Jesus appeared to Cephas, then to the TWELVE

[tonychanyt]

After Jesus' ascension, Acts 1:

26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Wait a minute. Judas died. There were only eleven.

Paul might not have been perfectly accurate here. By "twelve", he meant "eleven". Alternatively, Matthias could have been there with the eleven before he was chosen to replace Judas.

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Pulpit offered another possible explanation:

"the twelve" is here the designation of an office, and great ancient writers are always indifferent to mere pragmatic accuracy in trifles which involve nothing.

 

[sandman]

Judas was alive up until the ascension.

 

[awstar]

After Jesus' ascension, Acts 1:

1 Corinthians 15:

Wait a minute. Judas died. There were only eleven.

Paul might not have been perfectly accurate here. By "twelve", he meant "eleven". Alternatively, Matthias could have been there with the eleven before he was chosen to replace Judas.

I'm a little tardy in responding to this, but I was listening to Acts 1 being read this morning and realized the sequence of events were such: Christ was betrayed, died, buried, rose again, ascended, sent the Holy Ghost - the Father's gift - and then Peter, quoting the words of David realized that to fulfill prophesy, Judas needed to be replaced.

Acts 1:21-26

21. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22. Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

When Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians that Jesus had appeared to "the Twelve", he was well aware of Matthias taking Judas' position, and that Matthias was very likely there when Christ appeared to the eleven, since one of the requirements for taking Judas' place, Matthias had to have been "with them" and "a witness of Jesus resurrection". And in fact, after his promotion he must have been actually referred to as one of "the Twelve"

Your "alternate" explanation is the correct one. Paul continues to be perfectly accurate.