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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 24:48 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:48 states, "And ye are witnesses of these things." This verse is part of Jesus Christ's final instructions to His disciples before His ascension into heaven.

The "things" mentioned here refer to the events they have experienced and witnessed: Jesus' death, His resurrection, and His teachings after His resurrection.

The literal meaning is that the disciples are living testimonies to the fulfillment of God's promises and the truth of Jesus' mission.

On a deeper level, this verse highlights the responsibility of the disciples to testify and share their experiences of Jesus with others, spreading the message of the Gospel.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke was written approximately in 60-80 A.D. and is often attributed to Luke, the physician and travel companion of the Apostle Paul.

This particular verse is set after Jesus' resurrection when He appears to His disciples and speaks with them.

At the time, the early Christian community was composed of Jewish converts and also Gentiles.

The historical context includes the aftermath of the Jewish-Roman conflict, the spread of Christianity, and the missionary efforts to share the message of Jesus with various communities in the Roman Empire.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Luke 24:48 underscores the idea of apostolic witness, which is crucial in Christian thought. The disciples' witness provides a foundation for the reliability of the Gospel accounts.

Some theologians would emphasize the empowerment by the Holy Spirit, which enabled the disciples to fulfill their witness role.

Others stress the divine mandate given to the disciples, as being chosen to continue Jesus' mission on Earth, shaping the understanding of Christian ministry and evangelism.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse can encourage believers to acknowledge their own role as witnesses to their faith experiences.

Christians today can find in this verse a calling to share their personal encounters with God, to contribute to the faith community, and to evangelize.

Additionally, the verse serves as a reminder that personal testimony can be a compelling way to connect with others and share the truths of the Christian faith.

Cross-References

Acts 1:8: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
John 15:27: "And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."
Acts 2:32: "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."

Language Study

The key word in this verse is "witnesses" (Greek: μάρτυρες, martyres).

The term used implies more than just seeing or observing, it includes the notion of providing evidence or testimony, often at personal risk.

In the context of Luke, it conveys the disciples' role in bearing witness to the truth of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and their testimony is foundational for the faith.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing Luke 24:48 with other ancient cultures, we see the importance of eyewitness testimony in establishing historical and legal claims.

Similarly, many religious traditions value the role of witness.

For example, in Judaism, the idea of witnessing is important in the context of passing down traditions.

In Islam, the 'shahada' is a central witnessing testament of faith.

The Christian use of 'witness' is unique in that it is directly tied to the historical events of Jesus' life and the spread of the Gospel message.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, the concept of witnessing is less about empirical evidence and more about personal experience and historical testimony.

Modern psychology might assess the reliability of eyewitness accounts, their influence on group beliefs, and how personal narratives shape community and individual identity.

While these scientific perspectives do not validate or invalidate the theological claims, they offer insight into how humans remember, recount, and are affected by personal experiences.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer commentary on Luke 24:48.

William Barclay notes the directness of Jesus' claim that the disciples are witnesses and the implied duty for them to spread the word.

John Calvin writes of the certainty conveyed by the term 'witnesses,' as the disciples did not just hear rumors but saw with their eyes the truth of the resurrection.

Matthew Henry comments on the gravity and privilege of the disciples' designation as witnesses, which also comes with the commitment to truth.

Modern commentaries often discuss the witnessing role of the disciples as foundational for Christian evangelism and the authenticity of their testimony as critical to the Christian faith.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:48 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 24:48 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?