1 Corinthians 15:6, commentary and pictures

After His resurrection Christ was seen at one time by more than five hundred of His followers together, most of whom were still living when Paul wrote though some had died. In the ordered appearances this seeing comes after He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve and before He was seen by James, then by all the apostles, then by Paul. The meeting took place on a mountainside in Galilee at a time and place appointed beforehand by Christ, where the assembled believers worshiped their risen Lord bearing the marks of crucifixion. It stands as clear, public proof that He died for sins, was buried, and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, planting the truth in all willing to believe. That testimony could not be disproved, punished, quenched, or concealed, so despite hired falsehood and lying reports that the body was stolen, the facts of His resurrection were immortalized.

The Galilean Meeting

In the ordered appearances of the risen Christ, the seeing by above five hundred brethren at once comes after His being seen by Cephas and then by the twelve, and before His being seen by James, then by all the apostles, then by Paul. The appearance took place in Galilee on a mountainside to more than five hundred brethren assembled at one time to see their risen Lord, about five hundred believers who could be called together. After His resurrection He showed Himself to none save His followers, with five hundred of them assembling in Galilee to see Him. It followed His crucifixion and resurrection and His proclamation over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, I am the resurrection and the life, and it occurred before His ascension to heaven.

The time and place had been designated by Christ Himself before His death, recalled by the angel at the tomb, and repeated through the believers gathered at Jerusalem during Passover week to lonely mourners elsewhere. All looked forward with intense interest and came by circuitous routes from every direction to avoid exciting suspicion. Collecting in little knots on the mountainside, they were eager to learn from those who had seen Christ since His resurrection. The disciples passed from group to group telling all they had seen and heard of Jesus and reasoning from the Scriptures as He had done with them, and Thomas told how his unbelief was swept away.

At that meeting the commission first given to the twelve in the upper chamber was now given to the larger number. Then Jesus suddenly stood among them with the marks of crucifixion in His hands and feet and a countenance as the face of God. Though many present had never seen Him before, they worshiped Him, while some doubted. He spoke words to them that helped them gain some idea of what the love of God comprehended and of the love they were to exercise toward one another as He had loved them.

The words that the greater part remain unto this present but some are fallen asleep mean that most of those witnesses were still alive when Paul wrote and when the account was given, while some had died.

Witness to Resurrection

The appearance to more than five hundred at one time is clear, public evidence that Christ rose from the dead, standing in a chapter that places great importance on the resurrection. Most of those witnesses were still alive when the account was given, while some had died, described as having fallen asleep.

The appearance stands among the witnesses proclaimed to prove the first truths that Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, coming after the appearances to Cephas and then to the twelve and before the appearances to James, then to all the apostles, then to Paul. Those appearances were widely known, with authentic reports of seeing and talking with witnesses reaching even the priests and rulers who had slain Him. They gave growing evidence that Jesus truly rose from the dead and is the divine Son of God, and helped plant the truth in the minds of all willing to believe.

Christ's death, return from the grave, personal appearances, and ascension establish the resurrection and the future immortal life of the righteous for those who believe in Him. His showing Himself to His sorrowing, heart-broken disciples dispelled their fears and caused them gladness and joy. The love revealed at the Galilean meeting, where after His crucifixion and resurrection and His proclamation over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, "I am the resurrection and the life," He met with the five hundred brethren assembled to see Him and spoke words to them before His ascension to heaven, helped them gain some idea of what the love of God comprehended and of the love they were to exercise toward one another as He had loved them, a love fully revealed when the Holy Spirit rested on them on the Day of Pentecost.

Together with the appearance to the five hundred, the multitude whom He raised and brought up with Him appeared unto many in different places, declaring that Jesus had risen. They declared that the sacrifice for man was completed, that they were risen with Him, and that it was by His mighty power they had been called forth from their graves. These appearances spreading the wonderful, joyful news so openly made the resurrection doubly sure.

The testimony could not be disproved or punished, and with testimony coming from other sources it could not be quenched, so the sacred facts were immortalized. The matter could not be concealed by Satan, his angels, or the chief priests despite lying reports circulated, and the priests and rulers could not meet the evidence against them. The Jews seeking to hide the fact hired the Roman guard for money to testify to a falsehood, and the priests were driven to make up and spread the lie that the disciples stole the body.

Paul himself saw and talked with the crucified and risen Christ in the noonday vision at Damascus as truly as Cephas, James, John, or any other of the disciples did, so he can bear witness to the resurrection of the dead. The Christ he saw and heard is the same Jesus who walked the streets of Jerusalem, died on Calvary, broke the bands and power of death, and ascended to heaven from Olivet. Because he himself saw Him, there is no reason to disbelieve that Christ rose from the dead, and the encounter confirmed the resurrection and compelled him to preach the risen Savior.