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.
