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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 24:49 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:49 is a significant verse in the New Testament where Jesus, after His resurrection and before His ascension into heaven, instructs His disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they receive the promise of the Father.

This "promise" is understood to be the Holy Spirit, who is to come upon the disciples to empower them for their mission.

The phrase "endued with power from on high" suggests that this empowerment will be divine in origin, equipping the disciples with supernatural ability for the tasks ahead.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

During the time of this verse's writing, the followers of Jesus were in Jerusalem, having recently witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and His subsequent resurrection.

The book of Luke was written by the evangelist Luke, also the author of Acts, and is generally believed to have been composed around 60-70 AD, a few decades after the events described.

In the Jewish context of the time, Jerusalem was the center of religious life, and the concept of staying to wait for a divine promise would have resonated with expectations of God acting within this holy city.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints offer various interpretations of this verse.

From a traditional Christian perspective, this verse is about the anticipation of Pentecost, where the disciples receive the Holy Spirit as recorded in Acts 2.

Theologically, this event marks the beginning of the Church Age and is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about God pouring out His Spirit.

Dispensationalists view this as a critical transitional moment from the dispensation of Law to the dispensation of Grace.

Pentecostal and Charismatic groups emphasize the experience of being "endued with power," often associating it with speaking in tongues and performing miracles as evidence of the Spirit's presence.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse encourages believers to wait on God's timing and promises, trusting that He will equip them for their respective missions in due time.

It suggests that spiritual preparation and expectancy are necessary before undertaking God's work. For many, it also underscores the importance of communal prayer and fellowship while awaiting divine direction and empowerment.

Cross-References

Acts 1:4 - "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me."
Acts 2:1-4 - "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Joel 2:28-29 - "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."

Language Study

"Endued" (ἐνδύω - endyo) in Greek is often rendered as "clothed," suggesting being enveloped or invested with a characteristic or power.
"Power" (δύναμις - dunamis) refers to strength, power, or ability.

It is often associated with miraculous power in the New Testament.

"High" (ὕψος - hypsos) can mean height, high place, or heaven. In this context, it emphasizes that the source of the power is divine or heavenly.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various cultures and religious traditions, the concept of divine empowerment or receiving a gift from the gods is common.

In ancient myths, heroes often receive power, wisdom, or weapons from the deities.

In Hinduism, the idea of Shaktipat refers to the transmission of spiritual energy from a guru to a disciple.

The Jewish tradition also has notions of divine empowerment, particularly through the Spirit of God as seen in the anointing of kings and the empowerment of prophets.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse would be considered a matter of faith and personal belief, not subject to empirical testing or verification. The notion of a supernatural empowerment lacks a scientific framework for investigation.

However, the effects of such a belief system on individuals and communities, such as cohesion, motivation, and moral behavior, can be of interest to social scientists studying religion and society.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer a variety of interpretations of Luke 24:49.

Some, like Adam Clarke, emphasize the obedience of the disciples to Jesus' instructions to wait in Jerusalem.

John Gill discusses the propriety of the disciples remaining in Jerusalem despite potential dangers, trusting in Jesus’ promise.

Matthew Henry's commentary reflects on the need to depend on divine strength rather than merely human wisdom and resources.

Many modern commentaries also discuss the anticipatory nature of this verse and its fulfillment in Acts 2 during the Pentecost event.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:49 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 24:49 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?