After the Feast of Firstfruits, that is, Resurrection Sunday, He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3
The next Jewish Holy Day is Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.
And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. Lev 23:15-16
Jesus stayed around for 40 of those 50 days.
I don’t know about you but I wonder “Why 40?”
40 is a significant number throughout the Bible.
The ‘flood’ took place for 40 days and 40 nights, And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. Gen 7:12
And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Ex 24:18
They returned from spying out the land after forty days. Num 13:25
Goliath drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 1 Sam 17:16
Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” Jonah 3:4
And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Matt 4:2
And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, Mark 1:13
I read where the number 40 has an association with a period of probation, trial, and chastisement (not judgment).
Could it be that these 40 days was a probation period?
During this time each disciple had to come to terms with what he/she had done before the resurrection.
Peter had denied and cursed, most of the others hid or fled, no one came to His defense, and not one single person was waiting at the tomb on the evening that began the first day of the week.
It was only the women that went, not to see a risen Savior, but to prepare His body.
Perhaps 40 is a time of cleansing and self-realization as Jesus fasted for 40 days and was able to resist Satan.
The Ninevites had 40 days to realize their sins and they all repented.
Maybe it would be wise for you and I to take 40 days and do a little self-examination of ourselves.