Resurrection Order of Events

Lately, I've been teaching my sophomore and junior students about Jesus' Resurrection. Anyone who has studied the Resurrection has probably wondered a time or two exactly what happened when.

While preparing for some classes, I remembered being inspired by Msgr. Charles Pope's description of how the four gospel writer's accounts can initially seem conflicting, but after careful study, one can make sense of them. (See Making Sense of the Resurrection Accounts--Are There Discrepancies? and A Chronological Sequence of the Resurrection Events.) I thought it would be interesting to take all four gospel accounts and make a chronological chart, using the information provided.

Below is my attempt at creating such a chart. It includes the full text of the Resurrection accounts in the gospels. Each gospel is presented vertically in the order it appears in the Bible (no verses have been swapped, but some have been spaced apart). This is my effort to build an order of events that make sense, based on the biblical evidence.

If anyone has any suggestions to improve this chart, please feel free to leave comments.

I hope this helps my students and many of you to come to a clearer understanding of Our Lord's Resurrection--I know it has already helped me a bunch.

		Matthew 28		Mark 16		Luke 24		John 20-21
Early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James), Salome, Joanna, and at least one other woman (Lk 24:10) brought spices to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body.	1	Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Mag'dalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre.	1	And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo'me, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.	1	But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared.	1	Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark,
			2	And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen.
They wondered who would move the stone for them.			3	And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?"
An angel came down and opened the tomb.	2	And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
	3	His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.
The guards fainted.	4	And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
The women found the stone rolled back.			4	And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; -- it was very large.	2	And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,		and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
The women found the tomb empty.					3	but when they went in they did not find the body.
The angel(s) explained that Jesus has risen.			5	And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed.	4	While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel;
	5	But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.	6	And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.	5	and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
	6	He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.		He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him.	6	Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
	7	Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you."	7	But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."	7	that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise."
					8	And they remembered his words,
The women left.	8	So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.	8	And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.			2	So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved,
They told the disciples					9	and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.		and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
					10	Now it was Mary Mag'dalene and Jo-an'na and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles;
The disciples were skeptical.					11	but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
Peter & John went to investigate the tomb.					12	But Peter rose and ran to the tomb;	3	Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.
							4	They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first;
Peter & John found the tomb empty.							5	and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
						stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves;	6	Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying,
							7	and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
							8	Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
							9	for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Peter & John left the tomb.						and he went home wondering at what had happened.	10	Then the disciples went back to their homes.
The angels appeared to Mary Magdalene.							11	But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb;
							12	and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
							13	They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."
Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.			9	Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.			14	Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
							15	Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
							16	Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher).
							17	Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
Mary Magdalene told the disciples that she had seen Jesus.			10	She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.			18	Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
They remained skeptical.			11	But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
Jesus appeared to the women.	9	And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
	10	Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."
The guards awoke and relayed their story to the chief priests.	11	While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
The Jewish authorities took counsel.	12	And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers
The Jewish authorities paid off the guards to lie about what happened.	13	and said, "Tell people, `His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'
	14	And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."
	15	So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
	Easter Sunday Afternoon/Evening
Jesus appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.			12	After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.	13	That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
					14	and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
					15	While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
					16	But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
					17	And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.
					18	Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
					19	And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
					20	and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
					21	But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened.
					22	Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning
					23	and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
					24	Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see."
					25	And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
					26	Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"
					27	And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
					28	So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further,
					29	but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.
					30	When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them.
					31	And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.
					32	They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?"
The disciples on the road to Emmaus told the others.			13	And they went back and told the rest,	33	And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them,
The other disciples initially did not believe them.				but they did not believe them.
Eventually, they were convinced by Simon Peter, to whom the Lord had appeared (1 Cor 15:5).					34	who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
The account of the appearance on the road to Emmaus was accepted and retold.					35	Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
As they were explaining this, Jesus appeared to all of the disciples who were gathered in the upper room.			14	Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table;	36	As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them.	19	On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
					37	But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit.
Jesus upbraided them for their unbelief.				and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.	38	And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts?
Jesus showed them His wounds to prove His identity.					39	See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have."	20	When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
					41	And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
					42	They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
He further proved His identity by eating fish.					43	and he took it and ate before them.
								Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Jesus explained salvation history to them.					44	Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled."
Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures.					45	Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
					46	and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
					47	and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Jesus charged them with the duty to spread the news to everyone.			15	And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.	48	You are witnesses of these things.	21	Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
			16	He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
			17	And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
			18	they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Jesus gave them an initial installment of the Holy Spirit, and told them to wait in the city until they are clothed with power from on high.					49	And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."	22	And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gave them the authority to forgive sins.							23	If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Thomas wasn’t present.							24	Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
He didn’t believe the others.							25	So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
	The Following Sunday
Jesus came back the next week and convinced Thomas.							26	Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you."
							27	Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing."
							28	Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
							29	Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
							30	Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
							31	but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
	Sometime Later
Jesus appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee).							1	After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe'ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way.
							2	Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan'a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb'edee, and two others of his disciples were together.
							3	Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.
							4	Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
							5	Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No."
							6	He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish.
							7	That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea.
							8	But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
							9	When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.
							10	Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."
							11	So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
							12	Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.
							13	Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
							14	This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus set Peter apart, and gave him the mission of feeding/tending the sheep/lambs.							15	When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
							16	A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
							17	He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
							18	Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go."
							19	(This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."
							20	Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"
							21	When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"
							22	Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!"
							23	The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"
							24	This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
							25	But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
	Sometime Other Time (Earlier or Later Than the Sea of Tiberias)
Jesus appeared to the disciples on a mountain in Galilee.	16	Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
	17	And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted.
	18	And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Jesus gave the apostles the Great Commission.	19	Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
	20	teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
	40 Days After Easter (see Acts 1:3)
Jesus led His disciples to Bethany.					50	Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.
Jesus Ascended into Heaven.			19	So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.	51	While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.
The disciples joyfully returned to Jerusalem.					52	And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
	After the Ascension
The disciples commonly went to the Temple and praised God.					53	and were continually in the temple blessing God.
The disciples went out and preached.			20	And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.