Luke 24

1Very early on the first day of the week, at the first light of dawn, the women came to the tomb. They brought with them the spices they had made ready. 2They found that the stone had been rolled back from the tomb. 3But when they went inside, they found no body there. 4They were at a loss to know what this meant. Then two men were standing by them, their clothing flashing with light. 5The women were terrified and kept their faces bowed to the ground. But the men said to them, “Why are you looking among the dead for the one who is alive? 6He is not here; he has been raised. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee. 7He said that the Son of Man had to be handed over to sinful people and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8Then his words came back to them. 9They went back from the tomb and reported all of this to the Eleven and to everyone else. 10The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others who were with them. They kept telling the apostles about these things. 11But to the apostles the report sounded like nonsense, and they would not believe the women.

12Peter, though, got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down to look in and saw nothing but the linen wrappings. Then he went home, amazed at what had taken place.

13On that very day two of them were walking to Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were deep in conversation about all that had happened. 15While they were talking it over and debating, Jesus himself came near and began to walk with them. 16But their eyes were held back, and they did not know him. 17He said to them, “What is this conversation you are having with each other as you walk?” They stopped walking, and their faces were gloomy. 18One of them, a man named Cleopas, answered him, “Can you be the one visitor in Jerusalem who has not heard what has gone on there in the past few days?” 19“What things?” he asked them. They said to him, “About Jesus from Nazareth. He was a prophet, a man whose deeds and words had great power in the eyes of God and of all the people. 20And our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. 21Our hope was that he was the one who would redeem Israel. And on top of all that, this is now the third day since it happened. 22And then some women of our company gave us a shock. They went to the tomb at first light 23and found that his body was gone. They came back and said they had even seen angels in a vision, angels who say that he is alive. 24Some of our people went to the tomb as well. They found everything the way the women had described it, but they saw nothing of him.” 25Then he said to them, “You are without understanding, and your hearts are slow to believe all that the prophets said! 26Christ had to suffer these things and enter into his glory, did he not?” 27Then, starting with Moses and going on through all the prophets, he explained to them what was written about himself in every part of the Scriptures.

28They came near the village they were heading for, and he gave the impression of going on farther. 29But they would not let him go on. “Stay with us,” they said. “Evening is coming, and the daylight is already fading.” He went inside to stay with them. 30When he had taken his place at the table with them, he took the bread and said the blessing. Then he broke it and handed it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they knew who he was. And he could no longer be seen. 32They said to each other, “Did we not feel our hearts on fire inside us while he talked with us on the road and laid the Scriptures open to us?” 33Without delay they got up and went back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven gathered with their companions, 34who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35The two then told their own story: what took place on the road, and how he became known to them in the breaking of the bread.

36As they were talking about all this, Jesus himself was standing among them. 37But they were alarmed and filled with fear, for they thought they were looking at a spirit. 38He said to them, “Why are you so shaken? Why are these doubts coming up in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet, and see that it is really I. Feel me and see. Spirits have no flesh and bones; you can see that I do.” 40After saying this, he let them see his hands and feet. 41Their joy and amazement were so great that they still could not believe it. Then he asked them, “Do you have something here to eat?” 42They handed him a piece of grilled fish. 43He took it and ate it while they watched.

44Then he said to them, “This is what I was telling you when I was still with you: whatever the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms have written about me must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to make sense of the Scriptures. 46He told them, “This is what stands written: Christ is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and in his name repentance and the forgiveness of sins are to be announced to all the nations, starting from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses to these things. 49I am sending upon you what my Father promised. As for you, remain here in the city until power from on high clothes you.”

50He led them out until they were near Bethany. There he raised his hands and blessed them. 51He was still blessing them when he parted from them and was borne up into heaven. 52They bowed down in worship before him, then made their way back to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they spent all their time in the temple, blessing God.