Luke 24 · KJV
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Luke 24

The empty tomb

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.

At dawn on the first day of the week, the women bring spices to the tomb and find the stone rolled away and the body gone. Two men in dazzling clothes ask why they look for the living among the dead, and remind them that Jesus said in Galilee he would be crucified and rise on the third day. The women tell the apostles, who dismiss their words as nonsense, but Peter runs to the tomb, sees the linen cloths lying by themselves and goes home wondering.

What does this mean?

"The first day of the week" is Sunday, the day after the Sabbath. "Idle tales" (KJV) or "nonsense" (WEB) translates a word used for the delirious talk of the sick.

Historical context

Ancient writers, including Josephus, show that women's testimony was often given little weight; many historians therefore think early Christians would not have invented women as the first witnesses. Verse 12 is missing from one important early group of manuscripts but present in most.

Why does it matter?

The women, including Joanna and Mary Magdalene, were introduced as followers in Galilee (8:2–3).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Told in all four Gospels

How Luke tells it

Luke has "two men" in shining clothes (Mark: a young man; Matthew: an angel; John: two angels). They recall what Jesus said "in Galilee" rather than sending the disciples to Galilee, keeping Luke's story around Jerusalem. Only Luke names Joanna and has the apostles dismiss the women's report. Peter runs alone (John: Peter and the beloved disciple).

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.

That same day two disciples, one named Cleopas, are walking to Emmaus when Jesus joins them, though they do not recognise him. They tell him about Jesus' death and their disappointed hope that he would redeem Israel; he calls them slow to believe and explains how all the Scriptures pointed to the Messiah's suffering and glory. At the evening meal he breaks bread, they recognise him, and he vanishes. They hurry back to Jerusalem, where the others report that the Lord has appeared to Simon.

What does this mean?

"Threescore furlongs" (KJV) or "sixty stadia" (WEB) is about 11 km; some manuscripts read 160. "The breaking of bread" became an early Christian name for the shared meal (Acts 2:42).

Historical context

The site of Emmaus is uncertain, and several villages have been proposed. Some identify Cleopas with the Clopas of John 19:25, but this cannot be confirmed.

Why does it matter?

Recognition comes through Scripture explained and bread broken, echoing the feeding of the crowds (9:16) and the Last Supper (22:19). The appearance to Simon Peter is also mentioned by Paul (1 Corinthians 15:5), though no Gospel narrates it.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Jesus appears to his 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.

While they are talking, Jesus stands among them and greets them with peace. Terrified, they think they are seeing a ghost, but he shows them his hands and feet, invites them to touch him, and eats a piece of fish in front of them. He says that everything written about him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled, opens their minds to understand, and tells them they are witnesses who will proclaim repentance and forgiveness to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem, once they are clothed with power from on high.

What does this mean?

"The promise of my Father" refers to the Holy Spirit, given at Pentecost (Acts 2). "Endued with power" (KJV) means clothed with power. The honeycomb mentioned in both translations is absent from the oldest manuscripts.

Historical context

"The law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms" probably reflects the three-part division of the Hebrew Scriptures, with the Psalms, often placed first, standing for the third part, the Writings.

Why does it matter?

Luke insists that the risen Jesus is physical, not a spirit or a vision. The commission sets out the plan of Acts, which begins in Jerusalem and moves outwards (Acts 1:8).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Jesus is taken up into heaven

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.

Jesus leads the disciples out as far as Bethany, lifts up his hands and blesses them, and while blessing them is parted from them and carried up into heaven. They worship him and return to Jerusalem with great joy, and are continually in the temple praising God.

What does this mean?

Raising hands in blessing resembles a priestly blessing; some interpreters compare the high priest Simon blessing the people in Sirach 50:20–21.

Historical context

The words "and was carried up into heaven" and "they worshipped him" are absent from some early manuscripts. In Acts 1:3–12 the same author places the ascension forty days after the resurrection, at the Mount of Olives (where Bethany lies); the Gospel seems to compress events into a single day, and interpreters explain the difference in various ways.

Why does it matter?

The Gospel ends where it began, in the Jerusalem temple with worship (1:8–10), and with the "great joy" announced at Jesus' birth (2:10). The story continues in Acts.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

You’ve finished the Gospel of Luke.

24 chapters, 1,151 verses, read in order.

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Translation

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Chapters

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
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  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
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  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
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  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
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Reading

Translation

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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