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The Walk to Emmaus

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,(A) 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.[b] 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”(B) 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,[c] who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,(C) 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.(D) 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,(E) 23 and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that 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 did not see him.”(F) 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah[e] should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?”(G) 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.(H)

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.(I) 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.(J) 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us[f] while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.(K) 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”(L)

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Footnotes

  1. 24.13 Gk sixty stadia; other ancient authorities read a hundred sixty stadia
  2. 24.17 Other ancient authorities read walk along, looking sad?”
  3. 24.19 Other ancient authorities read Jesus the Nazorean
  4. 24.21 Or to set Israel free
  5. 24.26 Or the Christ
  6. 24.32 Other ancient authorities lack within us

Jesus Walks the Road to Emmaus

13 Now[a] that very day two of them[b] were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[c] from Jerusalem. 14 They[d] were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. 15 While[e] they were talking and debating[f] these things,[g] Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them 16 (but their eyes were kept[h] from recognizing[i] him).[j] 17 Then[k] he said to them, “What are these matters[l] you are discussing so intently[m] as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him,[n] “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know[o] the things that have happened there[p] in these days?” 19 He[q] said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man[r] who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet[s] before God and all the people; 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over[t] to be condemned to death, and crucified[u] him. 21 But we had hoped[v] that he was the one who was going to redeem[w] Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us.[x] They[y] were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels,[z] who said he was alive. 24 Then[aa] some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”[ab] 25 So[ac] he said to them, “You[ad] foolish people[ae]—how slow of heart[af] to believe[ag] all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Wasn’t[ah] it necessary[ai] for the Christ[aj] to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then[ak] beginning with Moses and all the prophets,[al] he interpreted to them the things written about[am] himself in all the scriptures.

28 So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther,[an] 29 but they urged him,[ao] “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” So[ap] he went in to stay with them.

30 When[aq] he had taken his place at the table[ar] with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it,[as] and gave it to them. 31 At this point[at] their eyes were opened and they recognized[au] him.[av] Then[aw] he vanished out of their sight. 32 They[ax] said to each other, “Didn’t[ay] our hearts[az] burn within us[ba] while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining[bb] the scriptures to us?” 33 So[bc] they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They[bd] found the eleven and those with them gathered together 34 and[be] saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!”[bf]

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 24:13 tn Grk “And behold.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. The Greek word ἰδού (idou) at the beginning of this statement has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
  2. Luke 24:13 tn These are disciples as they know about the empty tomb and do not know what to make of it all.
  3. Luke 24:13 tn Grk “sixty stades” or about 11 kilometers. A stade (στάδιον, stadion) was a unit of distance about 607 feet (185 meters) long.
  4. Luke 24:14 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  5. Luke 24:15 tn Grk “And it happened that while.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  6. Luke 24:15 tn This term suggests emotional dialogue and can thus be translated “debated.”
  7. Luke 24:15 tn The phrase “these things” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
  8. Luke 24:16 sn The two disciples will not be allowed to recognize Jesus until v. 31.
  9. Luke 24:16 tn This is an epexegetical (i.e., explanatory) infinitive in Greek.
  10. Luke 24:16 sn This parenthetical remark by the author is necessary so the reader will understand the account.
  11. Luke 24:17 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  12. Luke 24:17 tn Grk “words,” but the term λόγος (logos) can refer to “matters” rather than only “words” (BDAG 600 s.v. 1.a.ε).
  13. Luke 24:17 tn “Discussing so intently” translates the reciprocal idea conveyed by πρὸς ἀλλήλους (pros allēlous). The term ἀντιβάλλω (antiballō), used only here in the NT, has the nuance of “arguing” or “debating” a point (the English idiom “to exchange words” also comes close).
  14. Luke 24:18 tn Grk “answering him, said.” This is redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.
  15. Luke 24:18 sn There is irony and almost a sense of mocking disbelief as the question “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?” comes to Jesus, but, of course, the readers know what the travelers do not.
  16. Luke 24:18 tn Grk “in it” (referring to the city of Jerusalem).
  17. Luke 24:19 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  18. Luke 24:19 tn This translates the Greek term ἀνήρ (anēr).
  19. Luke 24:19 sn The role of Jesus as prophet is a function Luke frequently mentions: 4:25-27; 9:35; 13:31-35.
  20. Luke 24:20 sn Handed him over is another summary of the passion like Luke 9:22.
  21. Luke 24:20 sn See the note on crucify in 23:21.
  22. Luke 24:21 tn The imperfect verb looks back to the view that they held during Jesus’ past ministry.
  23. Luke 24:21 sn Their messianic hope concerning Jesus is expressed by the phrase who was going to redeem Israel.
  24. Luke 24:22 sn The account in 24:1-12 is repeated here, and it is clear that the other disciples were not convinced by the women, but could not explain the events either.
  25. Luke 24:22 tn In the Greek text this is a continuation of the previous sentence, but because of the length and complexity of the construction a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  26. Luke 24:23 sn The men in dazzling attire mentioned in v. 4 are identified as angels here.
  27. Luke 24:24 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  28. Luke 24:24 tn Here the pronoun αὐτόν (auton), referring to Jesus, is in an emphatic position. The one thing they lacked was solid evidence that he was alive.
  29. Luke 24:25 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the disciples’ inability to believe in Jesus’ resurrection.
  30. Luke 24:25 tn Grk “O,” an interjection used both in address and emotion (BDAG 1101 s.v. 1).
  31. Luke 24:25 tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to complete the interjection.
  32. Luke 24:25 sn The rebuke is for failure to believe the promise of scripture, a theme that will appear in vv. 43-47 as well.
  33. Luke 24:25 tn On the syntax of this infinitival construction, see BDAG 364-65 s.v. ἐπί 6.b.
  34. Luke 24:26 tn This Greek particle (οὐχί, ouchi) expects a positive reply.
  35. Luke 24:26 sn The statement Wasn’t it necessary is a reference to the design of God’s plan (see Luke 24:7). Suffering must precede glory (see Luke 17:25).
  36. Luke 24:26 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”sn See the note on Christ in 2:11.
  37. Luke 24:27 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
  38. Luke 24:27 sn The reference to Moses and all the prophets is a way to say the promise of Messiah runs throughout OT scripture from first to last.
  39. Luke 24:27 tn Or “regarding,” “concerning.” “Written” is implied by the mention of the scriptures in context; “said” could also be used here, referring to the original utterances, but by now these things had been committed to writing.
  40. Luke 24:28 sn He acted as though he wanted to go farther. This is written in a way that gives the impression Jesus knew they would ask him to stay.
  41. Luke 24:29 tn Grk “urged him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes, “saying”) has not been translated because it is redundant in contemporary English.
  42. Luke 24:29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the disciples’ request.
  43. Luke 24:30 tn Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  44. Luke 24:30 tn Grk “had reclined at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.
  45. Luke 24:30 tn The pronoun “it” is not in the Greek text here or in the following clause, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
  46. Luke 24:31 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “At this point” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative. “Then,” which is normally used to indicate this, would be redundant with the following clause.
  47. Luke 24:31 sn They recognized him. Other than this cryptic remark, it is not told how the two disciples were now able to recognize Jesus.
  48. Luke 24:31 tn This pronoun is somewhat emphatic.
  49. Luke 24:31 tn This translates a καί (kai, “and”) that has clear sequential force.
  50. Luke 24:32 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  51. Luke 24:32 tn This question uses a Greek particle (οὐχί, ouchi) that expects a positive reply.
  52. Luke 24:32 tn This is a collective singular use of the term καρδία (kardia), so each of their hearts were burning, a reference itself to the intense emotion of their response.
  53. Luke 24:32 tc ‡ Most mss have the phrase ἐν ἡμῖν (en hēmin, “within us”) after οὐχὶ ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν καιομένη ἦν (ouchi hē kardia hēmōn kaiomenē ēn, “Didn’t our hearts burn”). The phrase “within us” is lacking in some early mss (P75 B D c e sys,c). These early witnesses could have overlooked the words, since there are several occurrences of ἡμῖν in the context. But it seems likely that other scribes wanted to clarify the abrupt expression “Didn’t our hearts burn,” even as the translation has done here. NA28 includes the words in brackets, indicating doubts as to their authenticity.sn Even though it is most likely not original (see tc note above), the phrase within us has been included in the translation for clarity.
  54. Luke 24:32 tn Grk “opening” (cf. Acts 17:3).
  55. Luke 24:33 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the Lord’s appearance to them.
  56. Luke 24:33 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
  57. Luke 24:34 tn Here the word “and” has been supplied to make it clear that the disciples who had been to Emmaus found the eleven plus the others gathered and saying this.
  58. Luke 24:34 sn The Lord…has appeared to Simon. Jesus had made another appearance besides the one on the road. The excitement was rising. Simon refers to Simon Peter.