3 apostolic options regarding the resurrection

The apostles of Jesus sealed their faith with their own blood, dying as martyrs of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most of the apostles and many of the earliest Christians died for their faith. Their faithfulness unto death constitutes one of the witnesses of the truth of the resurrections. Some who are determined not to believe will line up their reasons, but a sincere inquirer is willing to thoughtfully consider a faith strong enough to die for. 

In What Happened to the Apostles, C. Michael Patton considers “How their Deaths Evidence Easter.” Patton looks at the historical traditions concerning the apostles, answers objections, and highlights three options concerning the apostles: 

1. They died for a lie and knew it (unsustainable do to lack of any reasonable motive).
2. They were all delusional and crazy (but this would take more faith than any option since you would have to explain how they all had the same delusion and craziness—many being at different places and different times).
3. What they said was true. Christ did rise from the grave and is who He said He was. 

People may die for a lie they have been convinced to believe is true, but “People do not die for their own lies, half-truths, or fabrications. If the Apostles truly died proclaiming to have seen Christ dead then alive and ascend into heaven, Christ is who He said He was, God incarnate who came to take away the sins of the world.”