Lukas 15:24

15:24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!’ ¹  So ²  they began to celebrate.

Lukas 9:8

9:8 while others were saying that Elijah ³  had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. ⁴ 

[15:24]  ¹ sn This statement links the parable to the theme of 15:6, 9.

[15:24]  ² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the father’s remarks in the preceding verses.

[9:8]  ³ sn The appearance of Elijah would mean that the end time had come. According to 2 Kgs 2:11, Elijah was still alive. In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.

[9:8]  ⁴ sn The phrase had risen could be understood to mean “had been resurrected,” but this is only a possible option, not a necessary one, since the phrase could merely mean that a figure had appeared on the scene who mirrored an earlier historical figure. The three options of vv. 7-8 will be repeated in v. 19.