Bart D. Ehrman is already known to our readers from his book about truth and fiction in the acclaimed “The Da Vinci Code.” In this work, he explores an extremely important period for the formation of the early Christian Church - the period after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The three most important figures of this period, in his opinion, are the apostles Peter and Paul, as well as Mary Magdalene. What role did each of them play in the formation of the new religion? What in the legends about their lives was fact and what was fiction? The author suggests his own reasonable version. The extensive experience of a university teacher allowed him to create a fascinating book. The book has been translated into Russian for the first time. For readers interested in the history of the emergence and early period of Christianity.