# Resurrection appearances, commission and ascension

Life of Jesus · Draft · BSB

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Date: Resurrection through forty days of appearances. Acts 1:3 supplies the forty days before the ascension; this is not one day or one location.

The women find the tomb empty, and the accounts describe appearances, recognition, doubt and commissions. John continues with the Galilean breakfast and Peter’s charge to tend the sheep. Luke and Acts lead to the ascension and the return to Jerusalem.

This card spans multiple places and days; Acts explicitly gives forty days. Mark 16:9–20, included in the BSB, is absent from the earliest surviving Greek manuscripts. Each Gospel’s witnesses and sequence remain visible rather than being forced into one exhaustive timetable.

## Primary Scripture

[Matthew 28:1–20 (BSB)](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028%3A1%E2%80%9320&version=BSB)

28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

28:2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.

28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

28:4 The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.

28:5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

28:6 He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.

28:7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.”

28:8 So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.

28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.

28:10 “Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”

28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.

28:12 And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money

28:13 and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’

28:14 If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

28:15 So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.

28:16 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated.

28:17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.

28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

[Mark 16:1–20 (BSB)](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2016%3A1%E2%80%9320&version=BSB)

16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.

16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

16:3 They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”

16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.

16:5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

16:6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

16:7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”

16:8 So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.

16:9 Early on the first day of the week, after Jesus had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.

16:10 She went and told those who had been with Him, who were mourning and weeping.

16:11 And when they heard that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they did not believe it.

16:12 After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked along in the country.

16:13 And they went back and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

16:14 Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

16:18 they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.

[Luke 24:1–53 (BSB)](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024%3A1%E2%80%9353&version=BSB)

24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.

24:2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

24:3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

24:4 While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them.

24:5 As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

24:6 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee:

24:7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’”

24:8 Then they remembered His words.

24:9 And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.

24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.

24:11 But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

24:12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

24:13 That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

24:14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

24:15 And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.

24:16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.

24:17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stood still, with sadness on their faces.

24:18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?”

24:19 “What things?” He asked. “The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people.

24:20 Our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and they crucified Him.

24:21 But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.

24:22 Furthermore, some of our women astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,

24:23 but they did not find His body. They came and told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive.

24:24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described. But Him they did not see.”

24:25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

24:26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”

24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

24:28 As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther.

24:29 But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.

24:30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.

24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.

24:32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

24:33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, gathered together

24:34 and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”

24:35 Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

24:36 While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

24:37 But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.

24:38 “Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

24:39 Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

24:40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet.

24:41 While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

24:42 So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish,

24:43 and He took it and ate it in front of them.

24:44 Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”

24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

24:46 And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

24:47 and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

24:48 You are witnesses of these things.

24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

24:50 When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

24:51 While He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven.

24:52 And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

24:53 praising God continually in the temple.

[John 20:1–21:25 (BSB)](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A1%E2%80%9321%3A25&version=BSB)

20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

20:2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she said, “and we do not know where they have put Him!”

20:3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out for the tomb.

20:4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

20:5 He bent down and looked in at the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

20:6 Simon Peter arrived just after him. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.

20:7 The cloth that had been around Jesus’ head was rolled up, lying separate from the linen cloths.

20:8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. And he saw and believed.

20:9 For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

20:10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.

20:11 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb,

20:12 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.

20:13 “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked. “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I do not know where they have put Him.”

20:14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not recognize that it was Jesus.

20:15 “Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”

20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

20:17 “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”

20:18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her.

20:19 It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.

20:20 After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

20:21 Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”

20:22 When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

20:24 Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

20:25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”

20:26 Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

20:27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”

20:28 Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!”

20:29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.

20:31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

21:1 Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way:

21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.

21:3 Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.

21:4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.

21:5 So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered.

21:6 He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

21:7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea.

21:8 The other disciples came ashore in the boat. They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.

21:9 When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread.

21:10 Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

21:11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn.

21:12 “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord.

21:13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish.

21:14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”

21:16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

21:17 Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

21:18 Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

21:19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”

21:20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”

21:21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

21:22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

21:23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”

21:24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.

21:25 There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.

[Acts 1:1–12 (BSB)](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201%3A1%E2%80%9312&version=BSB)

1:1 In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,

1:2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.

1:3 After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

1:4 And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.

1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

1:6 So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

1:7 Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.

1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1:9 After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

1:10 They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

## Related Scripture

[1 Corinthians 15:1–11 · teaching](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015%3A1%E2%80%9311&version=BSB)

Paul’s summary offers another early scriptural account of the resurrection witnesses.

## Location evidence

The readings span Jerusalem, Emmaus, Galilee and the Mount of Olives vicinity. Named regions provide orientation, but no single pin or invented route represents all appearances; Emmaus’s disputed location is not assigned a point.

No event map marker is assigned. Do not infer an exact venue from related places.

Galilee: Approximate region. Coordinates \[longitude, latitude\]: \[35.35, 32.85\]. Classification source: editorial.

Illustrative regional extent: \[\[35.1,32.55\],\[35.68,33.15\]\]; not a measured confidence interval.

[Gospel setting; extent is an editorial illustration, not a boundary](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/4)

Jerusalem: Identified site. Coordinates \[longitude, latitude\]: \[35.23494, 31.77744\]. Classification source: rule.

[Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire](http://dare.ht.lu.se/places/15896)

Mount of Olives vicinity: Approximate region. Coordinates \[longitude, latitude\]: \[35.25, 31.78\]. Classification source: editorial.

Illustrative regional extent: \[\[35.235,31.765\],\[35.27,31.805\]\]; not a measured confidence interval.

[Named Gospel setting; original approximate extent](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/22)

Sea of Galilee: Approximate region. Coordinates \[longitude, latitude\]: \[35.59, 32.8\]. Classification source: editorial.

Illustrative regional extent: \[\[35.5,32.69\],\[35.67,32.92\]\]; not a measured confidence interval.

[Gospel setting; extent is an editorial illustration, not a boundary](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4)

[Mark 16 notes · the longer ending](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/16)

## For the class

How do the resurrection accounts move the disciples from receiving news to bearing witness?

## Interpretation and reuse

Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review.

Record source: theographic (460)

Record source: editorial

Events and places adapted from Theographic Bible Metadata (github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata), CC BY-SA 4.0. This adapted data is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Place coordinates from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0.

Teaching stops, summaries and regional extents are original editorial content of this atlas.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm

[Use this atlas with AI / data documentation](https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/ai/)