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

¶ Now 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.

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

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

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, 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, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered his words,

And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

It 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.

And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Then 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.

The Road to Emmaus

¶ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, 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 manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

And 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?

And 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:

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

But 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.

Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

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

And 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.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

But 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.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and 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, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

And they rose up the same 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 told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

¶ And as they thus spake, Jesus 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 had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Behold 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.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

And he took it, and did eat before them.

And 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.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things.

And, 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.

The Ascension and Return to Jerusalem

¶ And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

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

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

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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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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