cold-case detective who examines eyewitness accounts every day, I investigated the accounts in my book, Cold-Case Christianity; A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels. My investigation led me to conclude the New Testament gospels should be considered eyewitness accounts for four reasons:
1. Eyewitness authority was affirmed by the Gospel authors. The authors of the Gospels proclaimed their authority as eyewitnesses (or as chroniclers of the eyewitnesses), and the earliest believers embraced the traditional authorship of the eyewitnesses. The Gospel authors (and their sources) repeatedly identified themselves as eyewitnesses (2 Peter 1:16–17; John 21:24–25; Luke 1:1–4).
2. Eyewitness authority was confirmed by the first believers. The early believers and Church Fathers accepted the Gospel accounts as eyewitness documents. Papias [c. 60 – c. 130 AD] when describing the authorship of the Gospel of Mark, for example, said, “Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not indeed in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ.”...
3. Eyewitness authority was foundational to the growth of the Church. The eyewitness authority of the apostles was key to the expansion of the early Church. The apostles were unified in the manner in which they proclaimed Christ. They repeatedly identified themselves, first and foremost, as eyewitnesses (Acts 2:23–24, 32).
4. Eyewitness authority was used to validate New Testament writings. Even Paul understood the importance of eyewitness authority. He continually referred to his own encounter with Jesus to establish the authenticity of his office and writings. Paul also directed his readers to other eyewitnesses who could corroborate his claims:
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also” (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).
The Gospels were written as eyewitness accounts within the long and rich evidential tradition of the early Christian community. The early Church placed a high value on the evidence provided by Jesus and the authority of the apostles as eyewitnesses. The Gospels were accepted and affirmed due to their status as eyewitness accounts. This authority was inherent to the Gospels, commissioned by Jesus, affirmed by the Gospel authors, confirmed by the first believers, foundational to the growth of the Church and used to validate the New Testament canon.—J. Warner Wallace1
Witnesses to His majesty
From what we read in 2 Peter 1:16–21, it seems like there were people in the earliest days of the Christian movement who were questioning whether the stories Jesus’ followers were telling could be trusted. However, in these verses Peter stated that what he was sharing with the believers weren’t “clever stories” like a fictional novel. Instead, Peter had witnessed the “powerful coming” of Jesus and [they] “saw his majestic splendour” with their own eyes.
We have an example of what Peter witnessed in the story of Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–9). When Jesus went up the mountain with Peter, James, and John, he gave them a glimpse of his heavenly glory as the Son of God while he talked with Moses and Elijah, two of the most important Old Testament prophets. The story sounds like it belongs in a fantasy novel. We don’t normally see people’s faces shine like the sun and their clothes become as white as light while they talk with people who had lived more than a thousand years ago (Matthew 17:2). So when the disciples started telling people about what they saw, I can understand why their audience would be skeptical about what they were being told and question its truth.
That’s why this verse is so important for us, not only in verifying the story of Jesus’ transfiguration but validating the whole Bible. These are not stories people made up for fun. They didn’t make any money out of what they wrote like a modern novelist. Instead, the authors of the biblical books were so convinced about what they saw that they put their lives on the line for it. … That’s what is different about the Bible—it was written by people who had seen the events they had written about, or had talked with people who had witnessed them firsthand, and they were willing to die for the truth of what they had written. …
That is why it is so vitally important for us to remain in God’s word and to be listening to what God is saying through it. These aren’t just some nice stories to tell our kids. They’re not even stories that just teach us to live in good ways or to make good choices. These stories are eyewitness accounts of the glory of God which is revealed in Jesus.
When we connect with these stories, the Holy Spirit fills us with the glory of God which Jesus reveals to us and drives out the darkness in our hearts and minds. We can then bring the glory of God which we encounter in Jesus—his love, mercy, grace, and all the goodness of God—into the lives of other people and into what can often be a very dark world. As the glory of God shines in us through the presence of Jesus by his Spirit, we can bring his glory into all the circumstances of life and all the situations we might find ourselves in.—St. John’s Lutheran Church2
Not a cleverly invented story
Cleverly invented stories and creatively doctored photos … abound in every venue. I am increasingly skeptical as there is a proliferation of internet and email hoaxes. It doesn’t take much to concoct a hoax and put up a web site or email it to scores of people. Then it’s spread through forwarded email, which often directs the reader to “send this to everyone in your address book.”
Some have a certain believability about them; a “cleverly invented story.” Others are so absolutely ludicrous that it strains any credibility of the one sending it. ... Free tickets to Disney World, promised blessings and veiled curses if you don’t forward on that spooky but spiritual sounding chain letter, inheritances passed on to you from strangers, bizarre stories, etc.
But Peter declares, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). What a tremendous assurance of the firm foundation our faith is grounded upon. Peter had some amazing eyewitness experiences with our Lord and he was determined that, after he departed this life, his hearers and readers would not forget the stories and essential teachings he shared (2 Peter 1:15). …
It’s so important that we never grow weary of hearing the fundamental teachings of our faith even as we grow in spiritual wisdom and maturity. That’s a powerful deterrent to the many cleverly invented stories we are subjected to year after year. …
Today let us receive rich assurance as we consider these things and remain the true defenders of the “faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?—Stephen C. Weber3
Published on Anchor March 2026. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso. Music by John Listen.
1 J. Warner Wallace, “4 Reasons We Should Accept the Gospels As Eyewitness Accounts,” Cold-Case Christianity, April 8, 2016, https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/4-reasons-we-should-accept-the-gospels-as-eyewitness-accounts/
2 “Clever Stories or Eyewitness Accounts? (2 Peter 1:16-21),” St. John’s Lutheran Church, March 3, 2020, https://ttglutheran.wordpress.com/2020/03/03/clever-stories-or-eyewitness-accounts-2-peter-116-21/
3 Stephen C. Weber, “Not A Cleverly Invented Story!” dailyencouragement.wordpress.com, August 12, 2008, https://dailyencouragement.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/not-a-cleverly-invented-story/
