Luke24
New International Version
1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
2They 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 wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
7‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”
8Then they remembered his words.
9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;
16but they were kept from recognizing him.
17He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.
18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
23but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.
29But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
34and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
38He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
42They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
43and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
46He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48You are witnesses of these things.
49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
53And they stayed continually at 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