Prepared to Answer

The events of Good Friday and Easter are the most important events recorded in the Bible. But we also have a record of these events outside the Bible, including some written by those who opposed Christianity. These sources include:

Tacitus (AD 56–117) - a Roman historian who wrote: “Christus… suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate” (Annals 15:44.2–8). As a Roman, Tacitus would never have relied on Christian writings for his source material, which means Jesus’ crucifixion was recorded in the Roman record books too.

Josephus (AD 37–100) - a Jewish historian who also recorded Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, adding how even after Jesus’ death, the Christians continued to love and follow him, “and did not give up their affection for him.” (Antiquities 18:63, 64)

Lucian of Samosata (AD 125–180) - a Greek satirist who wrote about Jesus’ crucifixion and
his disdain for the Christians who “deny the Greek gods and worship that crucified sophist himself and live under his laws.” (The Passing of Peregrinus, 11–13)

Justin Martyr (AD 100–165) - an early Christian apologist and philosopher who quoted a letter circulating among the Jews: “A godless and lawless heresy had sprung up from one Jesus…whom we crucified, but his disciples stole him by night from the tomb… and now deceive
men by asserting that he has risen from the dead and ascended to heaven.” (Dialogue with Trypho)

These sources can give us confidence in the historicity of the Gospels, but they also show how Jesus’ death and resurrection had a great impact on the 1st century world (and still make an impact today!)