Answering 439 Bible Contradictions 

Answer: The resurrected Jesus first appeared to the eleven behind closed doors in Jerusalem (Jn. 20:26-29), then days later on a mount in Galilee (Mt. 28:16).

Problem: One gospel account says Jesus appeared to the eleven while on a mountain in Galilee while other gospel accounts say Jesus appeared to them in Jerusalem.

Explanation: The resurrected Jesus appeared at least eleven different times and to over five hundred people, including the eleven disciples on numerous occasions.

As the timeline below of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances shows us, the answer to this question is a simple matter of putting the synoptic accounts together. There is no contradiction whatsoever, just as the mother of Jim could correctly say she saw her son at school and the father of Jim could correctly say he saw his son at the game on the same day.

(1) Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb on the Sunday morning of His resurrection (Jn. 20:11-18). (2) Jesus appeared to the women on the road when returning to the tomb (Mt. 28:9-10). (3) Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-31). (4) Jesus appeared to Peter (Lk. 24:24). (5) Jesus appeared to the ten disciples, the eleven minus Thomas (Jn. 20:19-25). (6) Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples, which included Thomas (Jn. 20:26-29).

(7) Jesus appeared for a third time to the disciples on the shores of Galilee, this time to only seven after they had finished fishing (Jn. 21:1-4). (8) Jesus appeared to more than 500 on a mountain in Galilee (1 Corinthians 15:6 and Matthew 28:16-20 probably referring to the same event). (9) Jesus appeared to James, his half brother (1Cor. 15:7). (10). Jesus appeared to his disciples at His ascension (Ac. 1:3-11). (11) Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (Ac. 9:3-6).

In sum, the first time Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples (the twelve minus Judas) was while behind closed doors in Jerusalem in John 20:26, though some days later in Matthew 28:16 He appeared to the eleven again while on a mountain in Galilee.