Die for a Lie?

One area often overlooked in challenges to Christianity is the transformation of Jesus' apostles.

Their changed lives provide solid testimony for the validity of his claims ... I can trust the apostles' testimonies because, of those men, eleven died martyrs' deaths on the basis of two things: the resurrection of Christ, and their belief in him as the Son of God. ...

The response that is usually chorused back is this: "Why, a lot of people have died for a lie; so what does it prove?"

Yes, a lot of people have died for a lie, but they thought it was the truth. Now if the resurrection didn't take place (i.e., was fake), the disciples knew it. I find no way to demonstrate that they could have been deceived. Therefore these eleven men not only died for a lie -- here is the catch -- but they knew it was a lie. It would be hard to find eleven people in history who died for a lie, knowing it was a lie.

(Josh McDowell in His Passion, Day 310)