As part of his "minimal facts" argument, Gary Habermas makes the following point:
1) that Jesus died by crucifixion; 2) that very soon afterwards, his followers had real experiences that they thought were actual appearances of the risen Jesus; 3) that their lives were transformed as a result, even to the point of being willing to die specifically for their faith in the resurrection message; 4) that these things were taught very early, soon after the crucifixion; 5) that James, Jesus’ unbelieving brother, became a Christian due to his own experience that he thought was the resurrected Christ; and 6) that the Christian persecutor Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) also became a believer after a similar experience.
Fact 3 is implying that the apostles so sincerely believed in the Resurrection that they were willing to die for it, and many of them did in fact die (were martyred) for this belief. No one would willingly die for something they know to be false, thus if the apostles were truly willing to die for believing in the Resurrection, then the Resurrection is likely to be a true event.
A similar claim was made by William Lane Craig:
Nevertheless, the original disciples suddenly came to believe so strongly that God had raised Jesus from the dead that they were willing to die for the truth of that belief.
The apologists' claim that the Apostles were willing to die specifically for the belief that Jesus was resurrected, and that some of them did indeed die for that belief. I will argue that this claim is not substantiated by the available evidence.
Apostles here is defined as the 12 followers of Jesus
1.Simon/Peter 2.Andrew (Simon/Peters brother) 3.James son of Zebedee 4.John son of Zebedee 5.Philip 6.Bartholomew/Nathanael 7.Thomas (Didymus) 8.Matthew 9.James son of Alphaeus 10.Thaddaeus/Judas son of James 11.Simon the Canaanite/the Zealot 12.Judas Iscariot
In response to the claim by William Lane Craig, Bart Ehrman gives the following statement:
Most of the available sources for the martyrdom of the Apostles do not mention why they died. Those sources that do mention the reasons why they died do not mention that the Apostles died for believing in the resurrection. For example, in the Acts of Peter,
Peter is crucified because Agrippa and Albinus are angry at Peter for causing their wives/concubines to become chaste.
And a certain woman which was exceeding beautiful, the wife of Albinus, Caesar's friend, by name Xanthippe, came, she also, unto Peter, with the rest of the matrons, and withdrew herself, she also, from Albinus. He therefore being mad, and loving Xanthippe, and marvelling that she would not sleep even upon the same bed with him, raged like a wild beast and would have dispatched Peter; for he knew that he was the cause of her separating from his bed. Many other women also, loving the word of chastity, separated themselves from their husbands, because they desired them to worship God in sobriety and cleanness. And whereas there was great trouble in Rome, Albinus made known his state unto Agrippa, saying to him: Either do thou avenge me of Peter that hath withdrawn my wife, or I will avenge myself. And Agrippa said: I have suffered the same at his hand, for he hath withdrawn my concubines. And Albinus said unto him: Why then tarriest thou, Agrippa? let us find him and put him to death for a dealer in curious arts, that we may have our wives again, and avenge them also which are not able to put him to death, whose wives also he hath parted from them.
In the Acts of Thomas, Thomas is speared to death for practicing sorcery.
And Misdaeus saith unto him: I have not made haste to destroy thee, but have had long patience with thee: but thou hast added unto thine evil deeds, and thy sorceries are dispersed abroad and heard of throughout all the country: but this I do that thy sorceries may depart with thee, and our land be cleansed from them. Thomas saith unto him; These sorceries depart with me when I set forth hence, and know thou this that I shall never forsake them that are here.
There is no evidence that the Apostles died for the belief that Jesus was resurrected.