Luke 24:4

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

And {G2532} it came to pass {G1096}, as {G1722} they {G846} were much perplexed {G1280} thereabout {G4012}{G5127},{G2532} behold {G2400}, two {G1417} men {G435} stood by {G2186} them {G846} in {G1722} shining {G797} garments {G2067}:

They were standing there, not knowing what to think about it, when suddenly two men in dazzlingly bright clothing stood next to them.

While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them.

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

Commentary

Luke 24:4 (KJV) describes a pivotal moment immediately following the discovery of the empty tomb on Resurrection Sunday. The verse captures the confusion of the women who had come to anoint Jesus' body, only to be met with a supernatural encounter.

Context

This verse is part of the climactic Resurrection narrative in Luke's Gospel. Earlier in the chapter, women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, arrived at Jesus' tomb early on the first day of the week to complete burial rites (Luke 24:1-2). They found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, which left them profoundly "perplexed" (Luke 24:3). Their bewilderment was not just about the missing body, but the entire unexpected situation, challenging their understanding of death and hope.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Intervention: The sudden appearance of "two men in shining garments" signals a direct intervention from God. These are widely understood to be angels, sent to deliver a crucial message about Jesus' resurrection. Their radiant appearance emphasizes their heavenly origin and the glory of the event.
  • Human Perplexity vs. Divine Clarity: The women's perplexity highlights the natural human reaction to the miraculous and the unknown. They were looking for a corpse, not a resurrected Lord. The divine messengers arrive to dispel this confusion with truth and revelation.
  • The Reality of the Resurrection: While the verse itself doesn't state the resurrection, it sets the stage for the angelic announcement that Jesus is not there, for He is risen (Luke 24:5-7). The empty tomb and the angelic presence serve as undeniable evidence of Christ's triumph over death.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "perplexed" is aporeo (ἀπορέω), which means to be without resource, to be at a loss, or to be in doubt. It perfectly captures the women's state of mind: they had no explanation or understanding for the empty tomb. The phrase "shining garments" (ἀστραπτούσαις ἐσθήσεσιν - astraptousais esthesesin) describes a dazzling, lightning-like brilliance, reinforcing the supernatural nature of these heavenly beings, similar to descriptions of angels in other biblical accounts (e.g., Acts 1:10).

Practical Application

Luke 24:4 reminds us that even in moments of confusion, doubt, or despair, God often intervenes in unexpected ways to reveal His truth. Just as the women were bewildered before receiving the glorious news, we too may face situations that leave us "perplexed." This verse encourages us to look beyond our immediate understanding and be open to God's supernatural solutions and divine revelation. It underscores that God does not leave us in confusion but provides clarity, especially when it concerns the foundational truths of our faith, like the power of the resurrection.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 16:5

    And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

  • John 20:11

    ¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, [and looked] into the sepulchre,

  • John 20:12

    And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

  • Acts 1:10

    And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

  • Matthew 28:2

    And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

  • Matthew 28:6

    He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

  • Genesis 18:2

    And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
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