Luke24

On the first day of the week, women found Jesus' tomb empty, and angels declared His resurrection, reminding them of His words. Jesus then appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, expounding scriptures and being recognized in the breaking of bread. Later, He appeared to the gathered apostles, proving His physical resurrection, opening their understanding of the scriptures, and commissioning them to preach. Finally, Jesus ascended into heaven, and the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy, continually praising God.

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The Empty Tomb and Angelic Message

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel:

and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered his words,

and returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.

Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles.

And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them.

But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass.

The Road to Emmaus

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem.

And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad.

And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days?

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass.

Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb;

and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?

And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further.

And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them.

And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?

And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

And they rehearsed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart?

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat?

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.

And he took it, and ate before them.

And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;

and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;

and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Ye are witnesses of these things.

And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.

The Ascension and Return to Jerusalem

And he led them out untilthey were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

and were continually in the temple, blessing God.

Study Notes for Luke 24

Verse 1

The 'first day of the week' (Sunday) marks the beginning of the new creation week and becomes the established day of Christian worship. The women came to fulfill the burial rites interrupted by the Sabbath.

Verse 4

Luke emphasizes the vision of 'two men' (angels), consistent with the requirement for two witnesses (Deut. 19:15). Their 'shining garments' indicate heavenly glory.

Verse 5

This rhetorical question highlights the absurdity of seeking a living, resurrected Lord among the deceased. It is the central, triumphant message of the Easter event.

Verse 6

The angels remind the disciples that Jesus’ resurrection was not a surprise, but the fulfillment of his previous teachings given while he was in Galilee (e.g., Luke 9:22).

Verse 11

The apostles’ initial disbelief underscores the radical nature of the resurrection claim and validates the women’s testimony by showing it was not easily accepted.

Verse 12

Peter’s action confirms the empty tomb but leaves him 'wondering.' Luke mentions Peter's initial visit, foreshadowing his later leadership and the special resurrection appearance to him (v. 34).

Verse 13

Emmaus was approximately seven miles (60 furlongs) from Jerusalem. This journey provides the setting for Jesus' most extensive post-resurrection teaching on the fulfillment of Scripture.

Verse 16

The phrase 'their eyes were holden' suggests a divine, temporary blindness or disguise, preventing the disciples from recognizing Jesus until the appointed moment of revelation.

Verse 18

Cleopas is only mentioned here. His astonishment reveals how widely known the events of Jesus' crucifixion had become even among visitors in Jerusalem.

Verse 21

The disciples’ despair is rooted in their expectation that the Messiah would immediately bring political and national 'redemption' for Israel by overthrowing Roman rule.

Verse 25

Jesus rebukes them for their failure to integrate the necessity of suffering into their understanding of messianic prophecy. He emphasizes the primacy of faith in the prophetic word.

Verse 26

This verse is the theological core of the Emmaus road narrative: suffering (crucifixion) is the necessary prerequisite for the Christ to enter into glory (resurrection and exaltation).

Verse 27

Jesus demonstrates that the entire Old Testament (Moses/Law, Prophets, Writings/Psalms) points forward to his life, death, and resurrection. This is the key to Christian biblical interpretation.

Verse 30

The actions—taking, blessing, breaking, and giving the bread—strongly echo the institution of the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19). This meal is the moment of divine recognition.

Verse 31

Recognition comes during the shared meal, emphasizing the real presence of Christ in the breaking of bread. His immediate vanishing underscores the supernatural nature of his resurrected body.

Verse 34

This is a crucial aside, confirming that Jesus had already appeared privately to Peter (Simon), an event not described in detail by Luke but affirmed by Paul (1 Cor. 15:5).

Verse 36

This appearance occurs quickly in Jerusalem. Jesus’ greeting, 'Peace be unto you,' is a traditional salutation (Shalom) but here carries the theological weight of reconciled relationship.

Verse 39

Jesus emphasizes the physical reality of his resurrection body, countering any idea that he was merely a ghost or spiritual apparition. He has 'flesh and bones,' affirming physicality.

Verse 41

The request for food further solidifies the physical, non-spectral nature of his body. Their mixed emotions of disbelief and overwhelming joy are psychologically realistic.

Verse 44

Jesus confirms that his entire mission fulfilled the tri-partite division of the Hebrew Scriptures: the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms (the Writings).

Verse 45

This verse describes a divine act of revelation. Understanding the Scriptures requires not just intellectual effort but the opening of the mind by Christ himself.

Verse 47

This summarizes the content of the apostolic preaching: the message of 'repentance and remission of sins,' which must be proclaimed universally ('all nations'), beginning in Jerusalem.

Verse 49

'The promise of my Father' refers to the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). This command to 'tarry' links the end of Luke's Gospel directly to the beginning of Acts, where Pentecost occurs.

Verse 50

Bethany, located on the Mount of Olives, is the traditional site of the Ascension. Luke provides the only detailed account of this event in the Gospels.

Verse 51

Luke explicitly states that Jesus was 'carried up into heaven,' marking the conclusion of his earthly ministry and his exaltation to the right hand of God.

Verse 53

The disciples obey Jesus' command to remain in Jerusalem (v. 49) and demonstrate their renewed commitment by continually worshipping in the Temple, transitioning into the early Christian community.

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Luke24

The Empty Tomb and Angelic Message

The Road to Emmaus

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

The Ascension and Return to Jerusalem

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