Luke 24
Christian Standard Bible
Resurrection Morning
24 On(A) the first day of the week,(B) very early in the morning, they[a] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body(C) of the Lord Jesus.(D) 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling(E) clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but he has risen!(F) Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee,(G) 7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed(H) into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise(I) on the third day’?” 8 And they remembered his words.
9 Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven(J) and to all the rest. 10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James,(K) and the other women with them were telling the apostles(L) these things. 11 But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe(M) the women. 12 Peter,(N) however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths.[b](O) So he went away, amazed(P) at what had happened.
The Emmaus Disciples
13 Now(Q) that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles[c](R) from Jerusalem.(S) 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16 But they[d] were prevented from recognizing him.(T) 17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having[e] with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.
18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” (U)
19 “What things?” he asked them.
So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth,(V) who was a prophet(W) powerful in action and speech(X) before God and all the people,(Y) 20 and how our chief priests and leaders(Z) handed him over to be sentenced to death,(AA) and they crucified him.(AB) 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem(AC) Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day(AD) since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23 and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”(AE)
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow[f] to believe all that the prophets have spoken!(AF) 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer(AG) these things and enter into his glory?”(AH) 27 Then beginning with Moses(AI) and all the Prophets,(AJ) he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.(AK)
28 They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther.(AL) 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke(AM) it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened,(AN) and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.(AO) 32 They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures(AP) to us?” 33 That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven(AQ) and those with them gathered together, 34 who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” (AR) 35 Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.(AS)
The Reality of the Risen Jesus
36 As(AT) they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace(AU) to you!” 37 But they were startled and terrified(AV) and thought they were seeing a ghost.(AW) 38 “Why are you troubled?”(AX) he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself!(AY) Touch me and see,(AZ) because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish,[g] 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.
44 He told them, “These are my words(BA) that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,(BB) and the Psalms(BC) must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds(BD) to understand(BE) the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written:[h] The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day,(BF) 47 and repentance for[i] forgiveness of sins(BG) will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,(BH) beginning at Jerusalem.(BI) 48 You are witnesses(BJ) of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you[j] what my Father promised.(BK) As for you, stay in the city[k] until you are empowered[l](BL) from on high.”
The Ascension of Jesus
50 Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany,(BM) and lifting up his hands(BN) he blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven.(BO) 52 After worshiping him,(BP) they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.(BQ) 53 And they were continually in the temple praising God.[m](BR)
Footnotes
- 24:1 Other mss add and other women with them
- 24:12 Other mss add lying there
- 24:13 Lit about sixty stadia; one stadion = 600 feet
- 24:16 Lit their eyes
- 24:17 Lit “What are these words that you are exchanging
- 24:25 Lit slow of heart
- 24:42 Other mss add and some honeycomb
- 24:46 Other mss add and thus it was necessary that
- 24:47 Many mss read repentance and
- 24:49 Lit upon you
- 24:49 Other mss add of Jerusalem
- 24:49 Lit clothed with power
- 24:53 Other mss read praising and blessing God. Amen.
Luke 24
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
VIII. The Resurrection Narrative[a]
Chapter 24
The Resurrection of Jesus. 1 (A)But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.(B) 5 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) 6 He is not here, but he has been raised.[b] Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.”(D) 8 And they remembered his words.(E) 9 [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
- 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).
- 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.
- 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).
- 24:12 This verse is missing from the Western textual tradition but is found in the best and oldest manuscripts of other text types.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 24:46 See note on Lk 24:26.
- 24:49 The promise of my Father: i.e., the gift of the holy Spirit.
- 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.
- 24:53 The Gospel of Luke ends as it began (Lk 1:9), in the Jerusalem temple.
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