Luke24
New American Standard
1But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
2And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in gleaming clothing;
5and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you seeking the living One among the dead?
6He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,
7saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise from the dead.”
8And they remembered His words,
9and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.
10Now these women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
11But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe the women.
12Nevertheless, Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and when he stooped and looked in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
13And behold, on that very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem.
14And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.
15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.
16But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
17And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they came to a stop, looking sad.
18One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You possibly the only one living near Jerusalem who does not know about the things that happened here in these days?”
19And He said to them, “What sort of things?” And they said to Him, “Those about Jesus the Nazarene, who proved to be a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,
20and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him.
21But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
22But also some women among us left us bewildered. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,
23and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.
24And so some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.”
25And then He said to them, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory?”
27Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.
28And they approached the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther.
29And so they strongly urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them.
30And it came about, when He had reclined at the table with them, that He took the bread and blessed it, and He broke it and began giving it to them.
31And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32They said to one another, “Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
33And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them,
34saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!”
35They began to relate their experiences on the road, and how He was recognized by them at the breaking of the bread.
36Now while they were telling these things, Jesus Himself suddenly stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
37But they were startled and frightened, and thought that they were looking at a spirit.
38And He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why are doubts arising in your hearts?
39See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you plainly see that I have.”
40And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41While they still could not believe it because of their joy and astonishment, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
42They served Him a piece of broiled fish;
43and He took it and ate it in front of them.
44Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46and He said to them, “So it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48You are witnesses of these things.
49And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
50And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
51While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
52And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53and were continually in the temple praising God.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 24.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The resurrection of Christ. (1–12). He appears to two disciples on the way to Emmaus. (13–27). And makes himself known to them. (28–35). Christ appears to the other disciples. (36–49). His ascension. (50–53).
vv1-12
See the affection and respect the women showed to Christ, after he was dead and buried. Observe their surprise when they found the stone rolled away, and the grave empty. Christians often perplex themselves about that with which they should comfort and encourage themselves. They look rather to find their Master in his grave-clothes, than angels in their shining garments. The angels assure them that he is risen from the dead; is risen by his own power. These angels from heaven bring not any new gospel, but remind the women of Christ's words, and teach them how to apply them. We may wonder that these disciples, who believed Jesus to be the Son of God and the true Messiah, who had been so often told that he must die, and rise again, and then enter into his glory, who had seen him more than once raise the dead, yet should be so backward to believe his raising himself. But all our mistakes in religion spring from ignorance or forgetfulness of the words Christ has spoken. Peter now ran to the sepulchre, who so lately ran from his Master. He was amazed. There are many things puzzling and perplexing to us, which would be plain and profitable, if we rightly understood the words of Christ.
vv13-27
This appearance of Jesus to the two disciples going to Emmaus, happened the same day that he rose from the dead. It well becomes the disciples of Christ to talk together of his death and resurrection; thus they may improve one another's knowledge, refresh one another's memory, and stir up each other's devout affections. And where but two together are well employed in work of that kind, he will come to them, and make a third. Those who seek Christ, shall find him: he will manifest himself to those that inquire after him; and give knowledge to those who use the helps for knowledge which they have. No matter how it was, but so it was, they did not know him; he so ordering it, that they might the more freely discourse with him. Christ's disciples are often sad and sorrowful, even when they have reason to rejoice; but through the weakness of their faith, they cannot take the comfort offered to them. Though Christ is entered into his state of exaltation, yet he notices the sorrows of his disciples, and is afflicted in their afflictions. Those are strangers in Jerusalem, that know not of the death and sufferings of Jesus. Those who have the knowledge of Christ crucified, should seek to spread that knowledge. Our Lord Jesus reproved them for the weakness of their faith in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Did we know more of the Divine counsels as far as they are made known in the Scriptures, we should not be subject to the perplexities we often entangle ourselves in. He shows them that the sufferings of Christ were really the appointed way to his glory; but the cross of Christ was that to which they could not reconcile themselves. Beginning at Moses, the first inspired writer of the Old Testament, Jesus expounded to them the things concerning himself. There are many passages throughout all the Scriptures concerning Christ, which it is of great advantage to put together. We cannot go far in any part, but we meet with something that has reference to Christ, some prophecy, some promise, some prayer, some type or other. A golden thread of gospel grace runs through the whole web of the Old Testament. Christ is the best expositor of Scripture; and even after his resurrection, he led people to know the mystery concerning himself, not by advancing new notions, but by showing how the Scripture was fulfilled, and turning them to the earnest study of it.
vv28-35
If we would have Christ dwell with us, we must be earnest with him. Those that have experienced the pleasure and profit of communion with him, cannot but desire more of his company. He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. This he did with his usual authority and affection, with the same manner, perhaps with the same words. He here teaches us to crave a blessing on every meal. See how Christ by his Spirit and grace makes himself known to the souls of his people. He opens the Scriptures to them. He meets them at his table, in the ordinance of the Lord's supper; is known to them in breaking of bread. But the work is completed by the opening of the eyes of their mind; yet it is but short views we have of Christ in this world, but when we enter heaven, we shall see him for ever. They had found the preaching powerful, even when they knew not the preacher. Those Scriptures which speak of Christ, will warm the hearts of his true disciples. That is likely to do most good, which affects us with the love of Jesus in dying for us. It is the duty of those to whom he has shown himself, to let others know what he has done for their souls. It is of great use for the disciples of Christ to compare their experiences, and tell them to each other.
Key Words
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
εἷς (heîs): one
βαθύς (bathýs): profound (as going down), literally or figuratively
ὄρθρος (órthros): dawn (as sun-rise, rising of light); by extension, morn
ἔρχομαι (érchomai): to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ἐπί (epí): properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
φέρω (phérō): to "bear" or carry (in a very wide application, literally and figuratively, as follows)
ἄρωμα (árōma): an aromatic
εὑρίσκω (heurískō): to find (literally or figuratively)
ὁ (ho): the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Cross References
Luke 24Direct prophecy of Christ's substitutionary suffering and subsequent entering into His glory.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Provides the full eyewitness detail of Peter and John running to see the linen clothes.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The parallel account of Jesus appearing 'in another form' to two disciples walking into the country.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul confirms the specific resurrection appearance of Christ to Simon Peter mentioned here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The glorified Christ declares Himself as the living One who was dead and is alive forevermore.
Supported by JFB
Connects the Old Testament prophets' predictions of Christ's sufferings with the glory that should follow.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Explains the 'power from on high' and the command to be witnesses starting in Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical account of Jesus being carried up into heaven, continuing Luke's narrative.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Proclaims that death could not hold the 'Living One,' matching the angel's question.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates another instance where the disciples only remembered and understood Jesus' predictions after His resurrection.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The protoevangelium, where Moses first prophesies the suffering and ultimate victory of the Seed of the woman.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Parallel to Jesus making as though He would go further, inviting the disciples to constrain Him.
Supported by JFB