Lukas 24:11

24:11 But these words seemed like pure nonsense ¹  to them, and they did not believe them.

Lukas 24:22-48

24:22 Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. ²  They ³  were at the tomb early this morning, 24:23 and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, ⁴  who said he was alive. 24:24 Then ⁵  some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” ⁶  24:25 So ⁷  he said to them, “You ⁸  foolish people ⁹  – how slow of heart ¹⁰  to believe ¹¹  all that the prophets have spoken! 24:26 Wasn’t ¹²  it necessary ¹³  for the Christ ¹⁴  to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 24:27 Then ¹⁵  beginning with Moses and all the prophets, ¹⁶  he interpreted to them the things written about ¹⁷  himself in all the scriptures.

24:28 So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther, ¹⁸  24:29 but they urged him, ¹⁹  “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” So ²⁰  he went in to stay with them.

24:30 When ²¹  he had taken his place at the table ²²  with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, ²³  and gave it to them. 24:31 At this point ²⁴  their eyes were opened and they recognized ²⁵  him. ²⁶  Then ²⁷  he vanished out of their sight. 24:32 They ²⁸  said to each other, “Didn’t ²⁹  our hearts ³⁰  burn within us ³¹  while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining ³²  the scriptures to us?” 24:33 So ³³  they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. ³⁴  They ³⁵  found the eleven and those with them gathered together 24:34 and ³⁶  saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!” ³⁷  24:35 Then they told what had happened on the road, ³⁸  and how they recognized him ³⁹  when he broke the bread.

Jesus Makes a Final Appearance

24:36 While they were saying these things, Jesus ⁴⁰  himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ⁴¹  24:37 But they were startled and terrified, thinking ⁴²  they saw a ghost. ⁴³  24:38 Then ⁴⁴  he said to them, “Why are you frightened, ⁴⁵  and why do doubts ⁴⁶  arise in your hearts? 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! ⁴⁷  Touch me and see; a ghost ⁴⁸  does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.” 24:40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴⁹  24:41 And while they still could not believe it ⁵⁰  (because of their joy) and were amazed, ⁵¹  he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁵²  24:42 So ⁵³  they gave him a piece of broiled fish, 24:43 and he took it and ate it in front of them.

Jesus’ Final Commission

24:44 Then ⁵⁴  he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me ⁵⁵  in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms ⁵⁶  must be fulfilled.” 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, ⁵⁷  24:46 and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ ⁵⁸  would suffer ⁵⁹  and would rise from the dead on the third day, 24:47 and repentance ⁶⁰  for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed ⁶¹  in his name to all nations, ⁶²  beginning from Jerusalem. ⁶³  24:48 You are witnesses ⁶⁴  of these things.

[24:11]  ¹ sn The term pure nonsense can describe idle talk or a tale. The point is important, since the disciples reacted with disbelief that a resurrection was possible. Sometimes it is thought the ancients were gullible enough to believe anything. But these disciples needed convincing about the resurrection.

[24:22]  ² sn The account in 24:1-12 is repeated here, and it is clear that the other disciples were not convinced by the women, but could not explain the events either.

[24:22]  ³ tn In the Greek text this is a continuation of the previous sentence, but because of the length and complexity of the construction a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[24:23]  ⁴ sn The men in dazzling attire mentioned in v. 4 are identified as angels here.

[24:24]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[24:24]  ⁶ tn Here the pronoun αὐτόν (auton), referring to Jesus, is in an emphatic position. The one thing they lacked was solid evidence that he was alive.

[24:25]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the disciples’ inability to believe in Jesus’ resurrection.

[24:25]  ⁸ tn Grk “O,” an interjection used both in address and emotion (BDAG 1101 s.v. 1).

[24:25]  ⁹ tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to complete the interjection.

[24:25]  ¹⁰ sn The rebuke is for failure to believe the promise of scripture, a theme that will appear in vv. 43-47 as well.

[24:25]  ¹¹ tn On the syntax of this infinitival construction, see BDAG 364-65 s.v. ἐπί 6.b.

[24:26]  ¹² tn This Greek particle (οὐχί, ouci) expects a positive reply.

[24:26]  ¹³ sn The statement Wasn’t it necessary is a reference to the design of God’s plan (see Luke 24:7). Suffering must precede glory (see Luke 17:25).

[24:26]  ¹⁴ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[24:26]  sn See the note on Christ in 2:11.

[24:27]  ¹⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[24:27]  ¹⁶ sn The reference to Moses and all the prophets is a way to say the promise of Messiah runs throughout OT scripture from first to last.

[24:27]  ¹⁷ tn Or “regarding,” “concerning.” “Written” is implied by the mention of the scriptures in context; “said” could also be used here, referring to the original utterances, but by now these things had been committed to writing.

[24:28]  ¹⁸ sn He acted as though he wanted to go farther. This is written in a way that gives the impression Jesus knew they would ask him to stay.

[24:29]  ¹⁹ tn Grk “urged him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes, “saying”) has not been translated because it is redundant in contemporary English.

[24:29]  ²⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the disciples’ request.

[24:30]  ²¹ tn Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[24:30]  ²² tn Grk “had reclined at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

[24:30]  ²³ tn The pronoun “it” is not in the Greek text here or in the following clause, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[24:31]  ²⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “At this point” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative. “Then,” which is normally used to indicate this, would be redundant with the following clause.

[24:31]  ²⁵ sn They recognized him. Other than this cryptic remark, it is not told how the two disciples were now able to recognize Jesus.

[24:31]  ²⁶ tn This pronoun is somewhat emphatic.

[24:31]  ²⁷ tn This translates a καί (kai, “and”) that has clear sequential force.

[24:32]  ²⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[24:32]  ²⁹ tn This question uses a Greek particle (οὐχί, ouci) that expects a positive reply.

[24:32]  ³⁰ tn This is a collective singular use of the term καρδία (kardia), so each of their hearts were burning, a reference itself to the intense emotion of their response.

[24:32]  ³¹ tc ‡ Most mss have the phrase ἐν ἡμῖν (en Jhmin, “within us”) after οὐχὶ ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν καιομένη ἦν (ouci Jh kardia Jhmwn kaiomenh hn, “Didn’t our hearts burn”). The phrase “within us” is lacking in some early mss (Ì⁷⁵ B D c e sy^s,c). These early witnesses could have overlooked the words, since there are several occurrences of ἡμῖν in the context. But it seems likely that other scribes wanted to clarify the abrupt expression “Didn’t our hearts burn,” even as the translation has done here. NA²⁷ includes the words in brackets, indicating doubts as to their authenticity.

[24:32]  sn Even though it is most likely not original (see tc note above), the phrase within us has been included in the translation for clarity.

[24:32]  ³² tn Grk “opening” (cf. Acts 17:3).

[24:33]  ³³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the Lord’s appearance to them.

[24:33]  ³⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[24:33]  ³⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[24:34]  ³⁶ tn Here the word “and” has been supplied to make it clear that the disciples who had been to Emmaus found the eleven plus the others gathered and saying this.

[24:34]  ³⁷ sn The Lord…has appeared to Simon. Jesus had made another appearance besides the one on the road. The excitement was rising. Simon refers to Simon Peter.

[24:35]  ³⁸ sn Now with the recounting of what had happened on the road two sets of witnesses corroborate the women’s report.

[24:35]  ³⁹ tn Grk “how he was made known to them”; or “how he was recognized by them.” Here the passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation in keeping with contemporary English style.

[24:36]  ⁴⁰ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:36]  ⁴¹ tc The words “and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’” are lacking in some Western mss (D it). But the clause is otherwise well attested, being found in Ì⁷⁵ and the rest of the ms tradition, and should be considered an original part of Luke.

[24:37]  ⁴² sn The disciples were still not comfortable at this point thinking that this could be Jesus raised from the dead. Instead they thought they saw a spirit.

[24:37]  ⁴³ tc This is not a reference to “a phantom” as read by the Western ms D. For πνεῦμα (pneuma) having the force of “ghost,” or “an independent noncorporeal being, in contrast to a being that can be perceived by the physical senses,” see BDAG 833-34 s.v. πνεῦμα 4.

[24:38]  ⁴⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[24:38]  ⁴⁵ tn Or “disturbed,” “troubled.”

[24:38]  ⁴⁶ tn The expression here is an idiom; see BDAG 58 s.v. ἀναβαίνω 2. Here καρδία (kardia) is a collective singular; the expression has been translated as plural in English.

[24:38]  sn Jesus calls the disciples to faith with a gentle rebuke about doubts and a gracious invitation to see for themselves the evidence of his resurrection.

[24:39]  ⁴⁷ tn Grk “that it is I myself.”

[24:39]  ⁴⁸ tn See tc note on “ghost” in v. 37.

[24:40]  ⁴⁹ tc Some Western mss (D it) lack 24:40. However, it is present in all other mss, including Ì⁷⁵, and should thus be regarded as an original part of Luke’s Gospel.

[24:41]  ⁵⁰ sn They still could not believe it. Is this a continued statement of unbelief? Or is it a rhetorical expression of their amazement? They are being moved to faith, so a rhetorical force is more likely here.

[24:41]  ⁵¹ sn Amazement is the common response to unusual activity: 1:63; 2:18; 4:22; 7:9; 8:25; 9:43; 11:14; 20:26.

[24:41]  ⁵² sn Do you have anything here to eat? Eating would remove the idea that a phantom was present. Angelic spirits refused a meal in Jdt 13:16 and Tob 12:19, but accepted it in Gen 18:8; 19:3 and Tob 6:6.

[24:42]  ⁵³ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Jesus’ request for food.

[24:44]  ⁵⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[24:44]  ⁵⁵ sn Everything written about me. The divine plan, events, and scripture itself are seen here as being one.

[24:44]  ⁵⁶ sn For a similar threefold division of the OT scriptures, see the prologue to Sirach, lines 8-10, and from Qumran, the epilogue to 4QMMT, line 10.

[24:45]  ⁵⁷ sn Luke does not mention specific texts here, but it is likely that many of the scriptures he mentioned elsewhere in Luke-Acts would have been among those he had in mind.

[24:46]  ⁵⁸ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[24:46]  ⁵⁹ tn Three Greek infinitives are the key to this summary: (1) to suffer, (2) to rise, and (3) to be preached. The Christ (Messiah) would be slain, would be raised, and a message about repentance would go out into all the world as a result. All of this was recorded in the scripture. The remark shows the continuity between Jesus’ ministry, the scripture, and what disciples would be doing as they declared the Lord risen.

[24:47]  ⁶⁰ sn This repentance has its roots in declarations of the Old Testament. It is the Hebrew concept of a turning of direction.

[24:47]  ⁶¹ tn Or “preached,” “announced.”

[24:47]  ⁶² sn To all nations. The same Greek term (τὰ ἔθνη, ta eqnh) may be translated “the Gentiles” or “the nations.” The hope of God in Christ was for all the nations from the beginning.

[24:47]  ⁶³ sn Beginning from Jerusalem. See Acts 2, which is where it all starts.

[24:47]  map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[24:48]  ⁶⁴ sn You are witnesses. This becomes a key concept of testimony in Acts. See Acts 1:8.