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What was the order of Jesus' appearances after his resurrection?
The order of the resurrection appearances were: Peter, the twelve disciples, 500+ others, James, the apostles, then Paul.
I Corinthians 15:5-8: (5) ...and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. (6) After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. (7) After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. (8) Then last of all He was seen by me [Paul] also, as by one born out of due time.
The order of the resurrection appearances were: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, then the eleven disciples.
Matthew 28:1, 9, 16-17: (1) Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. (9) And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. (16) Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. (17) When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
The order of the resurrection appearances were: Mary Magdalene, two others, then the eleven disciples.
*Note, these verses were not in the original manuscripts and most likely not written by Mark.
Mark 16:9, 12, 14: (9) Now when [He] rose early on the first [day] of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. (12) After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. (14) Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
The order of the resurrection appearances were: two sojourners (Peter and Simon) and then the eleven disciples.
Luke 24:15, 36: (15) So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. (36) Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."
The order of the resurrection appearances were: Mary Magdalene, the disciples without Thomas, the disciples with Thomas, and then the eleven disciples again.
John 20:14, 19, 26: (14) Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing [there], and did not know that it was Jesus. (19) Then, the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace [be] with you." (26) And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"
John 21:1: After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: ...
*Jewish Scripture from The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary
**Christian Scripture from the New King James Version |