How long did Jesus stay with the disciples after he rose from the grave?

Answer 1

Acts 1:3 (King James Version) 3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: John 21:14 (King James Version) 14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

From both of these we can glean the fact that Jesus was around the place for 40 days after His resurrection before He ascended.

None of the Gospels make any attempt at ing the question as put, since their focus is clearly on the fact that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. He certainly made a number of appearances to the disciples, as suggested by John. Since they are not even ing or addressing the question, there is no conflict or contradiction, nor is it at all correct to say therefore that the "... to this question varies a little, depending on which source is preferred." There is no variation in terms of ing this question, since the question is not being addressed. This is simply another example of a non-existent contradiction, created by decontextualization of the scripture.

The focus in any case, even in Acts, is on the fact that Jesus was seen alive after He clearly was dead. This is borne out by the reproduction by Paul of what scholars regard as the earliest of Christian creeds in the passage below. It includes a list of appearances of Jesus, which obviously occurred over a period of time, which Luke in Acts tells us was 40 days. Thus again, the focus is on the fact of His resurrection and not the time period.

1 Corinthians 15:3-7 (King James Version) 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

three days.

Answer 2

Jesus made at least seven different appearances (and probably more) to His disciples after his Resurrection.

1. To Simon Peter

2. To the two disciples on the road to Emmaus

3. To the disciples except Thomas

4. To the disciples including Thomas

5. To the disciples when fishing at the Sea of Galilee.

6. To the eleven disciples and 500 others

7. To the apostles before the ascension.

Answer 3

Matthew's Gospel says that the eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee and saw Jesus on a sigle occasion, at which he told them to preach and said his farewells.

Luke's Gospel says that Jesus appeared to two men, Cleopas and (presumably) Peter, on the day of his resurrection. Jesus later that evening he appeared to all the disciples in a room in Jerusalem and went to some lengths to assure them that he really was Jesus, showing the disciples his wounds, and finally being drawn up into heaven. This all occurred on the day of the resurrection.

John's Gospel says that Jesus appeared to the disciples three times, on two days in Jerusalem and much later in Galilee. They actually saw Jesus on three separate days, but the timespan would have been longer, so that they could walk to Galilee.

Mark's Gospel originally recorded no appearances of the risen Jesus, the "Long Ending" (verses 16:9-20) being added much later to harmonise somewhat with the other gospels.

Acts of the Apostles says that Jesus was seen for forty days before being taken bodily upwards into heaven.

Paul spoke of Jesus appearing to Cephas, then the twelve, then more than 500, most of whom were still alive, then James and all the apostles, and finally himself. However, it seems that Paul was speaking of spiritual appearances, rather than appearances of the risen Jesus in physical form.

Answer 4

A:The answer to this question depends on which gospel account is used:

• The first gospel to be written, Mark's Gospel, originally ended at verse 16:8, when the women fled from the sepulchre in terror, telling no one. The 'Long Ending', added much later, is somewhat similar to the account in Luke's Gospel, saying that Jesus appeared to the eleven at a meal, then they dispersed and preached everywhere. Thus:
  • In the original Gospel, Jesus was never seen after his resurrection;
  • In the Long Ending, Jesus only appeared to the disciples at a meal, then they dispersed and began to preach.
• Matthew's Gospel says that Jesus appeared briefly to the disciples at a mountain in Galilee and told them to spread out and preach.
• Luke's Gospel says that Jesus appeared to the disciples on the evening of the day of his resurrection, and was then taken up into heaven near Bethany.
• John's Gospel says that Jesus appeared to ten of the disciples at a meal on the evening of his resurrection, to the eleven at a meal eight days later, then to the disciples at the Sea of Galilee. This entire period must have encompassed at least a few weeks.
• Acts of the Apostles, by the same author as Luke's Gospel, but written some time later, says that Jesus remained for forty days and was then taken up into heaven.

Answer 5

A:In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus had one brief meeting with the disciples at a mountain in Galilee, sending them away to preach to all nations (Matthew 28:16-20).

Mark's Gospel, being the first gospel written, originally ended at verse 16:8 with the young man telling the women that Jesus was risen, and the fled in terror, telling no one. The 'Long Ending' (verses 16:9-20), added much later, more or less harmonises with Luke's Gospel and has Jesus appear briefly to the disciples at a meal, then taken up into heaven.

Luke's Gospel says that Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples at a meal on the evening of his resurrection. He then took them on the road to Bethany, where he was taken bodily up to heaven.

In John's Gospel, Jesus appeared to ten of the disciples at a meal on the evening of his resurrection, then eight days later to all eleven disciples, and some time later to them again by the Sea of Galilee.

Acts of the Apostles, by the same author as Luke's Gospel but written somewhat later, says that Jesus remained on earth for forty days and was then taken up bodily to heaven near Jerusalem and in the presence of his disciples.

Answer 6

The answer to this question varies a little, depending on which source is preferred.
Mark Mark's Gospel was the first canonical gospel, written approximately 70 CE. The earliest known manuscripts of Mark do not have a resurrection narrative, beyond the young man telling the women that Jesus had risen. Later interpolators are believed to have added resurrection appearances to bring this gospel more or less into line with the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. So, Mark did not actually say that Jesus showed himself to the apostles.

Matthew Matthew's Gospel reports that Jesus met Mary Magdalene and the other Mary while on the way to tell the other disciples of their experience. Finally, the eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee and saw Jesus. The two appearances would have been separated by a number of days, to allow the disciples to travel to Galilee.

Luke In Luke's Gospel, Jesus appeared to two men, Cleopas and (presumably) Peter, who invited him home and ate dinner with him. His final appearance was the same hour, on the day of the resurrection. Having eaten some fish and some honeycomb, Jesus then took the disciples out towards Bethany, where he ascended bodily to heaven.

John In John's Gospel, Mary Magdalene saw Jesus standing near the tomb. The same day, in the evening, Jesus appeared in the midst of the disciples, but Thomas was absent. Eight days later, Jesus appeared again in the midst of the disciples, but this time Thomas was present. These two appearances are quite similar to a single appearance in Luke's Gospel except, as Elaine Pagels points out in Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, the account seems intended to disadvantage the disciple Thomas, by causing him to miss the blessing of the Holy Spirit and then appear to doubt that it was Jesus that he saw [Pagels identifies a thread of anti-Thomas narrative in John's Gospel.]. Finally, Jesus appeared to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius. Thus, Jesus appeared to the disciples on three separate days, over a somewhat longer period of time.

Acts In Acts of the Apostles, Jesus appeared to the apostles for forty days until the day when he was taken up, near Jerusalem.

Answer 7

Mark Mark's Gospel was the first canonical gospel, written approximately 70 CE. The earliest known manuscripts of Mark do not even have a resurrection narrative, beyond the young man telling the women that Jesus had risen. The "long ending" containing resurrection appearances, was added later, to bring this gospel more or less into line with the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. So the answer has to be that there was no resurrection appearance mentioned by Mark.

Matthew

In Matthew's Gospel Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw Jesus while on the way to tell the disciples of the earthquake and the angel at his tomb. Finally, the eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee and saw Jesus. Or at least some of them believed they did and worshipped Jesus, while others doubted it was Jesus. By their doubt, it is clear that this was the first, and only, time that Jesus appeared to his disciples.

Luke

In Luke's Gospel, Jesus appeared to two men, Cleopas and (presumably) Peter, but they did not recognise him, even after conversing with him, inviting him home, and eating dinner with him. They only assumed that he was Jesus based on his words and behaviour, but then he vanished out of their sight. At his next appearance, Jesus went to some lengths to assure them that he really was Jesus, showing the disciples his wounds, and finally being drawn up into heaven. Jesus appeared exactly twice to the disciples, in and near Jerusalem.

John

In John's Gospel, Mary Magdalene went to the sepulchre and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus, supposing that he was the gardener. There were then two appearances to the disciples in a room, quite similar to a single appearance in Luke's Gospel. Finally, Jesus appeared to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius but, although 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' quickly identified him, none of them dared to ask who he was. Thus, Jesus appeared three times to the disciples, twice in Jerusalem and once at the Sea of Galilee. There may even have been more appearances after these.

Answer 8

Luke 24: One day

John20 & 21: At least ten days

Acts1:3: He was "seen of them forty days"

Answer 9

Jesus appeared on the third day after his death.