APPEARANCES OF THE RISEN CHRIST TO THE DISCIPLES / LAST INSTRUCTIONS TO THE APOSTLES

That evening, as the eleven were at table and were still speaking about this, the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” However, they were startled, terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?” When he had said this, he showed them his hands, feet, and side. He said to them, “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. He said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and, is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. Therefore, the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” However, he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later, his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Return