Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: When this verse was revealed (Allah Almighty says): "A large group from the earlier ones, and a few from the later ones", this weighed heavily on the Muslims. Then this verse was revealed: "A large group from the earlier ones, and a large group from the later ones."
Ahmad recorded it as a narration of Muhammad Bayya' from his father, and I do not know either of them; its remaining narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب التفسير / 11394