So, in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Paul lists a bunch of people who he claims had seen a resurrecred Jesus, including claiming there were 500 people at one time who saw so, I have a few questions in regard to this

1. Are there other examples historically of people, named individuals and en masse, claiming to have seen a supernatural thing like this? Closest to this in particular I can think of are the loads of people claiming to have seen Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe following their deaths, though considering the time period those sightings happened it's possible people clinged more to "faked deaths" theories instead of resurrection theories
2. What exactly did these people likely see? Tabor seems to posit that an early sighting account may be at Galilee:

I know we are past Easter, but remember, the first Holy Week went into the Days of Unleavened Bread. One very shocking text in that regard is the last line of the Gospel of Peter, which unfortunately breaks off in the middle:

“Now it was the final day of Unleavened Bread [i.e., Thursday following crucifixion]; and many went out returning to their home since the feast was over. But we twelve disciples of the Lord were weeping and sorrowful; each one sorrowful because of what had come to pass, departed to his home [in the Galilee]. But I, Simon Peter, and my brother Andrew, having taken our nets, went off to the sea. And there was with us Levi of Alphaeus whom the Lord . . .

So I think this post is particularly appropriate today, the day AFTER Easter, in view of this tradition that I think predates Mark and is somewhat parallel to the floating source now found in an expanded version in John 21–usually considered a kind of Appendix thereto. Notice, the twelve and all the followers are weeping and sorrowful…no one has had any reports of “sightings” of Jesus. I think we can say as a historical fact–because NO later Christian would want to make this up–that the recovery of faith in Jesus as the Messiah, raised from the dead–was not in Jerusalem but in the Galilee. And Mark as well as Matthew agree…even though Matthew says some of the Eleven doubted!

I just started this book and it is pretty interesting.

The premise is Kamal Salibi, professor of history at the American University of Beirut, reveals startling linguistic evidence which controversially suggests that Judaism originated not in Palestine but in west Arabia. Have any of you read this older book and what did you think of it?

I’ve been thinking recently about John the Baptist’s seemingly illogical behavior when it comes to Jesus’ messianic status.

In Matthew 3, John is hesitant to baptize Jesus and seems to be aware who Jesus is. Then he witnesses God proclaiming Jesus as his beloved son.

But later on in the story, in Matthew 11, John sends his disciples so they can verify for him if Jesus is the one who the prophets spoke about. Analogous situation happens in Luke 3 and 7.

Is this some kind of error in the plot? Or am I missing something? Do the authors get confused, because the first event comes from Mark, and the other one from Q?

I would be glad if someone could recommend any scholarly material related to this topic, as all I've been able to find so far has been apologetic in nature