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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 24:34 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:34 captures a moment of revelation and confirmation for the disciples of Jesus Christ.

This verse is part of the conversation that occurs after Jesus' resurrection, where the disciples are discussing the events that had taken place. The statement "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon" is an affirmation of the resurrection, one of the central claims of Christian faith.

The phrase "The Lord is risen indeed" reflects a shift from doubt to certainty among the disciples. They have moved from questioning the reality of the resurrection to firmly acknowledging it. The added emphasis on "indeed" underscores the truth of the event.

The mention of Simon, who is known as Peter, is significant because he was a leading figure among Jesus' disciples.

That Jesus appeared to him grants a sort of validation, as Peter's testimony would have been highly regarded within the early Christian community.

This personal appearance adds to the evidence of Jesus' resurrection, strengthening the claim for the disciples and future believers.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The Book of Luke was written by Luke the Evangelist, who is believed to also be the author of the Acts of the Apostles.

Most scholars date the Gospel of Luke to around 60-110 AD, several decades after the events it describes. The text was written in a time when the early Christian community was growing and facing challenges both from within and from external Jewish and Roman opposition.

The resurrection of Jesus is a pivotal event in Christian history, and it was critical for early Christians to have credible witnesses.

The appearance to Peter would have been a persuasive event for the early followers, especially since many believers at that time were familiar with Peter and his close relationship with Jesus during his ministry.

Theological Insights

Christians have interpreted Luke 24:34 in various ways:

From a traditional Christian perspective, this verse is a proclamation of the resurrection.

The declaration that Jesus is risen is the foundation of Christian hope and the guarantee of life after death for believers.

Some theologians emphasize the transformational aspect of this revelation.

By appearing to Peter, who denied him thrice, Jesus shows his forgiveness and restoration, which can be comforting for believers who themselves have failed or sinned.

Skeptics have questioned the historicity of resurrection appearances, suggesting they may have been visionary experiences or developments of early Christian belief.

Practical Applications

Luke 24:34 can encourage individuals to trust in the midst of doubt.

The disciples' journey from disbelief to belief serves as a model for those who struggle with uncertainties in their faith.

The verse invites believers to be like Simon Peter, witnesses of resurrection hope in their daily lives.

This can involve sharing their experience of transformation and redemption with others.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 15:5: "And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:"
Luke 24:12: "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."
John 20:19-29: Various appearances of Jesus after the resurrection, especially the encounter with doubting Thomas.
Matthew 16:17-19: Where Simon Peter first acknowledges Jesus as the Christ and is told by Jesus that he is the rock on which the church will be built.

Language Study

In the Greek, key words of this verse include:

"ἠγέρθη" (ēgerthē): Translated as "is risen," from the root "ἐγείρω" (egeiro), meaning to "wake up" or "rise."
"ὄντως" (ontōs): Translated as "indeed," conveys certainty and can also mean "really" or "in reality."
"ὤφθη" (ōphthē): Translated as "hath appeared," from the root "ὁράω" (horaō), meaning "to see" or "appear." These words in the original Greek emphasize the certainty and reality of the resurrection and appearance to Simon Peter.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religions, resurrection motifs are present, such as in Egyptian mythology where Osiris is resurrected, but these typically differ in nature and purpose from the Christian narrative.
In Judaism, while there is a belief in a future resurrection, the idea of an individual rising from the dead as a vindication of his divine mission is unique to Christianity.

Scientific Perspectives

There is no scientific evidence for the resurrection as it is a supernatural event.

Resurrection bypasses the natural processes of decay and death, which science describes and predicts.

From a psychological standpoint, extraordinary experiences such as visions or encounters with the divine are recognized phenomena but are usually interpreted within naturalistic frameworks.

Commentaries

Modern biblical scholars interpret Luke 24:34 in various ways:

The majority align with the traditional view, seeing this verse as a historical account of Jesus’ literal resurrection and subsequent appearance to Peter.
Some suggest the verse represents an early creedal statement or a formal declaration of belief utilized by the early Christian community.
Fewer scholars might interpret the verse symbolically or as an expression of the disciples' faith experiences.

Commentaries recognize the complexity of reconciling this verse with historical and scientific understanding but often focus on its impact on the faith and lives of the early Christian community.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:34 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 24:34 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?