Empty Tomb, Full Hearts: A Selection of Testimonies Among Those Who Saw the Risen Christ

Historical fiction must walk a fine line between verified history and the author’s imagination. This book is based upon information found in the Bible, coupled with a variety of traditions. Many of the people portrayed here are identified as saints in Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Coptic traditions. One of the definitions of Merriam-Webster describes tradition as a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable. This book reflects upon some of those traditions, woven together with Biblical passages.According to the Apostle Paul, more than five hundred men (not including women, children, and servants) saw Jesus after his resurrection from the dead. The Bible says that between his resurrection and his ascension into heaven, Jesus physically appeared to people over a period of forty days. Here we have a selection of possible testimonies by some of those people who saw Jesus, heard him, and ate and drank with him during those forty days. According to records of the Roman Empire, people were willing to be tortured and killed rather than lie and say they had not witnessed Jesus as alive after his resurrection.