Discovery BoxLuke 24:17-41 
Context24:17 Then 1 he said to them, “What are these matters 2 you are discussing so intently 3 as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad. 24:18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, 4 “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know 5 the things that have happened there 6 in these days?” 24:19 He 7 said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man 8 who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet 9 before God and all the people; 24:20 and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over 10 to be condemned to death, and crucified 11 him. 24:21 But we had hoped 12 that he was the one who was going to redeem 13 Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened. 24:22 Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. 14 They 15 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, 16 who said he was alive. 24:24 Then 17 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.” 18 24:25 So 19 he said to them, “You 20 foolish people 21 – how slow of heart 22 to believe 23 all that the prophets have spoken! 24:26 Wasn’t 24 it necessary 25 for the Christ 26 to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 24:27 Then 27 beginning with Moses and all the prophets, 28 he interpreted to them the things written about 29 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, 30 24:29 but they urged him, 31 “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” So 32 he went in to stay with them.
24:30 When 33 he had taken his place at the table 34 with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, 35 and gave it to them. 24:31 At this point 36 their eyes were opened and they recognized 37 him. 38 Then 39 he vanished out of their sight. 24:32 They 40 said to each other, “Didn’t 41 our hearts 42 burn within us 43 while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining 44 the scriptures to us?” 24:33 So 45 they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. 46 They 47 found the eleven and those with them gathered together 24:34 and 48 saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!” 49 24:35 Then they told what had happened on the road, 50 and how they recognized him 51 when he broke the bread.
24:36 While they were saying these things, Jesus 52 himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 53 24:37 But they were startled and terrified, thinking 54 they saw a ghost. 55 24:38 Then 56 he said to them, “Why are you frightened, 57 and why do doubts 58 arise in your hearts? 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! 59 Touch me and see; a ghost 60 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. 61 24:41 And while they still could not believe it 62 (because of their joy) and were amazed, 63 he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 64
1 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
2 tn Grk “words,” but the term λόγος (logos) can refer to “matters” rather than only “words” (BDAG 600 s.v. 1.a.ε).
3 tn “Discussing so intently” translates the reciprocal idea conveyed by πρὸς ἀλλήλους (pro" allhlou"). The term ἀντιβάλλω (antiballw), used only here in the NT, has the nuance of “arguing” or “debating” a point (the English idiom “to exchange words” also comes close).
4 tn Grk “answering him, said.” This is redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.
5 sn There is irony and almost a sense of mocking disbelief as the question “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?” comes to Jesus; but, of course, the readers know what the travelers do not.
6 tn Grk “in it” (referring to the city of Jerusalem).
7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
8 tn This translates the Greek term ἀνήρ (anhr).
9 sn The role of Jesus as prophet is a function Luke frequently mentions: 4:25-27; 9:35; 13:31-35.
10 sn Handed him over is another summary of the passion like Luke 9:22.
11 sn See the note on crucify in 23:21.
12 tn The imperfect verb looks back to the view that they held during Jesus’ past ministry.
13 sn Their messianic hope concerning Jesus is expressed by the phrase who was going to redeem Israel.
14 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.
15 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.
16 sn The men in dazzling attire mentioned in v. 4 are identified as angels here.
17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
18 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.
19 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the disciples’ inability to believe in Jesus’ resurrection.
20 tn Grk “O,” an interjection used both in address and emotion (BDAG 1101 s.v. 1).
21 tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to complete the interjection.
22 sn The rebuke is for failure to believe the promise of scripture, a theme that will appear in vv. 43-47 as well.
23 tn On the syntax of this infinitival construction, see BDAG 364-65 s.v. ἐπί 6.b.
24 tn This Greek particle (οὐχί, ouci) expects a positive reply.
25 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).
26 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.
27 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
28 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.
29 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.
30 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.
31 tn Grk “urged him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes, “saying”) has not been translated because it is redundant in contemporary English.
32 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the disciples’ request.
33 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.
34 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.
35 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.
36 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.
37 sn They recognized him. Other than this cryptic remark, it is not told how the two disciples were now able to recognize Jesus.
38 tn This pronoun is somewhat emphatic.
39 tn This translates a καί (kai, “and”) that has clear sequential force.
40 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
41 tn This question uses a Greek particle (οὐχί, ouci) that expects a positive reply.
42 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.
43 tc ‡ Most
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.
44 tn Grk “opening” (cf. Acts 17:3).
45 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the Lord’s appearance to them.
46 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
47 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
48 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.
49 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.
50 sn Now with the recounting of what had happened on the road two sets of witnesses corroborate the women’s report.
51 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.
52 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
53 tc The words “and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’” are lacking in some Western
54 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.
55 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.
56 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
57 tn Or “disturbed,” “troubled.”
58 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.
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.
59 tn Grk “that it is I myself.”
60 tn See tc note on “ghost” in v. 37.
61 tc Some Western
62 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.
63 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.
64 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.
