The Resurrection Hoax

Which one?

Recently I was invited to appear on a podcast to discuss “the Resurrection Hoax,” which I assumed referred to the accusation in Matthew’s gospel that the Sanhedrin feared that Jesus’ disciples might remove their Master’s corpse from its burial place, hide it, and proclaim that Jesus had risen from the dead even though they knew he hadn’t. Thus the Sanhedrin petitioned Pontius Pilate to post Roman solders at the tomb to make sure nobody executed such a scheme. He granted their request. Better to be safe than sorry. But, Matthew tells us, a mighty angel descended from the sky and shouldered away the massive stone disk blocking the entrance to the tomb, shattering the official seals. All this in full view of the shocked guards, who promptly fainted dead away.