Add parallel Print Page Options

The empty tomb

24 Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, bringing the fragrant spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. They didn’t know what to make of this. Suddenly, two men were standing beside them in gleaming bright clothing. The women were frightened and bowed their faces toward the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He isn’t here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee, that the Human One[a] must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words. When they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 11 Their words struck the apostles as nonsense, and they didn’t believe the women. 12 But Peter ran to the tomb. When he bent over to look inside, he saw only the linen cloth. Then he returned home, wondering what had happened.

Encounter on the Emmaus road

13 On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. 15 While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. 16 They were prevented from recognizing him.

17 He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, their faces downcast.

18 The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?”

19 He said to them, “What things?”

They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. 20 But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago. 22 But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.”

25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about. 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.

28 When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. 29 But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”

33 They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” 35 Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.

Jesus appears to the disciples

36 While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 37 They were terrified and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost.

38 He said to them, “Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me! Touch me and see, for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones like you see I have.” 40 As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 Because they were wondering and questioning in the midst of their happiness, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish. 43 Taking it, he ate it in front of them.

44 Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 Look, I’m sending to you what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with heavenly power.”

Ascension of Jesus

50 He led them out as far as Bethany, where he lifted his hands and blessed them. 51 As he blessed them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy. 53 And they were continuously in the temple praising God.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 24:7 Or Son of Man

Jesus Is Raised

24 Now on the first day of the week, at very early dawn, they came back to the tomb bringing the fragrant spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but when they[a] went in, they did not find the body.[b] And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men in gleaming clothing stood near them. And as[c] they were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he spoke to you while he[d] was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of men who are sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise?” And they remembered his words, and when they[e] returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the others with them were telling these things to the apostles. 11 And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they refused to believe them. 12 But Peter got up and[f] ran to the tomb, and bending over to look, he saw only the strips of linen cloth, and he went away to his home[g] wondering what had happened.

Jesus Encountered on the Road to Emmaus

13 And behold, on that same day, two of them were traveling to a village named[h] Emmaus that was sixty stadia[i] distant from Jerusalem, 14 and they were conversing with one another about all these things that had happened. 15 And it happened that while they were conversing, and discussing, Jesus himself also approached and[j] began to go along with[k] them, 16 but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are these matters that you are discussing with one another as you[l] are walking along?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 And one of them, named[m] Cleopas, answered and[n] said to him, “Are you the only one living near Jerusalem and not knowing the things that have happened in it in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, a man who was a prophet, powerful in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to a sentence of death, and crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. But in addition to all these things, this is the third day since[o] these things took place. 22 But also some women from among us astonished us, who were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they[p] did not find his body, they came back saying they had seen even a vision of angels, who said that he was alive! 24 And some of those with us went out to the tomb and found it[q] like this, just as the women had also said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish and slow in heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things concerning himself in all the scriptures. 28 And they drew near to the village where they were going, and he acted as though he was going farther. 29 And they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening, and by this time the day is far spent.” And he went in to stay with them. 30 And it happened that when he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread and[r] gave thanks, and after[s] breaking it,[t] he gave it[u] to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he became invisible to them. 32 And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that same hour and[v] returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven and those with them assembled, 34 saying, “The Lord has really been raised, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they began describing[w] what happened[x] on the road, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36 And while[y] they were saying these things, he himself stood there among them.[z] 37 But they were startled and became terrified, and[aa] thought they had seen a ghost. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you frightened? And for what reason do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that I am I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”[ab] 40 And when he[ac] had said this, he showed them his[ad] hands and his[ae] feet. 41 And while[af] they were still disbelieving because of joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat[ag] here?” 42 So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it[ah] and[ai] ate it[aj] in front of them.

Jesus Commissions His Disciples

44 And he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I[ak] was still with you, that everything that is written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and the forgiveness[al] of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,[am] beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending out[an] what was promised by my Father upon you, but you stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension

50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 And it happened that while he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and[ao] returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually[ap] in the temple courts[aq] praising God.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 24:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“went in”) which is understood as temporal
  2. Luke 24:3 Some manuscripts add “of the Lord Jesus”
  3. Luke 24:5 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participles (“were” and “bowed”)
  4. Luke 24:6 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was”) which is understood as temporal
  5. Luke 24:9 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“returned”) which is understood as temporal
  6. Luke 24:12 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  7. Luke 24:12 Or “wondering to himself,” if the prepositional phrase modifies the following participle
  8. Luke 24:13 Literally “to which the name”
  9. Luke 24:13 A “stade” or “stadium” (plur. “stadia”) is about 607 ft (187 m)
  10. Luke 24:15 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb
  11. Luke 24:15 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to go along with”)
  12. Luke 24:17 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“walking along”) which is understood as temporal
  13. Luke 24:18 Literally “by name”
  14. Luke 24:18 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  15. Luke 24:21 Literally “he spends from which”
  16. Luke 24:23 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“find”) which is understood as temporal
  17. Luke 24:24 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  18. Luke 24:30 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
  19. Luke 24:30 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“breaking”) which is understood as temporal
  20. Luke 24:30 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  21. Luke 24:30 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  22. Luke 24:33 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  23. Luke 24:35 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began describing”)
  24. Luke 24:35 Literally “the things”
  25. Luke 24:36 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were saying”)
  26. Luke 24:36 Some manuscripts add “and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’”
  27. Luke 24:37 Here “and” is supplied because the two previous participles (“startled” and “terrified”) have been translated as finite verbs
  28. Luke 24:39 Literally “you see me having”
  29. Luke 24:40 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had said”) which is understood as temporal
  30. Luke 24:40 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  31. Luke 24:40 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  32. Luke 24:41 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“disbelieving”)
  33. Luke 24:41 Literally “eatable”
  34. Luke 24:43 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  35. Luke 24:43 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
  36. Luke 24:43 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  37. Luke 24:44 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was”) which is understood as temporal
  38. Luke 24:47 Some manuscripts have “repentance for the forgiveness”
  39. Luke 24:47 The same Greek word can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles” depending on the context
  40. Luke 24:49 Some manuscripts have “am sending”
  41. Luke 24:52 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“worshiped”) has been translated as a finite verb
  42. Luke 24:53 Literally “through everything”
  43. Luke 24:53 Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself

VIII. The Resurrection Narrative[a]

Chapter 24

The Resurrection of Jesus. (A)But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.(B) They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?(C) He is not here, but he has been raised.[b] Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.”(D) And they remembered his words.(E) [c](F)Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. 10 The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles,(G) 11 but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. 12 [d](H)But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus.[e] 13 Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles[f] from Jerusalem called Emmaus,(I) 14 and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. 15 And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, 16 [g](J)but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,(K) 20 how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. 21 (L)But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. 22 (M)Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. 24 (N)Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” 25 (O)And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer[h] these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.(P) 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. 31 With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. 32 Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” 33 So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them 34 who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”(Q) 35 Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Appearance to the Disciples in Jerusalem. 36 [i]While they were still speaking about this,(R) he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”(S) 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.(T) 38 Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? 39 [j]Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 (U)And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish;(V) 43 he took it and ate it in front of them.

44 He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”(W) 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.(X) 46 [k]And he said to them,(Y) “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.(Z) 48 You are witnesses of these things.(AA) 49 And [behold] I am sending the promise of my Father[l] upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”(AB)

The Ascension.[m] 50 (AC)Then he led them [out] as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. 51 As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. 52 They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,(AD) 53 and they were continually in the temple praising God.[n]

Footnotes

  1. 24:1–53 The resurrection narrative in Luke consists of five sections: (1) the women at the empty tomb (Lk 23:56b–24:12); (2) the appearance to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus (Lk 24:13–35); (3) the appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem (Lk 24:36–43); (4) Jesus’ final instructions (Lk 24:44–49); (5) the ascension (Lk 24:50–53). In Luke, all the resurrection appearances take place in and around Jerusalem; moreover, they are all recounted as having taken place on Easter Sunday. A consistent theme throughout the narrative is that the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus were accomplished in fulfillment of Old Testament promises and of Jewish hopes (Lk 24:19a, 21, 26–27, 44, 46). In his second volume, Acts, Luke will argue that Christianity is the fulfillment of the hopes of Pharisaic Judaism and its logical development (see Acts 24:10–21).
  2. 24:6 He is not here, but he has been raised: this part of the verse is omitted in important representatives of the Western text tradition, but its presence in other text types and the slight difference in wording from Mt 28:6 and Mk 16:6 argue for its retention.
  3. 24:9 The women in this gospel do not flee from the tomb and tell no one, as in Mk 16:8 but return and tell the disciples about their experience. The initial reaction to the testimony of the women is disbelief (Lk 24:11).
  4. 24:12 This verse is missing from the Western textual tradition but is found in the best and oldest manuscripts of other text types.
  5. 24:13–35 This episode focuses on the interpretation of scripture by the risen Jesus and the recognition of him in the breaking of the bread. The references to the quotations of scripture and explanation of it (Lk 24:25–27), the kerygmatic proclamation (Lk 24:34), and the liturgical gesture (Lk 24:30) suggest that the episode is primarily catechetical and liturgical rather than apologetic.
  6. 24:13 Seven miles: literally, “sixty stades.” A stade was 607 feet. Some manuscripts read “160 stades” or more than eighteen miles. The exact location of Emmaus is disputed.
  7. 24:16 A consistent feature of the resurrection stories is that the risen Jesus was different and initially unrecognizable (Lk 24:37; Mk 16:12; Jn 20:14; 21:4).
  8. 24:26 That the Messiah should suffer…: Luke is the only New Testament writer to speak explicitly of a suffering Messiah (Lk 24:26, 46; Acts 3:18; 17:3; 26:23). The idea of a suffering Messiah is not found in the Old Testament or in other Jewish literature prior to the New Testament period, although the idea is hinted at in Mk 8:31–33. See notes on Mt 26:63 and 26:67–68.
  9. 24:36–43, 44–49 The Gospel of Luke, like each of the other gospels (Mt 28:16–20; Mk 16:14–15; Jn 20:19–23), focuses on an important appearance of Jesus to the Twelve in which they are commissioned for their future ministry. As in Lk 24:6, 12, so in Lk 24:36, 40 there are omissions in the Western text.
  10. 24:39–42 The apologetic purpose of this story is evident in the concern with the physical details and the report that Jesus ate food.
  11. 24:46 See note on Lk 24:26.
  12. 24:49 The promise of my Father: i.e., the gift of the holy Spirit.
  13. 24:50–53 Luke brings his story about the time of Jesus to a close with the report of the ascension. He will also begin the story of the time of the church with a recounting of the ascension. In the gospel, Luke recounts the ascension of Jesus on Easter Sunday night, thereby closely associating it with the resurrection. In Acts 1:3, 9–11; 13:31 he historicizes the ascension by speaking of a forty-day period between the resurrection and the ascension. The Western text omits some phrases in Lk 24:51, 52 perhaps to avoid any chronological conflict with Acts 1 about the time of the ascension.
  14. 24:53 The Gospel of Luke ends as it began (Lk 1:9), in the Jerusalem temple.