Luke 24
24
Jesus Rises from the Dead
1Very early on the first day of the week, at dawn, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, two men in shining clothes suddenly stood beside them. 5The women were very afraid and bowed their heads to the ground. The men said to them, “Why are you looking for a living person in this place for the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen from the dead. Do you remember what he told you in Galilee? 7He said the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and rise from the dead on the third day.” 8Then the women remembered what Jesus had said.
9The women left the tomb and told all these things to the eleven apostles and the other followers. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women who told the apostles everything that had happened at the tomb. 11But they did not believe the women, because it sounded like nonsense. 12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Bending down and looking in, he saw only the cloth that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in. Peter went away to his home, wondering about what had happened.
Jesus on the Road to Emmaus
13That same day two of Jesus’ followers were going to a town named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking about everything that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and began walking with them, 16but they were kept from recognizing him. 17Then he said, “What are these things you are talking about while you walk?”
The two followers stopped, looking very sad. 18The one named Cleopas answered, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what just happened there?”
19Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about?”
They said, “About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet who said and did many powerful things before God and all the people. 20Our leaders and the leading priests handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21But we were hoping that he would free Israel. Besides this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22And today some women among us amazed us. Early this morning they went to the tomb, 23but they did not find his body there. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said that Jesus was alive! 24So some of our group went to the tomb, too. They found it just as the women said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25Then Jesus said to them, “You are foolish and slow to believe everything the prophets said. 26They said that the Christ must suffer these things before he enters his glory.” 27Then starting with what Moses and all the prophets had said about him, Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures.
28They came near the town of Emmaus, and Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they begged him, “Stay with us, because it is late; it is almost night.” So he went in to stay with them.
30When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks, divided it, and gave it to them. 31And then, they were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. 32They said to each other, “It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us.”
33So the two followers got up at once and went back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven apostles and others gathered. 34They were saying, “The Lord really has risen from the dead! He showed himself to Simon.”
35Then the two followers told what had happened on the road and how they recognized Jesus when he divided the bread.
Jesus Appears to His Followers
36While the two followers were telling this, Jesus himself stood right in the middle of them and said, “Peace be with you.”
37They were fearful and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. 38But Jesus said, “Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have a living body as you see I have.”
40After Jesus said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41While they still could not believe it because they were amazed and happy, Jesus said to them, “Do you have any food here?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish. 43While the followers watched, Jesus took the fish and ate it.
44He said to them, “Remember when I was with you before? I said that everything written about me must happen—everything in the law of Moses, the books of the prophets, and the Psalms.”
45Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He said to them, “It is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47and that a change of hearts and lives and forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all nations, starting at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I will send you what my Father has promised, but you must stay in Jerusalem until you have received that power from heaven.”
Jesus Goes Back to Heaven
50Jesus led his followers as far as Bethany, and he raised his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he was separated from them and carried into heaven. 52They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem very happy. 53They stayed in the Temple all the time, praising God.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
