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.

The Empty Tomb and Angelic Message

1
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. ​
2
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3
They entered in, and didn’t find the Lord Yeshua’s body.
4
While they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. ​
5
Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ​
6
He isn’t here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee, ​
7
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?”
8
They remembered his words,
9
returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the Eleven, and to all the rest.
10
Now they were Miriam Magdalene, Yochanah, and Miriam the mother of Jacob. The other women with them told these things to the emissaries.
11
These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them. ​
12
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened. ​

The Road to Emmaus

13
Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. ​
14
They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened.
15
While they talked and questioned together, Yeshua himself came near, and went with them.
16
But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ​
17
He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?”
18
One of them, named Klofah, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?” ​
19
He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things concerning Yeshua, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;
20
and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
21
But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. ​
22
Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb;
23
and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
24
Some of us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”
25
He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ​
26
Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” ​
27
Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. ​
28
They drew near to the village, where they were going, and he acted like he would go further.
29
They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” He went in to stay with them.
30
When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave to them. ​
31
Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight. ​
32
They said one to another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”
33
They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them,
34
saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” ​
35
They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36
As they said these things, Yeshua himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” ​
37
But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38
He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts?
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See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” ​
40
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41
While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ​
42
They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
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He took them, and ate in front of them.
44
He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the Torah of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.” ​
45
Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. ​
46
He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
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and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ​
48
You are witnesses of these things.
49
Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” ​

The Ascension and Return to Jerusalem

50
He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. ​
51
While he blessed them, he withdrew from them, and was carried up into heaven. ​
52
They worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53
and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. ​

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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