Luke 24
Geneva Study Bible
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Now upon the {1} first day of the week, very {a} early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

(1) Poor humble women, who were certainly not expecting it, are chosen to be the first witnesses of the resurrection, so that there might not be any suspicion of either deceit or violence.

(a) Very early, as Mark says: or as John says, while it was yet dark, that is, when it was yet hardly the dawning of day.

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
And they remembered his words,
And they remembered his words,
And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
{2} And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

(2) The cowardly and dastardly mind of the disciples is reproved by the brave courage of women (made so by God's great mercies) to show that the kingdom of God consists in an extraordinary power.

It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
{3} Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and {b} stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

(3) Christ uses the incredulity of his disciples for the fuller setting forth of the truth of his resurrection, lest they should seem to have believed that too lightly which they preached afterward to all the world.

(b) As it were holding down his head, and bowing his neck, looked diligently in.

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
{4} And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

(4) The resurrection is proved by two other witnesses who saw it, and all the circumstances surrounding it declare that it was no forged event thought up on purpose in their own minds.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
{c} But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

(c) Were held back and stayed, God no doubt appointing this to be so: and therefore his body was not invisible, but rather their eyes were dimmed.

And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
And {d} the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

(d) Some of the old fathers think that the other disciple was the same evangelist who wrote this book, but Epiphanius, writing against the Saturnilians, says it was Nathanael; but none of these are certainties.

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
{5} And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

(5) It appears by conferring the prophecies of the prophets that all those things are true and certain which the evangelist have put down in writing about Christ.

But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he {e} vanished out of their sight.

(e) Suddenly taken away, and we may not therefore imagine that he was there in an invisible body, but indeed believe that he suddenly changed the place where he was.

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in {f} breaking of bread.

(f) When he broke bread, which that people used to do, and as the Jews still do today at the beginning of their meals and say a prayer.

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
{6} And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

(6) The Lord himself shows by certain and necessary signs that he was risen again, and risen in the same body which he had taken upon himself.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do {g} thoughts arise in your hearts?

(g) Various and doubtful thoughts which fall often into men's heads, when any strange thing occurs, thoughts of which there is no great likelihood.

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
And he took it, and did eat before them.
And he took it, and did eat before them.
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
{7} And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

(7) The preaching of the gospel, which was promised to the prophets, and performed in his time, is committed unto the apostles, the sum of which is repentance and remission of sins.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, {h} beginning at Jerusalem.

(h) The apostles, who are the preachers of the gospel, beginning at Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things.
And ye are witnesses of these things.
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, {i} until ye be endued with power from on high.

(i) Until the Holy Spirit comes down from heaven upon you.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
{8} And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

(8) Christ ascends into heaven, and departing bodily from his disciples, fills their hearts with the Holy Spirit.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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