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Luke 24

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.

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 therein 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.

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.

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.

What does Luke 24:10 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:10 refers to the events that took place on the first Easter morning, following the crucifixion of Jesus as described in the Christian New Testament.

This particular verse identifies the women who went to the tomb of Jesus and found it empty, and then reported their findings to the apostles.

The verse lists the women by name: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, alongside "other women" suggesting a group whose names are not all recorded.

Their visit to the tomb was likely to anoint Jesus' body according to burial customs of the time, but instead, they encountered an astonishing reality, their Lord was no longer in the grave, representing His resurrection.

This event is a cornerstone of the Christian belief in Jesus’ resurrection and His victory over death.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The book of Luke is one of the synoptic Gospels in the New Testament and is believed to have been written around 60-80 AD.

It is written in the context of Greco-Roman culture and Jewish religious tradition.

The role of women in society at that time was typically subservient to men, and their testimonies were often not valued.

That the women are the first to bear witness to Jesus' resurrection is a significant counter-cultural element in this text, highlighting perhaps a deliberate move from the author to show the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry and the truth of the resurrection regardless of societal norms.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse highlights several key points:

The role of women in God's plan: Christianity posits that all humans are equal before God, and this account suggests that the testimony of women is as valid as that of men.
The truth of the resurrection: The Gospels present several eyewitness accounts, and this multi-witness testimony underlines the claim by early Christians that Jesus truly rose from the death.
The fulfillment of scriptural prophecy: Early Christians interpreted Jesus' resurrection as a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.

Different denominations may emphasize different aspects of this event, but the resurrection remains central to the majority of Christian faith traditions.

Practical Applications

The practical implications of Luke 24:10 include the elevation of the status of women, acknowledging their value and role in Christian communities.

Furthermore, the event encourages believers to trust in seemingly unlikely witnesses and to approach the divine with openness to surprise and wonder. It also serves as an encouragement for believers to share important news, even when it may not be believed or accepted by the status quo.

Cross-References

Mark 16:1 "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him."
Matthew 28:1 "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."
John 20:1 "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of the New Testament, names like "Mary" (Μαρία or Μαριάμ) have a Hebrew origin, deriving from Miriam.

The name "Joanna" (Ἰωάννα) is of Greek origin and is the feminine form of John. Studying these names and their cultural connections provides insights into the diversity of people present in the early Christian community.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The figure of a woman or women as first witnesses can be found in various ancient cultures, marking significant events.

In the Greco-Roman world, women were often associated with religious rites and funeral traditions.

Comparatively, in some ancient mythologies, gods or heroes dying and being resurrected are present, like the stories of Osiris in Egyptian mythology or Dionysus in Greek mythology.

However, Christianity asserts a historical and unique claim to the resurrection of Jesus.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, the description of the resurrection in Luke 24:10 is considered a supernatural event because it does not align with the current understanding of life and death.

Consequently, interpretations of this event are usually outside the purview of scientific inquiry, as it intersects with the realms of belief, faith, and religious experience.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of Luke 24:10:

William Barclay notes the significance of women being the first to learn of the resurrection, stressing the revolutionary aspect in a culture where women's testimonies were undervalued.
John Gill observes the faithfulness of the women, who were the last at the cross and the first at the tomb.
Matthew Henry emphasizes the role of God's providence in choosing the women to be the first messengers of the Gospel of the resurrection, regardless of societal norms.
Modern scholars continue to explore the implications of this verse for understanding the role of women in early Christian communities and the message of the resurrection.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 24:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?