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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 24:33 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:33 describes an event that took place on the day of Jesus Christ's resurrection.

Following the encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus, two of His followers immediately leave and return to Jerusalem to share the news with the disciples.

Despite the late hour and the distance, the urgency of their news compels them to make the journey back promptly.

Upon their arrival, they find the core group of Jesus' followers, "the eleven" (Judas Iscariot having betrayed Jesus and subsequently died), as well as other supporters, gathered together.

It's a moment of heightened excitement as these two witnesses arrive with their own testimony of the resurrected Christ, adding to the growing number of accounts.

The verse captures several profound elements: the reactive and immediate faith of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the importance of communal gathering in the wake of Jesus' resurrection, and the beginning of the testimony of the risen Christ which would become the cornerstone of Christian witness.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This verse occurs in the context of the Gospel of Luke, which is one of the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament.

Luke is traditionally attributed to Luke the Evangelist, a companion of the Apostle Paul.

Written in the first century AD, Luke's Gospel is addressed to Theophilus and was intended to provide an orderly account of the life and teachings of Jesus.

The "same hour" mentioned here suggests the immediacy following the discovery that Jesus was alive. This would have been significant for the nascent Christian community for whom the resurrection was a pivotal event affirming Jesus' divine nature and messianic role.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse highlights several important insights:

The Resurrection: The verse underscores the central Christian belief in the resurrection of Christ, which is the foundation of Christian hope and faith. 2.

Communal Faith: The gathering of the disciples points to the importance of community in the Christian faith.

The church is depicted from its earliest times as a community of believers sharing in each other's experiences. 3.

Witness and Testimony: The urgency to share their experience with Jesus reflects the importance of testimony in propagating the Christian message.

Different denominations might emphasize various aspects of this event, from the miraculous nature of the resurrection to the transformation of the disciples' understanding and their role in the spread of the Gospel.

Practical Applications

Luke 24:33 offers lessons on the value of community and shared experience. In daily life, this can encourage individuals to:

Seek out and provide support within a community in times of surprising or significant events.
Recognize the value of personal testimony and sharing one's experience as a means of encouragement and edification within a community.
Respond promptly to the call of faith or duty, as shown by the disciples' immediate return to Jerusalem.

Cross-References

Mark 16:12–13: Similar account of Jesus' appearance on the road to Emmaus.
John 20:19–20: Jesus appears to His disciples together, showing them His hands and side.
Acts 1:3: References to Jesus presenting Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs.

Language Study

Key terms in the original Greek language of this verse include:

"hour" (ὥρα – hōra): Indicating time but often used to signify an appointed or decisive moment.
"returned" (ὑπέστρεψαν – hupéstrepsan): To turn back or return.

This term highlights the immediacy of their action.

"Jerusalem" (Ἰερουσαλήμ – Ierousalém): The geographical and spiritual center for the Jews, and the location of the Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection.
"eleven" (ἕνδεκα – hendeka): The remaining disciples after Judas' betrayal and death.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The motif of resurrection can be found in various other ancient religions and mythologies, such as the stories of Osiris in Egyptian mythology and the Sumerian tale of Inanna.

However, the Christian concept of resurrection differs significantly in being a historical and once-for-all event, central to its salvation narrative.

Scientific Perspectives

The resurrection is considered by Christians to be a supernatural event beyond scientific explanation. Modern science does not account for the resurrection within its framework, since it deals solely with natural phenomena and empirical evidence.

commentaries

Commentators offer diverse insights on Luke 24:33:

John Calvin notes the eagerness of the disciples to report what they had seen, emphasizing the role of Christian fellowship.
Matthew Henry highlights the importance of the resurrection as the strengthening of faith for the disciples as well as the practical decision to gather and seek collective understanding.
William Barclay focuses on the psychological transformation of the two disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, from despair to energetic action.
Modern scholars like N.T.

Wright often address the historical reliability of the resurrection appearances and the profound implications on the early Christian community.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:33 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 24:33 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?