2. According to Matthew's account of the resurrection an angel from heaven came to the sepulchre wherein Jesus was laid, and rolled back the stone from its mouth; at his presence the soldiers who had been stationed as a guard to prevent the disciples from coming and stealing the body, became as dead men. Recovering from their stupor, some of the watch made their way to the chief priests and related what had happened. The chief priests and elders immediately assembled in council, and bribed the soldiers to say that they had fallen asleep, and during that time the followers of Christ had come and stolen his body. They agreed also that if the rumor of their falling asleep while on watch--a capital offense for a Roman soldier--should come to the ears of the governor, they would persuade him and secure them from punishment. It was in this way that the disappearance of the body of Jesus was commonly explained by the Jews who crucified him.[57]
{ 61} 3. The Appearances of Jesus After His Resurrection.--There are some slight discrepancies in the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in respect to the order of the appearances of Messiah after his resurrection, as indeed there is in respect to the order of the events connected with his trial, condemnation and death; but the following because of the fragmentary character of the four gospels may be regarded as being as nearly correct as may be ascertained. (See notes 1, 2, and 3, end of section.)
4. First, he appeared to Mary Magdalene, in the garden where the tomb in which he was laid was located;[58] second, to the women returning from the sepulchre on their way to deliver the angel's message to the disciples;[59] third, to two disciples going to Emmaus;[60] fourth, to Peter;[61] fifth, to ten apostles in an upper room;[62] sixth, to the eleven apostles, also in the upper room;[63] seventh, to seven apostles at the sea of Tiberias;[64] eighth, to eleven apostles in a mountain in Galilee;[65] ninth, to above five hundred brethren at once;[66] tenth, to James;[67] and finally to Paul while on his way to Damascus[68]
5. In all, Jesus was with his disciples on the eastern hemisphere for forty days after his resurrection,[69] during which time he taught them all things pertaining to the kingdom of heaven, and authorized them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them; and promised that he would be with them even unto the end of the world.[70]