The Bible records at least eleven occasions on which one or more people saw Jesus alive after being dead and buried-and risen. Before listing these, however, we want to point out three important facts about the kind of witnesses God selected:  

 They were people who had known Jesus well during His life on Earth. 

“Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection “ (Acts 1:21, 22).  

 They were witnesses chosen and prepared beforehand by God. 

Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead (Acts 10:40, 41). 

They were especially anointed by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses and to interpret what they saw. 

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  

 We have our evidence of resurrection from the words of reliable eyewitnesses who shared what they had experienced firsthand. They were as follows:  

 (1) Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18).  

(2) other women (Luke 24:10).  

(3) Simon Peter (Luke 24:34;1 Corinthians 15:5).  

(4) Cleophas and another disciple on Emmaus Road (Mark 16:12, 13; Luke 24:13-35).  

(5) Ten apostles in a closed room (John 20:19-24).  

(6) Eleven apostles, Thomas included (John 20:26-29).  

(7) The apostles at Tiberias (John 21:1-23).  

(8) More than 500 brethren at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6).  

(9) James, Jesus' half brother (1 Corinthians 15:7).  

(10) The apostles at the mount (Matthew 28:16, 17; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50; Acts 1:3-12).  

(11) Paul, years later (1 Corinthians 15:8; Acts 9:3-7).  

 When we take the time to examine every one of these appearances in detail, we learn much about Jesus’ love for each individual. We see His special care in helping Thomas overcome doubt. We see His words set the hearts of Cleophas and his friend on fire with renewed hope. In every case a resurrection appearance changed the person.