How Many Times Did Jesus Appear After His Resurrection?

Depending on how some passages are understood, during the forty-day period between Jesus’s resurrection and ascension, the Bible records as few as nine and as many as fourteen appearances.

This article attempts to list these appearances with their scripture references in chronological order. Notes are provided to cite alternative understandings of when or where a recorded event could also have taken place.

To read a harmony of Jesus’s first five post-resurrection appearances in their Biblical context, see The Bible Says article: “What Happened Between Jesus’s Resurrection and His Ascension?—Part 1—A Harmony of Biblical Events Concerning the Day of Jesus’s Resurrection.”

For a harmony of Jesus’s last nine post-resurrection appearances in their Biblical context, see The Bible Says article: “What Happened Between Jesus’s Resurrection and His Ascension—Part 2—A Harmony of Biblical Events After the Day He Rose Until He Ascended Into Heaven.”

In addition to Jesus’s post-resurrection appearances, the Bible records nine post-ascension appearances of Jesus to people on earth, mostly through visions.

THE POST-RESURRECTION APPEARANCES

1. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene near His empty tomb on the day of His resurrection.
   (Mark 16:9, John 20:11-17)

2. Jesus appeared to the group of women who returned to His empty tomb later that morning.
   (Matthew 28:9-10)

Note A:

It is possible that the group of women were with Mary Magdalene when she first encountered Jesus (Mark 16:9, John 20:11-17).

3. Jesus appeared to Simon Peter on the day of His resurrection.
   (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5a)

4. Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
   (Mark 16:12, Luke 24:13-32)

5. Jesus appeared to a group of His core disciples who were hiding in Jerusalem at the end of the day He rose from the dead.
   (Luke 24:36-49, John 20:19-20, 1 Corinthians 15:5b)
6. Jesus appeared to the disciples eight days later in Galilee; Thomas was present.
   (Matthew 28:17, John 20:26-29)

7. Jesus appeared to seven disciples on the Galilean Shore (where He restored Peter)
   (John 21:1-23)

Note B:

From this point on, it may have been that Jesus was continually present among His disciples until His ascension and that the subsequent post-resurrection “appearances” are simply narrative accounts of Jesus doing or saying things while He remained with His disciples. It is also possible that the following accounts were similar appearances to those described above, where Jesus seems to have mysteriously emerged and disappeared.

8. In Galilee, Jesus commissioned His disciples to make more disciples of all nations.
   (Matthew 28:18-20) 1 Corinthians 5:7.

Note C:

It is possible that Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:44-49, and Acts 1:4-5 could be parallels of Matthew 28:18-20.

Note D:

It is also possible that 1 Corinthians 5:7 is a counting of Jesus’s audience when He issued the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and/or the things recorded in Mark 16:15-18, and /or Luke 24:44-49, and /or Acts 1:4-5.

9. Jesus appeared to more than five hundred believers at one time.
   (1 Corinthians 15:6)

See Note D on appearance 8.

10. Jesus appeared to James, His half-brother.
    (1 Corinthians 15:7a)

11. Jesus told His disciples to go preach the gospel to all creation and stated the consequences of the Gospel.
    (Mark 16:15-18)

Note E:

Jesus’s teaching in Mark 16:15-18, which likely occurred near the end of Jesus’s forty-days, may recount the same teachings and refer to the same moment/appearance to those of all or some of the following scriptures (Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 24:44-49, Acts 1:4-5, 1 Corinthians 5:6).

12. Jesus told His disciples how the Scriptures foretold the necessity of His death and resurrection and informed them that they would testify to these things with the power of the Holy Spirit.
    (Luke 24:44-49)

Note F:

Jesus’s teaching in Luke 24:44-49 could refer to the same moment/appearance to those of all or some of the following scriptures (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Acts 1:4-5, 1 Corinthians 15:6).

Note G:

This teaching could also refer to the same moment as His fifth appearance (Luke 24:36-49, John 20:19-20, 1 Corinthians 15:5b).

Note H:

This teaching could also refer to His ascension (Mark 16:19, Luke 24:50-51, Acts 1:6-11).

13. Jesus gathers His followers and commands them not to leave Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit.
    (Acts 1:4-5)

Note I:

Jesus’s teaching in Acts 1:4-5 could refer to the same moment/appearance to those of any and/or all the following scriptures (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:44-49, 1 Corinthians 5:6).

Note J:

This teaching could also refer to His ascension (Mark 16:19, Luke 24:50-51, Acts 1:6-11).

14. Jesus ascends into Heaven.
    (Mark 16:19, Luke 24:50-51, Acts 1:6-11)

Note H:

Luke 24:44-46 could also be part of Luke’s ascension passage.

POST-ASCENSION APPEARANCES BY JESUS

1. Jesus appeared to Stephen as he was being martyred.
   (Acts 7:55-56)
2. Jesus appeared to Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus.
   (Acts 9:3-7)
3. Jesus appeared to Ananias and commanded him to receive Saul.
   (Acts 9:10-16)
4. Jesus appeared to Paul and taught him in Arabia for three years.
   (Galatians 1:12, 17-18)
5. Jesus appeared to Paul in a vision of heaven (probably before his first missionary journey) where the Lord told Him “My grace is sufficient for you…”
   (2 Corinthians 12:1-9)
6. Jesus appeared to Paul in Corinth.
   (Acts 18:9-10)
7. Jesus appeared to Paul while he was praying in the Temple in Jerusalem.
   (Acts 22:17-21)
8. Jesus appeared to Paul in a Jerusalem Prison.
   (Acts 23:11)
9. Jesus appeared to John on the Island of Patmos.
   (Revelation 1:9 - 3:22)