The appearance of Jesus to the Disciples:

The Gospel differ as to the number of times Jesus appeared and also to the words he said to them:

Point of difference

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

1. Number of times Jesus appeared posthumously.

Twice (28/9) (28/16)

Twice (16/9) (16/12) (16/14)

Twice (24/13) (24/36)

Four times (20/17) (29/24) (20/26) (21/1)

2. What the Disciples do when they saw Jesus for the first time.

They fell prostrate before him, but some of them suspected him. (28/17)

He does not mention prostration.

They were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. (24/37)

They were glad when he showed them his hands and his side. (20/20)

3. Jesus said to them: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

He does not mention it.

Only Mark mentions it (16/16)

He does not mention it.

He does not mention it.

4. Jesus ate with his Disciples a broiled fish, and honey.

He does not mention it.

He does not mention it.

Only Luke mentions it. (24/42)

He does not mention it.

5. He breathed on his Disciples and said to them: “Receive the Holy Ghost.”

He does not mention it.

He does not mention it.

He does not mention it.

Only John mentions it. (20/22)

6. Tomas, one of the Disciples, stipulated that he see the print of the nails in the body of Jesus in order to believe.[1]

He does not mention it.

He does not mention it.

He does not mention it.

Only John mentions it. (20/25)

There are many other differences among the Gospels touching this subject.


[1] Al-Khuli, Muhammad ‘Ali, Muqaranah baina al-Anajil al-Arba‘ah, p. 80-91 (adapted)