Luke 24:11

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

Luke 24:23-35

24:23 and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24:24 Then 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.” 24:25 So he said to them, “You foolish people – how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 24:26 Wasn’t 10  it necessary 11  for the Christ 12  to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 24:27 Then 13  beginning with Moses and all the prophets, 14  he interpreted to them the things written about 15  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, 16  24:29 but they urged him, 17  “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” So 18  he went in to stay with them.

24:30 When 19  he had taken his place at the table 20  with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, 21  and gave it to them. 24:31 At this point 22  their eyes were opened and they recognized 23  him. 24  Then 25  he vanished out of their sight. 24:32 They 26  said to each other, “Didn’t 27  our hearts 28  burn within us 29  while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining 30  the scriptures to us?” 24:33 So 31  they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. 32  They 33  found the eleven and those with them gathered together 24:34 and 34  saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!” 35  24:35 Then they told what had happened on the road, 36  and how they recognized him 37  when he broke the bread.


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.

sn The men in dazzling attire mentioned in v. 4 are identified as angels here.

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

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.

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

tn Grk “O,” an interjection used both in address and emotion (BDAG 1101 s.v. 1).

tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to complete the interjection.

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

tn On the syntax of this infinitival construction, see BDAG 364-65 s.v. ἐπί 6.b.

10 tn This Greek particle (οὐχί, ouci) expects a positive reply.

11 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).

12 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

sn See the note on Christ in 2:11.

13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

14 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.

15 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.

16 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.

17 tn Grk “urged him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes, “saying”) has not been translated because it is redundant in contemporary English.

18 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the disciples’ request.

19 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.

20 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.

21 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.

22 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.

23 sn They recognized him. Other than this cryptic remark, it is not told how the two disciples were now able to recognize Jesus.

24 tn This pronoun is somewhat emphatic.

25 tn This translates a καί (kai, “and”) that has clear sequential force.

26 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

27 tn This question uses a Greek particle (οὐχί, ouci) that expects a positive reply.

28 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.

29 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 sys,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.

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.

30 tn Grk “opening” (cf. Acts 17:3).

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

32 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

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

34 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.

35 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.

36 sn Now with the recounting of what had happened on the road two sets of witnesses corroborate the women’s report.

37 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.