One of the apparent contradictions in the Gospels is the timing of the coming of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel according to St John, when Jesus breathed his last breath he handed over the Spirit to the Church, symbolized and represented by Mary his Mother and the Beloved Disciple standing beside his Cross (Jn 19). Today we read that, on Easter morning, he breathed the Spirit on his Apostles in the upper room. Then there is Luke's account of Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection.

Any account of any event includes a number of details, such as place, time, people present, and people's reactions and so on. In assembling the material recorded in the Gospels that bear their names, the evangelists were not just collectors of material. They were very creative writers and editors: according to their God-given talents, they told the story of Jesus in such a way as to ensure that the book they gave to the Church was a highly effective and inspiring presentation of the mystery of our faith. They omitted some details, adapted others to fit their presentation; they put special emphasis on others. All the versions are true with different emphases.