Were there 120 witnesses at time of Jesus' Ascencion as written in Acts 1 v15 or 500 witnesses as written in 1Corinthian 15 v6?

Answer 1

The answer is both yes and no. If the phrase 'at the time of Jesus' Ascension' is left out then both are true. The reason for this is simply that it is clear that at least one, if not both of these passages do not refer to the number of people present when Jesus ascended into heaven.

Acts 1:15 clearly is not at the time of the resurrection but clearly some time later. This is made clear by the verses below. We are not told how many of these were also present at the Ascension. Even if we assume that it was the same 120 who were assembled later who also were present at the resurrection, there is no evidence whatsoever that the 500 people mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:6 were those present at the Ascension.

9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 12Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 13And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) The passage in 1 Corinthians is a list of some of the different witnesses to Jesus having been raised from the dead. The 500 brethren mentioned in v6 is succeeded by mention of Jesus appearing after that to 'James; then of all the apostles.' This clearly took place at a later time, after the appearance to the 500. There is no indication whatsoever that the 500 saw Jesus at His Ascension - since He made Himself known on two separate occasions after that. No mention whatsoever is made of the Ascension in 1 Corinthians 15:6, or even elsewhere in the passage cited.

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. 8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. Conclusion: It may thus be concluded that there is no contradiction but that the two groups saw Jesus at different times. People in those times also most certainly knew how to count.

Answer 2

The Bible does not explicitly state the number of witnesses at the time of Jesus' Ascension. However, Acts 1:15 mentions about 120 believers being present in the upper room after Jesus' ascension. On the other hand, 1 Corinthians 15:6 refers to Jesus appearing to more than 500 believers at one time after his resurrection. The exact number of witnesses at the Ascension itself is not specified in the biblical accounts.