According to the Bible, how many eyewitnesses were there to Christ's resurrection?

Question

The two Mary's, Paul on the Damascus road... apostles? How many altogether?

Answer 1

The resurrection narratives are the most inconsistent part of the gospels. The oldest copies of the Markan gospel don't include resurrection appearances (those versions of Mark end with the portrayed discovery of an empty tomb).

The original ending of MARK has Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome at the empty tomb, and that's how it ends.

MATTHEW has just the two Mary's at the empty tomb, and they both see Jesus there. Matthew has Jesus appear to the eleven remaining disciples, on a mountain in Galilee, and then that's the end of his gospel.

LUKE has "Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them" at the empty tomb .. but they don't see Jesus there, they just go tell the disciples the tomb is empty. Luke has Jesus first appear to two persons on the road to Emmaus, and Jesus tells them to tell the eleven disciples. And then he appears to the eleven with those other two, and they all go to Bethany together, and Jesus ascends into heaven.

In JOHN, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb by herself, finds it empty, then goes tells Peter and "the disciple that Jesus loved." The two men go to the tomb and look in it and then leave. Mary stays for a time, and then Jesus appears to her there. Jesus then later appears in a closed room where the disciples are, except for Thomas. Eight days later, they're all together, including Thomas, and Jesus appears again. Later Jesus appears to them at Lake Tiberias, when they are fishing.

In 1 CORINTHIANS, Paul (who counted his experience on the road to Damascus as a resurrection appearance) says this:

"He appeared to Cephas [Peter], then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time.... Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, ... he appeared also to me." (1 Cor 15.5-7)
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Answer 2

All Gospels are clear in their teaching that Jesus arose bodily form dead. They differ, however, in their accounts of the appearances of the risen Christ.

Matt 28:9-10 notes that an apperance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and " the other Mary" ( v 1 ) near the empty tomb, followed by a manifestation to the remaining 11 disciples in Galilee (vv 16-17 )

The most of the ancient manuscripts of Mark, meanwhile, do not feature accounts of the appearance of the risen Christ, although and angel assured the women at the tomb that the disciples would see Him in Galilee.

Luke's narrative focuses on the vincinty of Jerusalem, with Jesus revealing himself to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and later larger groups of His followers in Jerusalem and Bethany.

John features an appearance to Mary Magdalene ouside the empty tomb, tow appearances ( perhaps in Jerusalem ) to the disciples - once with Thomas absent and once with this disciple present - and an appearance by the Sea of Galilee to a number of disciples who were fishing.

Like many ancient writers, Luke was not concerned about giving and exhaustive, chronological account in his Gospel. I think he wished to move his readers as smoothly as possible from his Gospel to the accounts in Acts about the 40 day period when He spoke about the kingdom of God,( read from the beginning ) and that he carefully selected from among the postresurrection appearances of Jesus centered in the Jerusalem area.

Answer 3

3

Answer 4

Don't forget the 500 or so people mentioned in the gospels. That brings it up to around 512.

As to the actual event, there were a number of Roman soldiers set to guard the tomb. THEY must have had one BIG surprise!

Answer 5

over 500.

"he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 1Cor 15:5-8

Answer 6

Did anyone actually witness Christ's resurrection? They all found an empty tomb when they showed up. It was after the fact that they lay witness to his being alive (i.e. feeling the wounds in his hands.)

"The E'Ville Librarian"

Answer 7

The Bible says 1Co 15:6 (((((After that,))))) he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once;

But an actual witness of His Resurrection.......0.

Answer 8

If you mean witnesses to his being alive after the crucifixion, the total is in the hundreds or even more.

"After 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."(1 Cor 15:6)

Answer 9

Some one is gonna have the correct number probably, but I remember learning that there were about 30 all together. Forgot where I heard that though sorry.

Answer 10

There were over 500. Try reading the actual Bible instead of depeding on a dishonest set of people over the internet. But really it was over 500.