John Chrysostom : "And that He appeared to Cephas:" he names immediately the most credible of all. "Then to the twelve." Thus, since he had mentioned the proof from the Scriptures, he adds also that by the events, producing as witnesses of the resurrection, after the prophets, the apostles and other faithful men. Whereas if he meant that other resurrection, the deliverance from sin, it were idle for him to say, He appeared to such and such an one; for this is the argument of one who is establishing the resurrection of the body, not of one obscurely teaching deliverance from sins. Wherefore neither said he once for all, "He appeared," although it were sufficient for him to do so, setting down the expression in common: but now both twice and thrice, and almost in each several case of them that had seen Him he employs it. For "He appeared," saith he, "to Cephas, He appeared to above five hundred brethren, He appeared to me also." Yet surely the Gospel saith the contrary, that He was seen of Mary first. But among men He was seen of him first who did most of all long to see Him. But of what twelve apostles doth he here speak? For after He was received up, Matthias was taken into the number, not after the resurrection immediately. But it is likely that He appeared even after He was received up. At any rate, this our apostle himself after His ascension was both called, and saw Him. Therefore neither doth he set down the time, but simply and without defining recounts the appearance. For indeed it is probable that many took place; wherefore also John said, "This third time He was manifested." Therefore he appears to Peter first. For he that first confessed Him to be Christ was justly also counted worthy first to behold His resurrection. And not on this account alone doth He appear to him first, but also because he had denied Him, more abundantly to comfort him and to signify that he is not despaired of, before the rest He vouchsafed him even this sight and to him first entrusted His sheep. Therefore also He appeared to the women first. Because this sex was made inferior, therefore both in His birth and in His resurrection this first tastes of His grace. — Homily on 1 Corinthians 38 Oecumenius : Note that he does not say "to the eleven," and neither does John (John 20:24), who writes that Thomas was "one of the twelve." We should probably say that either he has included Matthias with the other apostles by anticipation or else that he is still thinking of Judas, even after his betrayal and hanging. — PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH Origen of Alexandria : The divine dispensation raised him up and made not only two or three to be witnesses of his resurrection, but far more. For "he was seen by Cephas, then by the eleven, then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at once", "and last of all" by Paul. And it was no small sign of his resurrection, that he was seen by so many — by those who took up the danger of proclaiming him alive among the peoples who had demanded him for the cross. — COMMENTARY ON Matthew 129 Origen of Alexandria : Evidently Matthias was chosen to replace Judas before Jesus ceased appearing to the disciples after his resurrection.. — COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 4.77