15:6
Then the twelve. He then refers to a time when over five hundred show Christ at the same time. This knocks on the head the idea that the “resurrection” appearances were actually hallucinations. One or two people could arguably have had hallucinations, but not five hundred people at the same time. Paul then points out that most of these people were still alive, so the evidence could be tested. The resurrection is never presented as a “spiritual event”, but as a physical reality.
15:7,8
After that Jesus appeared to James, this is James the brother of Jesus, and the author of the letter bearing his name. During his earthly ministry James had been highly sceptical about Jesus, but after the resurrection he became a strong believer, and a leader in the church. Finally, Jesus appeared to Paul. This is the famous Damascus road conversion. The details of this are recounted twice more in Acts. Paul refers to himself as “one abnormally born”. This last appearance was different, and Paul was different in that far from being a disciple of Jesus, he had been an avid prosecutor of the church.
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