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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 24:51 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:51 depicts a significant moment in Christian theology – the Ascension of Jesus Christ.

This verse concisely describes the event where Jesus, after His resurrection, is taken up to heaven in the presence of His disciples.

The literal interpretation is straightforward; Jesus blesses His disciples one final time before He is physically separated from them, ascending into the sky.

On a deeper level, this verse symbolizes Jesus' transition from His earthly ministry to His exalted position at the right hand of God.

The blessing signifies the transmission of authority and the promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples.

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Historical Context

This verse is set within the context of the Gospel of Luke, likely composed in the late 1st century CE.

Luke, traditionally thought to be a physician and a companion of Paul, wrote this account to convey a carefully researched and orderly narrative of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

The Ascension occurs after Jesus' resurrection and post-resurrection appearances.

The cultural and historical setting includes Jewish traditions and Roman rule over Judea. This period is marked by messianic expectations and a diversity of religious beliefs within Judaism, which influenced early Christian thought and claims about Jesus’ identity and mission.

Theological Insights

Within Christian theology, the Ascension is a pivotal event.

From a Trinitarian perspective, it marks the Son's return to the Father and sets the stage for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It also signifies Christ's enthronement and His ongoing priestly ministry in heaven.

Some theological viewpoints see the Ascension as validating Jesus' divinity and His victory over death.

Catholic theology emphasizes the bodily Ascension, maintaining the continuity and value of the physical world.

Protestant theologians might focus on the Ascension as a confirmation of salvation and the intercessory role of Jesus.

Eastern Orthodox theology views the Ascension as a restoration of human nature's intended participation in the divine life.

Practical Applications

The Ascension can serve as a reminder that followers of Jesus are called to embrace His mission and carry it forward in His physical absence.

Christians may find encouragement in the belief that Jesus blesses and intercedes for them, just as He did for His first disciples. The event also highlights the importance of readiness for Christ's return and living with an eternal perspective.

Cross-References

Acts 1:9: "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."
Ephesians 1:20: "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,"
Hebrews 4:14: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words of Luke 24:51 include:

"blessed them" (εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς): The verb εὐλογέω (eulogeo), meaning to bestow favor, praise, or endow with good.
"parted from them" (διέστη): The verb διίστημι (diistēmi), which can mean to separate or stand apart.
"carried up" (ἀνεφέρετο): The verb ἀναφέρω (anaphero), meaning to bring or carry up.

The use of these terms emphasizes the blessing, the physical separation, and the act of being taken up to heaven.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The Ascension of Jesus is unique to Christianity, but other cultures and religions have myths of heroes or deities ascending to the heavens, such as the Greek god Heracles (Hercules) or the ancient Mesopotamian hero Gilgamesh.

In some strands of Islam, the Isra and Mi'raj tell of Muhammed’s night journey to heaven.

While these stories have similarities in theme, they have different theological implications and serve different purposes within their respective religious traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the Ascension is not an event that can be analyzed or explained by empirical methods as it is described as a supernatural occurrence.

It challenges the laws of physics and our understanding of the natural world.

Unlike the historical or literary analysis of the text, the scientific method cannot validate or refute miraculous claims.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary notes that Jesus’ blessing is significant, given that it is His final recorded act on earth, reflective of His benevolent nature.

Henry also considers the Ascension crucial for the comforting of the disciples with the Holy Spirit's future arrival.

The Pulpit Commentary emphasizes the physicality of the Ascension as an important aspect of Jesus' resurrection body and the nature of the kingdom of heaven.

It also suggests that Luke highlights the important transition from the ministry of Jesus to that of the church.

In contrast, the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary discusses the Ascension in light of its fulfillment of scripture and its role in validating Jesus’ divine mission and exaltation.

These commentaries reflect the diversity of interpretations and the multifaceted significance attributed to this event in Christian theology and devotion.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:51 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 24:51 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?