And we, who are so culturally sophisticated, know better?
Come on. Luke travelled a great distance to find out about what he had learned and wrote his Gospel to share the information. People could and did check out facts, as easily as people can and do today. They also could ignore them as easily as today.
Whether you believe what Paul wrote or not, Paul was putting the evidence on the table. And he was doing so for people who COULD check up on him, as we CAN NOT today.
Shalom.
Kooks and Quacks of the Roman Empire
just fwiw (scroll down for link to rebuttal)