Was Jesus’ body stolen by the disciples?

The claim that Jesus’ body was stolen by His disciples is an ancient one, dating back to the very day of His resurrection. This theory has been proposed as a naturalistic explanation for the empty tomb, suggesting that Jesus did not rise from the dead, but that His body was secretly taken by His followers. To address this question thoroughly, we will examine the biblical accounts, historical context, and the arguments for and against the theory, using references from the Bible.

The Biblical Account of the Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus is a central event in the Christian faith, with all four Gospels providing detailed accounts of it. These accounts emphasize the empty tomb, the appearances of the risen Christ, and the reactions of His followers and opponents.

The Empty Tomb

The Gospels unanimously report that Jesus’ tomb was found empty by women who visited it on the first day of the week.

• Matthew 28:1-6: “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.'”
• Mark 16:1-6: “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.'”
• Luke 24:1-3: “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
• John 20:1-2: “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran 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.'”

Appearances of the Risen Christ

Following the discovery of the empty tomb, Jesus appeared to His followers on multiple occasions.

• Matthew 28:9-10: “And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.'”
• Luke 24:36-39: “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’ But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.'”
• John 20:19-20: “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”

The Theory of the Stolen Body

The theory that Jesus’ body was stolen by His disciples is mentioned explicitly in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Guard at the Tomb

Matthew’s Gospel provides an account of the measures taken to secure Jesus’ tomb, and the origin of the claim that His body was stolen.

• Matthew 27:62-66: “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, ‘Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise.” Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, “He has risen from the dead.” So the last deception will be worse than the first.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.”

The Report of the Guard

After the resurrection, the guards reported what had happened, and a false story was spread.

• Matthew 28:11-15: “Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, “His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.” And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.’ So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”

Arguments Against the Theory of the Stolen Body

Several arguments and pieces of evidence refute the theory that Jesus’ body was stolen by His disciples.

1. The Presence of Roman Guards

The presence of Roman guards at the tomb makes the theft of Jesus’ body highly improbable. Roman soldiers were known for their discipline and the severe penalties for dereliction of duty.

• Matthew 27:65-66: “Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.”

For the disciples to have stolen the body, they would have had to overpower or sneak past the guards, an unlikely feat given their fear and lack of resources.

2. The Sealed Stone

The tomb was secured with a large stone and sealed, adding another layer of security that the disciples would have had to overcome.

• Matthew 27:66: “So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.”

Moving the stone without being detected by the guards would have been extremely difficult.

3. The State of the Disciples

The disciples were in a state of fear and confusion following Jesus’ crucifixion. They were hiding and did not exhibit the boldness required for such a daring act.

• John 20:19: “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.'”

Their mental and emotional state makes it unlikely that they would attempt to steal the body.

4. The Transformation of the Disciples

Following the resurrection, the disciples were transformed from fearful individuals into bold proclaimers of Jesus’ resurrection, even in the face of persecution and death.

• Acts 4:18-20: “So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.'”

This dramatic change is best explained by their genuine belief that they had seen the risen Christ.

5. The Willingness to Die for Their Belief

Many of the disciples and early Christians faced martyrdom for their faith. People may die for something they believe to be true, but it is highly unlikely they would willingly suffer and die for something they knew to be a lie.

• Acts 7:59-60 (Stephen’s martyrdom): “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

The disciples’ willingness to face death underscores their conviction in the truth of the resurrection.

Conclusion

The theory that Jesus’ body was stolen by His disciples does not hold up under scrutiny. The presence of Roman guards, the sealed tomb, the fearful state of the disciples, their subsequent transformation, and their willingness to die for their belief in the resurrection all argue strongly against this theory. Moreover, alternative explanations such as the swoon and hallucination theories fail to account for the historical and biblical evidence.

The resurrection of Jesus is a cornerstone of Christian faith, affirmed by multiple eyewitnesses, transformed lives, and consistent scriptural testimony. As Paul asserts:

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-4:”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.”

The evidence supports the conclusion that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead, and the claim that His body was stolen by the disciples remains an unfounded and unconvincing theory.

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In His service,
BibleAsk Team