Luke 24:8

KJV

And they remembered his words,

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they remembered {G3415} his {G846} words {G4487},

Complete Jewish Bible

Then they remembered his words;

Berean Standard Bible

Then they remembered His words.

American Standard Version

And they remembered his words,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 24:8 marks a pivotal moment in the resurrection narrative, where the women who had gone to Jesus' tomb, confronted by angels, suddenly recalled Jesus' own prophecies concerning His death and resurrection. This act of divine remembrance transformed their confusion and perplexity into dawning comprehension and belief, serving as the critical turning point that propelled them to share the astonishing news with the disciples.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the climactic resurrection account in Luke's Gospel. Immediately preceding it, the women arrive at the tomb only to find it empty, a discovery that leaves them "perplexed" ([Luke 24:4](/luke/24-4 "Luke 24:4 - Women Perplexed at Empty Tomb")). Their confusion is met by the sudden appearance of "two men in dazzling clothes" (angels), who challenge their search for the living among the dead and explicitly prompt their memory: "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" ([Luke 24:6-7](/luke/24-6-7 "Luke 24:6-7 - Angels Remind Women of Jesus' Words")). Verse 8 is the immediate, profound response to this divine intervention, indicating that the angels' words unlocked their understanding, shifting their perspective from bewildered grief to illuminated faith.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish society, the concept of a crucified Messiah was a profound stumbling block, as the Messiah was expected to be a conquering king, not a suffering servant ([1 Corinthians 1:23](/1_corinthians/1-23 "1 Corinthians 1:23 - Christ Crucified, a Stumbling Block")). Jesus' disciples, despite His repeated prophecies, struggled to reconcile His teachings with their preconceived notions, often failing to grasp the full implications of His suffering and death. The women, like many others, were likely caught in this cultural paradigm, expecting a living teacher or a resurrected body, but not a resurrection from the dead in the manner Jesus had foretold. Furthermore, in a culture heavily reliant on oral tradition, remembering and recalling significant teachings was paramount, often aided by repetition and divine prompting. The testimony of women, while crucial in the early church, was often not legally admissible in Jewish courts, making their initial witness even more remarkable and requiring divine validation.

* **Key Themes:** Luke 24:8 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **Fulfillment of Prophecy**. Jesus' death and resurrection were not random events but the precise culmination of His own foretelling, demonstrating His divine foreknowledge and the reliability of God's redemptive plan. This echoes the broader theme in Luke of Jesus as the one who fulfills the Law and the Prophets ([Luke 24:44](/luke/24-44 "Luke 24:44 - Jesus Fulfills the Law and Prophets")). Secondly, the verse highlights the **Power of Memory and Divine Illumination**. The women had heard Jesus' words before, but it took the angelic reminder—a form of divine illumination—for those words to "click" into place, transforming their understanding. This illustrates how the Holy Spirit often brings God's Word to remembrance at critical moments, enabling believers to grasp spiritual truths that were previously obscure ([John 14:26](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Holy Spirit as Teacher and Reminder")). Finally, it emphasizes **Belief and Witness**. Their remembrance was not an end in itself but the catalyst for belief, leading them to become the first evangelists of the resurrection, running to tell the apostles ([Luke 24:9](/luke/24-9 "Luke 24:9 - Women Tell the Apostles")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **And (Greek, _kaí'_):** This primary particle serves as a copulative, connecting the angels' words of remembrance to the women's immediate action. It signifies a direct cause-and-effect relationship, indicating that the women's remembrance was a direct result of the divine prompt. It's not merely a sequential "and then," but an "and therefore," highlighting the transformative impact of the angelic message.
* **remembered (Greek, _mnáomai'_):** This verb, in the middle voice, signifies an active process of "bearing in mind" or "recollecting." It's more than a passive recall; it implies a conscious effort to bring something back to consciousness, often with a fresh understanding or realization. In this context, it suggests a profound "calling to mind" that leads to conviction, as the women's previous perplexity gives way to clarity regarding Jesus' prophecies.
* **words (Greek, _rhēma'_):** Derived from a verb meaning "to speak" or "to flow," _rhēma_ refers to an utterance, a spoken word, or a saying. Unlike _logos_ (which can imply a broader concept or underlying reason), _rhēma_ often emphasizes the specific, individual utterance or declaration. Here, it points to the precise prophecies Jesus had spoken concerning His suffering, death, and resurrection, underscoring the exactness of their fulfillment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they remembered":** This phrase denotes a critical cognitive and spiritual shift. The women, previously bewildered by the empty tomb, suddenly experience a breakthrough in understanding. This remembrance is not a mere mental exercise but a divinely prompted illumination, allowing them to connect the present reality of the empty tomb with the past prophecies of Jesus. It signifies the moment their faith began to grasp the truth of the resurrection.
* **"his words":** This refers specifically to the prophecies Jesus had repeatedly uttered concerning His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. These were not generic teachings but specific, foretelling declarations about the very events that had just unfolded. The emphasis on "his" words highlights the authority and divine foreknowledge of Jesus, whose every utterance proved true. The remembrance of these particular "words" was essential for them to comprehend the profound significance of the empty tomb.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 24:8 employs several significant literary devices. **Anamnesis**, the act of remembering or recalling, is central, particularly as it is divinely prompted. The angels' explicit command to "remember" ([Luke 24:6](/luke/24-6 "Luke 24:6 - Angels Remind Women")) triggers this crucial cognitive and spiritual process in the women. This is a form of **Divine Intervention** or **Divine Illumination**, where God, through His messengers, actively guides human understanding towards truth. The verse also functions as a powerful moment of **Revelation**, where previously obscure or misunderstood truths (Jesus' prophecies) are suddenly made clear in light of unfolding events. There is also a subtle **Irony** at play: the disciples, who had walked with Jesus and heard His words directly, failed to remember or fully grasp them until *after* the resurrection, requiring external, angelic prompting to unlock their understanding.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 24:8 profoundly illustrates the critical role of divine revelation and the Holy Spirit's work in enabling human understanding of God's truth. The women's remembrance was not a spontaneous cognitive act but a divinely assisted one, demonstrating that spiritual truths, especially those concerning the resurrection, often require God's illumination to be fully grasped. This highlights the reliability of God's prophetic word and the necessity of internalizing Christ's teachings, for it is in moments of crisis or confusion that these truths, brought to mind by the Spirit, provide clarity, comfort, and conviction. The verse underscores that faith is not merely about receiving information but about remembering and applying God's revealed truth in light of unfolding events, confirming that God's plan, though often mysterious in its unfolding, is always perfectly on schedule.

* [John 14:26](/john/14-26 "John 14:26 - The Holy Spirit Reminds and Teaches")
* [Psalm 119:11](/psalms/119-11 "Psalm 119:11 - Hiding God's Word in the Heart")
* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 24:8 offers a profound lesson for believers today: the vital importance of consistently engaging with and internalizing the words of Christ. Just as the women's memory was activated by divine prompting at the precise moment of fulfillment, so too does the Holy Spirit bring God's truth to our remembrance when we most need it. In times of doubt, confusion, or apparent defeat, our recollection of God's promises, His character, and His past faithfulness can transform our perspective, turning perplexity into peace and despair into hope. This verse calls us to be diligent students of Scripture, not just for intellectual knowledge, but so that the Spirit has rich material to draw upon when we face life's challenges. It reminds us that God's plan is always unfolding, and our understanding often comes in hindsight, illuminated by His grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "words" of Jesus have you heard or read many times, but perhaps not fully grasped their significance until a particular life event or divine prompting?**
* **How can you more intentionally "hide God's Word in your heart" so that the Holy Spirit has more to bring to your remembrance in times of need?**
* **Think of a time when God's truth, previously known but not fully understood, suddenly "clicked" for you. What role did divine illumination play in that moment?**
* **In what current area of your life do you need the Holy Spirit to bring Christ's words to your remembrance to bring clarity or comfort?**

### FAQ

**Why didn't the women remember Jesus' words about His resurrection earlier?**

Answer: The disciples, including the women, struggled to comprehend Jesus' prophecies about His death and resurrection because these concepts directly contradicted their prevailing expectations of a conquering Messiah. Their understanding was clouded by cultural paradigms and human limitations. Even after hearing Jesus' words multiple times (e.g., [Matthew 16:21](/matthew/16-21 "Matthew 16:21 - Jesus Predicts His Death"), [Mark 9:31-32](/mark/9-31-32 "Mark 9:31-32 - Jesus Predicts Death and Resurrection"), [Luke 18:31-34](/luke/18-31-34 "Luke 18:31-34 - Jesus' Third Prediction of His Passion")), they often did not grasp their full implications until after the events unfolded and the Holy Spirit, or divine messengers, illuminated their minds. This highlights the need for divine revelation to truly understand spiritual truths.

**What is the significance of the angels' role in the women's remembrance?**

Answer: The angels served as divine messengers, acting as catalysts for the women's remembrance. Their appearance and explicit reminder ("remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee") were crucial. This demonstrates that God often uses external prompts, whether through His Word, His Spirit, or His servants, to bring truth to our minds and open our understanding. The angels' intervention underscores that the women's remembrance was not merely a human cognitive act but a divinely orchestrated moment of illumination, essential for them to grasp the reality of the resurrection and become its first witnesses.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 24:8, "And they remembered his words," is profoundly Christ-centered, as it hinges entirely on the person and work of Jesus. The "words" remembered are none other than the prophecies of Christ Himself concerning His suffering, death, and glorious resurrection. This remembrance confirms Jesus' divine foreknowledge and authority, demonstrating that His passion was not a tragic accident but the deliberate, pre-ordained act of God for the redemption of humanity ([Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - God's Deliberate Plan")). The women's sudden comprehension of these words, prompted by the angels, underscores that Christ's resurrection is the central, foundational truth of the gospel, validating His claims and fulfilling all that was written about Him in the Law and the Prophets ([Luke 24:44-47](/luke/24-44-47 "Luke 24:44-47 - Jesus Explains the Scriptures")). Their remembrance of "his words" transforms their understanding of who Jesus is—not merely a crucified prophet, but the risen Lord who has conquered death, fulfilling the ultimate promise of new life for all who believe in Him ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life in Christ")). This pivotal moment of remembrance sets the stage for the spread of the gospel, as those who remember and believe in Christ's words become His witnesses to the world ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - You Will Be My Witnesses")).

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

John 12:16

These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and [that] they had done these things unto him.

John 14:26

But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 2:19

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

John 2:22

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.