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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep." Some say that "above," is above from heaven; that is, "not walking upon earth, but above and overhead He appeared to them:" adding, that it was Paul's purpose to confirm, not the resurrection only, but also the ascension. …
Cyril of Jerusalem
"He appeared to Cephas; and after that to the twelve." So if you disbelieve one witness, you have twelve witnesses. "Then he was seen by more than five hundred people at once"—if they disbelieve the twelve, then listen to the five hundred. "After that he was seen by James," his own brother and the first overseer of this [Jerusalem] diocese. Since so noteworthy a bishop was privileged to see the risen Christ, along with the other disciples, do not disbelieve. But you may say that his brother was a biased witness. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
After the proof from the Scriptures, he brings as witnesses the apostles and other faithful people. The word "more" (επάνω) some explain thus: "from above," from heaven; that He appeared to them on high and overhead in order to confirm the truth of the Ascension. Others, however, understood it thus: more than five hundred. I, he says, have living witnesses. By the expression "have fallen asleep" he prepares the beginning of the resurrection. For he who sleeps also rises.
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
901. – Then again he appeared to more than five hundred. But nothing is mentioned in the Scripture about this, except here. Yet it can be said that this appearance was the one about which Denis speaks in The Divine Names III, when all the disciples assembled to see the body, which they considered the prince of life. But against this seems to be the fact that this was before the ascension, namely, when Christ appeared to James. But the assembly of disciples to see the Blessed Virgin, about which Denis seems to speak, was much later. …
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