Quote Originally Posted by Miner123 View Post
I would think they were aware of the risk of their faith. Early Christians hid in the Catacombs in Rome. They knew if they were found out they would be put to death. Why risk it? Just go on with your life as before and you have no more problem, easy right? But people were willing do die before renouncing their faith, and it continues to this day. That is strong medicine.

Besides that, what would they possibly have to gain by conning anyone?
You are correct, people to this day are willing to die for their faith without ever actually seeing Jesus, So it could be reasoned that the apostles could have been willing to die for their faith without ever seeing Jesus.