Final answer:
Jesus appeared to his disciples over a period of forty days after his resurrection, confirming to them his teachings and reinforcing their faith. These appearances are recorded in the Gospels and were pivotal in the spread of Christianity.
Step-by-step explanation:
To whom did Jesus appear over a period of forty days? According to the accounts in the New Testament, after Jesus rose from the grave, he made appearances to his original followers over a period of forty days. These followers are interchangeably referred to as disciples or apostles. The answer to the question is therefore c) The disciples. It's noteworthy that the term 'apostles' generally refers to the Twelve Apostles, who were a specific group of Jesus' closest followers, while 'disciples' can refer to a wider group of followers and learners under Jesus' teachings.
During this time, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John describe various instances where Jesus appeared to these individuals, reaffirming his message and the teachings he imparted during his lifetime. These appearances served to solidify the faith of his followers and help lay the foundations for the spread of Christianity by these very apostles and disciples. Notably, these appearances are not recorded as being to the other groups like the Pharisees or the Sadducees.