It is doubtful however if the eighth appearance was separate from the ninth, for St. Matthew says that when the Eleven saw Him, on the mountain in Galilee, as He had appointed, _they_ worshipped Him, but _some_ doubted. This _some_ can scarcely mean some of the Eleven, who had just worshipped. It probably refers to some others who were present (_i.e._, some of the five hundred) who doubted at first if it was really He, as He was some way off, and it was before He _came_ to them. And since the command to preach the Gospel to all the world, which St. Matthew records, was probably addressed to the Eleven only, it will account for his not mentioning that others were present. In the same way St. Luke relates the Ascension, as if only the Eleven were there, though it is clear _from his own narrative_ that he knew there were others with them; since he afterwards records St. Peter as saying so.[281] [Footnote 281: Acts 1. 1-13; 22-23.] On the other hand, the appearance to the five hundred must have been on a _mountain_, or some other open space, as a room would not have been large enough. It must have been in _Galilee_, as there were not so many disciples in Jerusalem.[282] It must have been _by appointment_, as they could hardly have come together by accident; and they are not likely to have come together at all unless the _Eleven_ had collected them. And all this is an additional reason for identifying it with that recorded by St. Matthew. [Footnote 282: Acts 1. 15.] It must next be noticed that the appearances form _three groups_. First a group in or near Jerusalem, which was chiefly to the Twelve Apostles, and extended over eight days. Secondly a group in Galilee, the most important being that to the five hundred, which was a sort of _farewell_ to His Galilean disciples. And thirdly to a group back again at Jerusalem, chiefly to the Twelve, but including others, and ending with the Ascension, or _farewell_ to His Judæan disciples. TABLE OF CHRIST'S APPEARANCES.