by Scott Cherry—

In the 1st century the Christian faith mushroomed throughout the Roman Empire despite waves of persecution against Christians. Unlike Islam, it spread without military force or any sort of violence perpetrated by Christians for three whole centuries. It was literally unstoppable, but why?! Because it was credible, and thousands of average people believed it even though they had nothing to gain and everything to lose during those three centuries. There is no other logical way to explain the growth of Christianity but that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples and "more than 500 brethren at one time". (1 Cor. 15)

1. Jesus died by Roman crucifixion.
2. He was buried, most likely in a private tomb.
3. Soon afterward, the disciples were discouraged, bereaved, and despondent, having lost hope.
4. Jesus’ tomb was found empty very soon after his interment.
5. The disciples had experiences that they believed were actual appearances of the risen Jesus.
6. Due to these experiences, the disciples’ lives were thoroughly transformed, even being willing to die for this belief.
7. The proclamation of the resurrection took place very early, at the beginning of church history.
8. The disciples’ public testimony and preaching of the resurrection took place in the city of Jerusalem, where Jesus had been crucified and buried shortly before.
9. The Gospel message centered on the death and resurrection of Jesus.
10. Sunday was the primary day for gathering and worshipping.
11. James, the brother of Jesus and former skeptic, was converted when, he believed, he saw the risen Jesus.
12. Just a few years later, Saul of Tarsus (Paul) became a Christian believer due to an experience that he believed was an appearance of the risen Jesus.”[1]

Gary R. Habermas, The Risen Jesus & Future Hope (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2003), 9-10.

https://dissectingjesus.com/tag/gary-habermas-12-minimal-facts/