Luke 24:24

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} certain of them {G5100} which were with {G4862} us {G2254} went {G565} to {G1909} the sepulchre {G3419}, and {G2532} found {G2147} it even {G2532} so {G3779} as {G2531} the women {G1135} had said {G2036}: but {G1161} him {G846} they saw {G1492} not {G3756}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Some of our friends went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”

Berean Standard Bible

Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described. But Him they did not see.”

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 24:24 serves as a crucial narrative bridge in the unfolding resurrection account, detailing the male disciples' investigative journey to the tomb following the women's astonishing report. This verse confirms the physical emptiness of Jesus' burial place, validating the women's testimony, yet simultaneously highlights the disciples' continued lack of understanding and their failure to encounter the risen Christ at this initial stage, thereby building anticipation for His subsequent appearances.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the dramatic events of the first Easter morning as recorded in [Luke 24](/luke/24 "Luke 24 - The Resurrection Account"). Immediately preceding [Luke 24:24](/luke/24-24 "Luke 24:24 - Disciples Verify the Empty Tomb"), a group of women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, had gone to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body, only to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Angels appeared to them, proclaiming that Jesus was not there, but had risen, reminding them of His words in Galilee ([Luke 24:1-7](/luke/24-1-7 "Luke 24:1-7 - The Women at the Empty Tomb")). Upon returning, the women shared this incredible news with the eleven apostles and other disciples, but their words were dismissed as "idle tales" or "nonsense" ([Luke 24:11](/luke/24-11 "Luke 24:11 - Disciples' Unbelief")). Verse 24 then describes the direct action taken by some of the male disciples, spurred by this report, to verify the women's claims for themselves. This immediate follow-up demonstrates the progression from initial disbelief to a need for empirical evidence before full faith in the resurrection could take root.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish society, the testimony of women was often not considered legally admissible or reliable in a court of law. This cultural bias provides significant background for the disciples' initial skepticism towards the women's account of the empty tomb and the angelic message. The fact that God chose women to be the first witnesses to the resurrection and messengers of this pivotal truth ([Luke 24:9-10](/luke/24-9-10 "Luke 24:9-10 - Women Announce the Resurrection")) challenges prevailing cultural norms and underscores God's counter-cultural methods. Furthermore, the practice of burial in rock-cut tombs, often sealed with a large stone, was common. The discovery of the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, as reported by the women and verified by the men, was an extraordinary event that defied normal expectations for a deceased body. The disciples, like many Jews of their time, were likely expecting a Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom, not one who would die and then rise from the dead, which further contributed to their difficulty in processing the news.
* **Key Themes:** [Luke 24:24](/luke/24-24 "Luke 24:24 - Disciples Verify the Empty Tomb") contributes significantly to several key themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of the **Empty Tomb as Evidence**. The physical absence of Jesus' body from the sepulchre is a foundational piece of evidence for the resurrection, corroborated here by male witnesses, thereby lending undeniable weight to the women's earlier report. Secondly, the verse highlights the **Disciples' Initial Unbelief and the Journey to Faith**. Despite hearing the women's incredible news, the male disciples' immediate reaction was skepticism, prompting their personal investigation. This human and relatable doubt underscores that faith in the resurrection was not a blind acceptance but often followed a process of verification and encounter, as seen in the subsequent appearances of Jesus to them ([Luke 24:36-43](/luke/24-36-43 "Luke 24:36-43 - Jesus Appears to His Disciples")). Finally, the concluding phrase, "but him they saw not," creates a profound sense of **Anticipation for Resurrection Appearances**. While confirming the empty tomb, it simultaneously sets the stage for the dramatic encounters with the risen Lord that would follow, such as Jesus' appearance to the disciples on the [Road to Emmaus](/luke/24-13-35 "Luke 24:13-35 - The Road to Emmaus") and His later appearance to the assembled apostles, transforming their doubt into conviction and joy.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **found (Greek, _heurískō_):** This verb signifies the act of discovering or obtaining, whether literally or figuratively, often implying a search that culminates in a specific result. In this context, it emphasizes the disciples' direct, empirical verification of the women's report regarding the empty tomb. Their "finding" was not merely a passive observation but an active investigation that yielded a specific, albeit initially incomplete, confirmation of the women's testimony.
* **women (Greek, _gynḗ_):** This term refers to the female disciples who first visited the tomb and brought the astonishing news of its emptiness and the angelic proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. The inclusion of "women" here highlights the initial, counter-cultural role of female witnesses in the resurrection narrative, whose testimony, though initially dismissed by the male disciples, proved accurate and prompted further investigation.
* **saw not (Greek, _eídō_ with _ou_):** The verb "saw" (eídō) denotes perception, literally or figuratively, often implying understanding or knowledge. Coupled with the absolute negative particle "not" (ou), it powerfully conveys the complete absence of Jesus' physical body from the tomb. This crucial detail underscores that while the tomb was empty, the disciples had not yet encountered the risen Lord in His resurrected form, thereby setting the stage for His subsequent appearances and the full revelation of His victory.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre,"**: This opening clause introduces the immediate response of some of the male disciples to the women's report. The phrase "certain of them which were with us" likely refers to Peter and John, as corroborated by [John 20:3-10](/john/20-3-10 "John 20:3-10 - Peter and John at the Tomb"), indicating that not all the male disciples went, but a representative few. Their action signifies a shift from passive disbelief to active investigation, driven by a need for personal verification of such an extraordinary claim. The "sepulchre" refers to Jesus' burial tomb, the site of the miraculous event.
* **"and found [it] even so as the women had said:"**: This clause details the outcome of the disciples' investigation. Upon reaching the tomb, they discovered its condition precisely as the women had reported: the stone was rolled away, and the tomb was empty. This finding provides crucial corroboration of the women's testimony, validating their eyewitness account and establishing the undeniable fact of the empty tomb as a central piece of evidence for the resurrection. It implicitly refutes any notion that the women were mistaken or fabricating their story.
* **"but him they saw not."**: This concluding, poignant clause highlights the incomplete nature of their discovery. While the tomb was indeed empty, the disciples did not encounter Jesus Himself. This absence of the physical body of Jesus, coupled with the absence of His risen presence, creates a profound tension and sets the stage for the subsequent resurrection appearances. It underscores that the empty tomb, while vital, was not the full extent of the resurrection reality; the risen Christ Himself was yet to be revealed to them. This phrase serves as a powerful narrative hook, building anticipation for the encounters that would transform their understanding and faith.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 24:24 skillfully employs several literary devices to advance the narrative and underscore its theological significance. The most prominent is **Verification**, as the male disciples' journey to the tomb serves as an empirical confirmation of the women's initially disbelieved testimony. This act of personal investigation by key figures like Peter and John (implied by parallel accounts) lends undeniable credibility to the empty tomb narrative, moving it beyond mere hearsay. Furthermore, the verse builds a strong sense of **Anticipation**. The concluding phrase, "but him they saw not," creates a dramatic narrative pause. It resolves one mystery (the empty tomb) but immediately introduces another (where is Jesus?), powerfully setting the stage for the subsequent, transformative appearances of the risen Christ. Finally, there is an element of subtle **Irony** in the narrative. The male disciples, who had dismissed the women's account as "idle tales" ([Luke 24:11](/luke/24-11 "Luke 24:11 - Disciples' Skepticism")), are now compelled to verify it themselves, only to discover the women's report to be perfectly accurate. This highlights the disciples' human limitations and the unexpected nature of God's revelation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 24:24 profoundly contributes to the theological bedrock of the Christian faith by solidifying the historical reality of the empty tomb, which is indispensable for the doctrine of the resurrection. The disciples' verification, though initially leading only to the absence of a body rather than the presence of the risen Lord, underscores that the resurrection is not a spiritualized concept but a physical, historical event. This passage emphasizes God's method of revealing truth, often through unexpected witnesses (the women) and through a process that allows for human doubt and subsequent verification. It sets the stage for the crucial truth that the resurrection is not merely about an empty grave, but about a living Savior, whose absence from the tomb points to His active presence in the world.

* [John 20:3-10](/john/20-3-10 "John 20:3-10 - Peter and John at the Empty Tomb")
* [Luke 24:11](/luke/24-11 "Luke 24:11 - Disciples' Unbelief")
* [1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - The Core of the Gospel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 24:24 offers a profound mirror for our own journey of faith, reminding us that doubt and skepticism are often part of the human experience, even in the face of incredible truths. The disciples, despite having walked with Jesus and heard His prophecies, still struggled to believe the resurrection until they had personally verified the empty tomb and, later, encountered the risen Lord. This narrative encourages us to approach our faith with both intellectual honesty and spiritual openness. It validates the need for evidence and personal conviction, while also challenging us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to a living, transformative encounter with Christ. Just as the empty tomb was a necessary but insufficient step for the disciples, so too our understanding of the facts of faith must lead us to a deeper relationship with the living Christ. This verse calls us to move from simply hearing about Christ's victory to experiencing its power in our own lives, transforming our doubts into unwavering faith and our skepticism into bold witness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the disciples' initial skepticism and need for verification resonate with your own journey of faith?**
* **What is the significance of the empty tomb for your personal belief in Jesus' resurrection, and how does it impact your daily life?**
* **In what ways might God be inviting you to move from intellectual assent to a deeper, more personal encounter with Him, even when the full picture is not yet clear?**

### FAQ
**Who are "certain of them which were with us" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: While Luke does not explicitly name them in this verse, parallel accounts, particularly [John 20:3-10](/john/20-3-10 "John 20:3-10 - Peter and John Run to the Tomb"), strongly indicate that "certain of them" refers to Peter and John. They were among the most prominent of Jesus' disciples and were quick to investigate the women's astonishing report, demonstrating a human desire for personal verification in the face of such an unprecedented claim. Their visit to the tomb serves to corroborate the women's testimony from the perspective of male, apostolic witnesses, adding further weight to the empty tomb evidence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 24:24, though describing an absence ("but him they saw not"), powerfully sets the stage for the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The empty tomb, verified by the disciples, is the irrefutable sign that Jesus' death was not the end, but the prelude to His glorious resurrection. This verse, by confirming the physical absence of Jesus' body, validates the women's message and prepares the disciples' hearts for the ultimate revelation: not a dead Messiah, but a living Lord. This leads directly into the subsequent resurrection appearances, where Jesus Himself, the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies concerning the suffering servant and conquering king, reveals Himself alive. His resurrection, foreshadowed by the empty tomb, is the cornerstone of the Gospel, demonstrating His victory over sin and death and securing eternal life for all who believe ([Romans 4:25](/romans/4-25 "Romans 4:25 - Jesus' Resurrection for Our Justification")). The disciples' journey from the empty tomb to encountering the risen Christ on the [Road to Emmaus](/luke/24-13-35 "Luke 24:13-35 - Jesus on the Road to Emmaus") and in Jerusalem ([Luke 24:36-43](/luke/24-36-43 "Luke 24:36-43 - Jesus Appears to His Disciples")) illustrates how the physical reality of the empty tomb points to the spiritual reality of a living Savior, who continues to reveal Himself to His followers, opening their minds to understand the Scriptures and commissioning them to proclaim His name to all nations ([Luke 24:44-49](/luke/24-44-49 "Luke 24:44-49 - The Great Commission")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 24:12

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.

John 20:1

¶ The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

John 20:10

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.