How long was Christ on earth after his resurrection?

Answer 1

Only Luke's Gospel and Acts of the Apostles tell us how long Jesus was on earth after his resurrection:

• Luke 24:50-51 tells us that Jesus led the disciples out towards Bethany on the evening of his resurrection, and was taken bodily up into heaven. In this case, he was on earth less than one day after his resurrection. He commanded the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they had received the power from on high.
• Acts 1:1-9, by the same author but written some time after Luke's Gospel, tells us that the risen Jesus was on earth for forty days and was seen by many. Jesus commanded the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they had received the the power of the Holy Spirit, and was then taken bodily up into heaven.

Answer 2

Another answer from our community:

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. As seems apparent in Paul's epistles, the resurrection and the ascension to heaven must have been the same event.
  • In the Long Ending, Jesus only appeared to the disciples at a meal, he was taken up into heaven, 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. Jesus said he would be with the disciples always, but the gospel is silent on what happened to Jesus in his physical body.
• 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.

A: The Bible indicates it was forty days between Jesus's resurrection and His Ascension.

Answer 3

It was the author of Luke and Acts who developed the notion of Jesus being physically taken up into heaven. Mark, in its original form, implies that the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus into heaven were one and the same event, as does Paul. Otherwise, the gospels have nothing to say on this.

In Luke 24:51, Jesus ascended into heaven on the evening of the day of his resurrection. Acts of the Apostles, written some time later, at verses 1:3,9, says that the risen Jesus stayed on earth for forty days and was then taken up bodily into heaven.

Answer 4

He was present 40 days after the resurrection

Answer 5

40 days