Afterward he appeared unto the eleven
Apostles; for this was now the number of them, Judas being gone from them, and dead; and they were so called, though Thomas was not now with them, because their whole company consisted of this number: this appearance of Christ to them was on the same first day of the week, at evening, ( John 20:19 ) , though it must be very late at night; for it was after the two above disciples were returned from Emmaus, where Christ and they had supped together; see ( Luke 24:29 Luke 24:30 Luke 24:33 Luke 24:36 ) ;
as they sat at meat;
or "sat together"; being assembled together, and the doors shut fast for fear of the Jews, ( John 20:19 ) , and so the Arabic renders it, "while they were gathered together"; and the Persic version, "who being gathered together were sitting": nor does the word necessarily signify sitting at meat; nor is it very likely that they should be eating so late at night; though it is probable they had been eating, as seems from ( Luke 24:41-43 ) ;
and upbraided them with their unbelief, and hardness of heart:
not but that their hearts were very contrite for their sinful carriage to Christ; and very much humbled they were under the present dispensation: their hearts were much affected, and they were filled with sorrow and trouble for the loss of Christ; but in this point their unbelief increased by their fears, and so much prevailed, that all that were said by one, and another, made no impression on them: and a great aggravation of their incredulity, and a reason of Christ's upbraiding them in this manner were,
because they believed not them which had seen him after he was
risen;
as Mary Magdalene, and the other women, and Cleophas, and the other disciple that was with him, who were eyewitnesses that he was risen from the dead; and such as might have been depended on.
