They SAW HIM. That is not HEAR SAY. They could have been subpoenaed if it came to trial, but with a list that large, I would be looking for a plea resolution at the least.
THEY (the 500) did not say they saw Jesus. PAUL said that THEY saw Jesus. That's hearsay. You would have been laughed out of court unless you produced at least some of the 500 and gotten the story from "the horse's mouth," as they say.
As a separate subject, why did Jesus appear to only these 500, assuming he did. If he wanted people to believe in him, why not appear to everyone in Palestine?
