nd hath appeared to Simon." This is the sole
mention made by the Gospel-writers of Christ's personal appearance to
Simon Peter on that day. The interview between the Lord and His once
recreant but now repentant apostle must have been affecting in the
extreme. Peter's remorseful penitence over his denial of Christ in the
palace of the high priest was deep and pitiful; he may have doubted that
ever again would the Master call him His servant; but hope must have
been engendered through the message from the tomb brought by the women,
in which the Lord sent greetings to the apostles, whom for the first
time He designated as His brethren,[1372] and from this honorable and
affectionate characterization Peter had not been excluded; moreover, the
angel's commission to the women had given prominence to Peter by
particular mention.[1373] To the repentant Peter came the Lord,
doubtless with forgiveness and loving assurance. The apostle himself
maintains a reverent silence respecting the visitation, but the fact
thereof is attested by Paul as one of the definite proofs of the Lord's
resurrection.[1374]

Following the jubilant testimony of the assembled believers, Cleopas and
his fellow traveler told of the Lord's companionship with them on the
Emmaus road, of the things He had taught them, and of the manner in
which He had become known unto them in the breaking of bread. As the
little company communed together, "Jesus himself stood in the midst of
them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." They were affrighted,
supposing with superstitious dread that a ghost had intruded amongst
them. But the Lord comforted them, saying "Why are ye troubled? and why
do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it
is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones,
as ye see me have." Then He showed them the wounds in His hands and feet
and side. "They yet believed not for joy," which is to say, they thought
the reality, to which they all were witnesses, too good, too glorious,
to be true. To further assure them that He was no shadowy form, no
immaterial being of tenuous substance, but a living Personage with
bodily organs internal as well as outward, He asked "Have ye here any
meat?" They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and other food,[1375]
which He took "and did eat before them."

These unquestionable evidences of their Visitant's corporeity calmed and
made rational the minds of the disciples; and