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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 24:13 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:13 recounts the encounter of two disciples with the resurrected Jesus on their way to a village called Emmaus.

This verse sets the scene for one of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus described in the New Testament.

The "threescore furlongs" translates to roughly seven miles (about 11 kilometers), indicating the distance from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

On a deeper level, this verse is more than a geographical note; it introduces a narrative about understanding, recognition, and revelation.

As the disciples journey and converse, they are initially oblivious to the true identity of the stranger who joins them, the risen Christ.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Luke 24:13 is tied to the events that follow the crucifixion of Jesus, his burial, and subsequent reports of his resurrection.

The disciples are depicted leaving Jerusalem, which had been the center of the Passover festivities and the tumultuous events that led to Jesus' execution.

Emmaus's exact location is not clearly identified, with several possible sites being proposed throughout history.

The narrative provided within the Gospels suggests that the followers of Jesus were in a state of confusion, fear, and hope after his death, reflecting the broader social and political tensions present in Judea under Roman occupation.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse on the road to Emmaus is rich with symbolism and insights.

It suggests themes of pilgrimage, journeying, and the notion that Christ is present with believers even when they do not immediately recognize him.

Different denominations and theologians have offered interpretations of this passage, with some seeing it as a metaphor for the spiritual journey from doubt to faith, and others emphasizing the importance of breaking bread together, as later happens in the story, as a means of revealing Christ's presence.

Practical Applications

The practical applications drawn from this verse include the lesson that faith often requires a journey and that one might encounter the divine in unexpected places and moments. It can be seen as an encouragement to remain open to spiritual experiences even in times of doubt or confusion.

Additionally, it provides an example of the importance of fellowship and discussion in the process of spiritual growth and understanding.

Cross-References

Mark 16:12-13, where a similar account of Jesus appearing in another form to two disciples walking in the country is given.
Luke 24:30-31, which tells of how the disciples' eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus when he broke bread with them.
John 20:19-29, which records other post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples.
Acts 1:3, where it mentions that Jesus showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term used for "threescore furlongs" is "ἑξήκοντα σταδίους" (hexēkonta stadiōn).

A "stadion" was a measure of length used by Greeks and Romans, equivalent to about 607 feet or 185 meters, so "hexēkonta stadiōn" would be approximately 11 kilometers in modern measurements.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of pilgrims on a spiritual journey can be found in many religious traditions.

In Hinduism, for example, pilgrimages to holy sites are a key part of spiritual practice.

Likewise, the concept of not recognizing a divine being in one’s midst is reminiscent of various myths where gods disguise themselves as mortals to interact with humans, such as many stories found in Greek mythology.

Scientific Perspectives

The reference to distance can be examined scientifically in terms of the accuracy and understanding of geography at the time of the text's writing.

The nature of human perception and recognition, such as how the disciples did not recognize Jesus, can be explored through the lens of cognitive psychology.

Studies show that cognitive biases and expectations can affect how individuals perceive others.

Commentaries

Commentators such as Matthew Henry note the importance of this passage in demonstrating Jesus' continued care for his disciples after his resurrection, emphasizing that he appeared to them discreetly to comfort them.

John Calvin speaks to the spiritual blindness of the disciples and how their hearts were eventually opened.

Contemporary commentaries often focus on the pattern of revelation in the narrative and how it can be applied to modern understandings of faith and recognition of divine presence in one's life.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:13 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 24:13 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?