The New Testament testifies that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to His disciples. Paul lists those to whom He appeared, while the Gospels and Acts recount these appearances and their witnesses.
What does the Bible say about this?
- Paul passes on that Christ died for sins, was buried, rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, and appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, then to more than five hundred brothers, to James, to all the apostles, and finally to Paul himself (1 Cor. 15:3–8).
- According to the Gospel of Matthew, an angel tells the women at the tomb that Jesus has risen and instructs them to tell His disciples (Matt. 28:5–7).
- According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus stood among the disciples, showed them His hands and feet, said that He had flesh and bones, and ate in front of them (Luke 24:36–43).
- In the Gospel of John, Thomas did not want to believe until he saw Jesus’ wounds; when he saw Him, he believed, and Jesus called blessed those who had not seen and yet had believed (John 20:24–29).
- Luke writes in Acts that Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering and appeared to the apostles over a period of forty days (Acts 1:3); Peter says in his sermon that God raised Jesus, and that all the apostles were witnesses of this (Acts 2:32).
- Conclusion: these are testimonies from different authors of the New Testament; they are presented separately here rather than combined into a single chronology.
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
6 Scripture Passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
1 Corinthians 15:3–8
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: namely, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve; 6 after that He was seen by more than 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 also, as by one born out of due time.
Matthew 28:5–7
5 But the angel answered and said to the women: Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.
Luke 24:36–43
36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them and said to them: Peace to you. 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them: Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them: Have you any food here? 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
John 20:24–29
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, put my finger into the nail marks, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came when the doors were locked, stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands; reach out your hand and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Acts 1:3
To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, with many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the Kingdom of God.
Acts 2:32
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
