The Gospels · New Testament
Luke 24
Luke 24: the empty sepulchre, the Emmaus road, and the parting at Bethany
General context
On the first day of the week the women come very early with the spices they had prepared, find the stone rolled away and do not find the body. Two men in shining garments ask why they seek the living among the dead, say he is risen, and tell them to remember what he said in Galilee; they remember and carry the news to the eleven. The narrator names Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and other women, and says their words seemed as idle tales. Peter runs to the sepulchre, sees the linen clothes and departs wondering. That day two of them walk to a village called Emmaus; Jesus draws near and walks with them while their eyes are holden. One of them, named Cleopas, tells the stranger about Jesus of Nazareth, the crucifixion, their hope that he would have redeemed Israel, the third day, and the women's report. He calls them slow of heart and expounds the scriptures beginning at Moses and all the prophets. They constrain him to stay, and as he takes bread, blesses, breaks and gives it, their eyes are opened and he vanishes. They return to Jerusalem and find the eleven saying the Lord is risen and has appeared to Simon. Jesus stands among them; they suppose they see a spirit, so he shows his hands and feet and eats broiled fish and honeycomb. He speaks of what was written in the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms, opens their understanding, names them witnesses, tells them to tarry in Jerusalem, then leads them out to Bethany, blesses them and is parted from them. They return with great joy and are continually in the temple.
Cited passages: Luke 24:1, Luke 24:2, Luke 24:3, Luke 24:4, Luke 24:5, Luke 24:6, Luke 24:8, Luke 24:9, Luke 24:10, Luke 24:11, Luke 24:12, Luke 24:13, Luke 24:15, Luke 24:16, Luke 24:18, Luke 24:19, Luke 24:20, Luke 24:21, Luke 24:22, Luke 24:25, Luke 24:27, Luke 24:29, Luke 24:30, Luke 24:31, Luke 24:33, Luke 24:34, Luke 24:36, Luke 24:37, Luke 24:39, Luke 24:42, Luke 24:43, Luke 24:44, Luke 24:45, Luke 24:47, Luke 24:49, Luke 24:50, Luke 24:51, Luke 24:52, Luke 24:53
Luke 24 (KJV)
1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8And they remembered his words,
9And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
11And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
12Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43And he took it, and did eat before them.
44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48And ye are witnesses of these things.
49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
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Historical context
The women are named only at verse 10, after their report has already been delivered: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women who are not named. The narrator calls the two at the sepulchre men in shining garments, while the Emmaus travellers later report the women as having seen a vision of angels; the chapter carries both descriptions without reconciling them. Only one of the two on the road is named, Cleopas, and his companion is never identified. Emmaus is placed only by distance, about threescore furlongs from Jerusalem, with no direction given. The appearance to Simon is reported by the group in Jerusalem and is not narrated anywhere in the chapter. Bethany is the last place named. No dates appear; the intervals are given as the first day of the week and the third day since these things were done.
Cited passages: Luke 24:1, Luke 24:4, Luke 24:9, Luke 24:10, Luke 24:13, Luke 24:18, Luke 24:21, Luke 24:22, Luke 24:23, Luke 24:24, Luke 24:33, Luke 24:34, Luke 24:36, Luke 24:39, Luke 24:50, Luke 24:51
Literary context
Recognition and remembering govern the chapter. The women are asked why they seek the living among the dead and told to remember what was said in Galilee, and the narrator then states that they remembered his words. On the road the narrator says at the outset that their eyes were holden, so the reader knows what the two travellers do not, and they end up summarizing the death to the person it happened to. Their own sentence carries the disappointment without softening it, that they had trusted this was he which should have redeemed Israel. Recognition finally comes at a table, in nearly the sequence used at the passover meal, taking bread, giving thanks or blessing it, breaking and giving, and he disappears in the moment they know him. The proof offered to the frightened group is physical, hands and feet shown and a piece of broiled fish eaten in front of them. The book closes in the temple with people praising and blessing God, and the first chapter had opened at the same building, with a priest going in to burn incense and the whole multitude praying outside.
Cited passages: Luke 24:5, Luke 24:6, Luke 24:8, Luke 24:15, Luke 24:16, Luke 24:17, Luke 24:19, Luke 24:20, Luke 24:21, Luke 24:25, Luke 24:26, Luke 24:27, Luke 24:30, Luke 24:31, Luke 24:32, Luke 24:35, Luke 24:36, Luke 24:37, Luke 24:39, Luke 24:41, Luke 24:43, Luke 24:52, Luke 24:53, Luke 22:19, Luke 1:9, Luke 1:10
Key moments
- The stone rolled away (Luke 24:2). The women find the sepulchre open when they arrive with spices.
- Why seek ye the living among the dead? (Luke 24:5). Two men in shining garments question the women at the tomb.
- Their words seemed as idle tales (Luke 24:11). The apostles do not believe the women’s report.
- Their eyes were holden (Luke 24:16). Jesus walks with the two travellers without being recognised.
- Known in breaking of bread (Luke 24:31). Their eyes open as he breaks bread, and he vanishes.
- Handle me, and see (Luke 24:39). He shows his hands and feet to the frightened group.
- Parted from them at Bethany (Luke 24:51). He blesses them and is carried up into heaven.
For reflection
The two on the road give an accurate account of everything that happened and still put their hope in the past tense. What does the chapter say changed for them between the walk and the meal?
People in this chapter
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