The fourth main point of the gospel is that the resurrected Christ appeared to many people. Paul is not referring to visions or dreams (although he had experienced these too; see Acts 18:9–10; Acts 23:11), but to real encounters. In 1 Corinthians 15:5–8 he lists six people, or groups of people, who met the risen Christ.
First on the list is Cephas
(the Aramaic name for Peter; see also 1 Corinthians 1:12; John 1:42). Luke mentions that Jesus appeared to Peter before he appeared to the group of disciples (Luke 24:34). Paul does not mention the women who saw Jesus even before Peter did. His focus is on the official witnesses of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Peter, being the first leader of the church in Jerusalem (see Acts 1:15; Acts 2:14), is a prominent witness.
The phrase the twelve
refers to Jesus’ closest group of disciples. Paul continues to use this phrase even though, at the time of Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples numbered only eleven. Again, he focuses on the official witnesses and representatives of Christ. He does not mention the two disciples of Emmaus, who saw Jesus before the disciples did (Luke 24:13–35).
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.