Resurrection Morning

24 On(A) the first day of the week,(B) very early in the morning, they[a] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body(C) of the Lord Jesus.(D) While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling(E) clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen!(F) Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee,(G) saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed(H) into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise(I) on the third day’?” And they remembered his words.

Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven(J) and to all the rest. 10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James,(K) and the other women with them were telling the apostles(L) these things. 11 But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe(M) the women. 12 Peter,(N) however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths.[b](O) So he went away, amazed(P) at what had happened.

The Emmaus Disciples

13 Now(Q) that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles[c](R) from Jerusalem.(S) 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16 But they[d] were prevented from recognizing him.(T) 17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having[e] with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.

18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” (U)

19 “What things?” he asked them.

So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth,(V) who was a prophet(W) powerful in action and speech(X) before God and all the people,(Y) 20 and how our chief priests and leaders(Z) handed him over to be sentenced to death,(AA) and they crucified him.(AB) 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem(AC) Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day(AD) since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23 and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”(AE)

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow[f] to believe all that the prophets have spoken!(AF) 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer(AG) these things and enter into his glory?”(AH) 27 Then beginning with Moses(AI) and all the Prophets,(AJ) he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.(AK)

28 They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther.(AL) 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke(AM) it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened,(AN) and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.(AO) 32 They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures(AP) to us?” 33 That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven(AQ) and those with them gathered together, 34 who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” (AR) 35 Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.(AS)

The Reality of the Risen Jesus

36 As(AT) they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace(AU) to you!” 37 But they were startled and terrified(AV) and thought they were seeing a ghost.(AW) 38 “Why are you troubled?”(AX) he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself!(AY) Touch me and see,(AZ) because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish,[g] 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.

44 He told them, “These are my words(BA) that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,(BB) and the Psalms(BC) must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds(BD) to understand(BE) the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written:[h] The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day,(BF) 47 and repentance for[i] forgiveness of sins(BG) will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,(BH) beginning at Jerusalem.(BI) 48 You are witnesses(BJ) of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you[j] what my Father promised.(BK) As for you, stay in the city[k] until you are empowered[l](BL) from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

50 Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany,(BM) and lifting up his hands(BN) he blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven.(BO) 52 After worshiping him,(BP) they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.(BQ) 53 And they were continually in the temple praising God.[m](BR)

Footnotes

  1. 24:1 Other mss add and other women with them
  2. 24:12 Other mss add lying there
  3. 24:13 Lit about sixty stadia; one stadion = 600 feet
  4. 24:16 Lit their eyes
  5. 24:17 Lit “What are these words that you are exchanging
  6. 24:25 Lit slow of heart
  7. 24:42 Other mss add and some honeycomb
  8. 24:46 Other mss add and thus it was necessary that
  9. 24:47 Many mss read repentance and
  10. 24:49 Lit upon you
  11. 24:49 Other mss add of Jerusalem
  12. 24:49 Lit clothed with power
  13. 24:53 Other mss read praising and blessing God. Amen.

Jesus Rises from the Dead

24 Very early on the first day of the week, at dawn, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, two men in shining clothes suddenly stood beside them. The 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? He is not here; he has risen from the dead. Do you remember what he told you in Galilee? He said the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and rise from the dead on the third day.” Then the women remembered what Jesus had said.

The women left the tomb and told all these things to the eleven apostles and the other followers. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women who told the apostles everything that had happened at the tomb. 11 But they did not believe the women, because it sounded like nonsense. 12 But 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

13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were going to a town named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking about everything that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and began walking with them, 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 Then he said, “What are these things you are talking about while you walk?”

The two followers stopped, looking very sad. 18 The one named Cleopas answered, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what just happened there?”

19 Jesus 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. 20 Our leaders and the leading priests handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he would free Israel. Besides this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 And today some women among us amazed us. Early this morning they went to the tomb, 23 but 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! 24 So some of our group went to the tomb, too. They found it just as the women said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 Then Jesus said to them, “You are foolish and slow to believe everything the prophets said. 26 They said that the Christ must suffer these things before he enters his glory.” 27 Then 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.

28 They came near the town of Emmaus, and Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they begged him, “Stay with us, because it is late; it is almost night.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks, divided it, and gave it to them. 31 And then, they were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. 32 They 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.”

33 So the two followers got up at once and went back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven apostles and others gathered. 34 They were saying, “The Lord really has risen from the dead! He showed himself to Simon.”

35 Then 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

36 While the two followers were telling this, Jesus himself stood right in the middle of them and said, “Peace be with you.”

37 They were fearful and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 But Jesus said, “Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see? 39 Look 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.”

40 After Jesus said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because they were amazed and happy, Jesus said to them, “Do you have any food here?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish. 43 While the followers watched, Jesus took the fish and ate it.

44 He 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.”

45 Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He said to them, “It is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that a change of hearts and lives and forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all nations, starting at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I 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

50 Jesus led his followers as far as Bethany, and he raised his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he was separated from them and carried into heaven. 52 They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem very happy. 53 They stayed in the Temple all the time, praising God.