Luke Chapter 24

From The Open Bible Project

24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

• (1) Poor humble women, who were certainly not expecting it, are chosen to be the first witnesses of the resurrection, so that there might not be any suspicion of either deceit or violence.
• (a) Very early, as Mark says: or as John says, while it was yet dark, that is, when it was yet hardly the dawning of day.

24:2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

24:3 They entered in, and didn't find the Lord Jesus' body.

24:4 It happened, while they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing.

24:5 Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

24:6 He isn't here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee,

24:7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again?"

24:8 They remembered his words,

24:9 returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.

• (2) The cowardly and dastardly mind of the disciples is reproved by the brave courage of women (made so by God’s great mercies) to show that the kingdom of God consists in an extraordinary power.

24:10 Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles.

24:11 These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn't believe them.

24:12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened.

• (3) Christ uses the incredulity of his disciples for the fuller setting forth of the truth of his resurrection, lest they should seem to have believed that too lightly which they preached afterward to all the world.
• (b) As it were holding down his head, and bowing his neck, looked diligently in.

24:13 Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was [61] sixty stadia [See Luke Footnotes 61] from Jerusalem.

• (4) The resurrection is proved by two other witnesses who saw it, and all the circumstances surrounding it declare that it was no forged event thought up on purpose in their own minds.

24:14 They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened.

24:15 It happened, while they talked and questioned together, that Jesus himself came near, and went with them.

24:16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

• (c) Were held back and stayed, God no doubt appointing this to be so: and therefore his body was not invisible, but rather their eyes were dimmed.

24:17 He said to them, "What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?"

24:18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things which have happened there in these days?"

• (d) Some of the old fathers think that the other disciple was the same evangelist who wrote this book, but Epiphanius, writing against the Saturnilians, says it was Nathanael; but none of these are certainties.

24:19 He said to them, "What things?" They said to him, "The things concerning Jesus, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;

24:20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

• (5) It appears by conferring the prophecies of the prophets that all those things are true and certain which the evangelist have put down in writing about Christ.

24:21 But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

24:22 Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb;

24:23 and when they didn't find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

24:24 Some of us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women had said, but they didn't see him."

24:25 He said to them, "Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

24:26 Didn't the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?"

24:27 Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

24:28 They drew near to the village, where they were going, and he acted like he would go further.

24:29 They urged him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over." He went in to stay with them.

24:30 It happened, that when he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave to them.

24:31 Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight.

• (e) Suddenly taken away, and we may not therefore imagine that he was there in an invisible body, but indeed believe that he suddenly changed the place where he was.

24:32 They said one to another, "Weren't our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?"

24:33 They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them,

24:34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"

24:35 They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

• (f) When he broke bread, which that people used to do, and as the Jews still do today at the beginning of their meals and say a prayer.

24:36 As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you."

• (6) The Lord himself shows by certain and necessary signs that he was risen again, and risen in the same body which he had taken upon himself.

24:37 But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

24:38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts?

• (g) Various and doubtful thoughts which fall often into men’s heads, when any strange thing occurs, thoughts of which there is no great likelihood.

24:39 See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, as you see that I have."

24:40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

24:41 While they still didn't believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"

24:42 They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.

24:43 He took them, and ate in front of them.

24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled."

• (7) The preaching of the gospel, which was promised to the prophets, and performed in his time, is committed unto the apostles, the sum of which is repentance and remission of sins.

24:45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.

24:46 He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

• (h) The apostles, who are the preachers of the gospel, beginning at Jerusalem.

24:48 You are witnesses of these things.

24:49 Behold, I send forth the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high."

• (i) Until the Holy Spirit comes down from heaven upon you.

24:50 He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

• (8) Christ ascends into heaven, and departing bodily from his disciples, fills their hearts with the Holy Spirit.

24:51 It happened, while he blessed them, that he withdrew from them, and was carried up into heaven.

24:52 They worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

24:53 and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.