Luke24
New Living Translation
1But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
2They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
3So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
5The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?
6He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee,
7that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
8Then they remembered that he had said this.
9So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened.
10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened.
11But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.
12However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
13That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem.
14As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened.
15As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them.
16But God kept them from recognizing him.
17He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces.
18Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
19“What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people.
20But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him.
21We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
22“Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report.
23They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive!
24Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
25Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.
26Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”
27Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on,
29but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them.
30As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them.
31Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
32They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
33And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them,
34who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”
35Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.
36And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.
37But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38“Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?
39Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”
40As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
42They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
43and he ate it as they watched.
44Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
46And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.
47It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’
48You are witnesses of all these things.
49“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
50Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them.
51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.
52So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.
53And they spent all of their time 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