ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Luke 24

Luke 24:1–53 The Resurrection of Jesus. Luke’s Gospel began in the temple (1:5–23). After Jesus has risen from the dead, it will conclude in the temple as well (24:52–53).

Luke 24:1 on the first day of the week. All four Gospels state that the resurrection took place on Sunday.

Luke 24:4 two men. Angels (v. 23; compare Matt. 28:2, 5).

Luke 24:5 They were frightened (see v. 37; Acts 10:4) refers to fear that can lead to reverence (see Luke 1:12). The appearance of angels often produced such fear (see Judg. 13:19–20). For the living, see Luke 24:23; Acts 3:15.

Luke 24:6 Remember how he told you. See 9:22; 44; 18:32–33.

Luke 24:7 Must emphasizes the necessity of God’s providential plan being fulfilled (see 9:22). third day. See 9:22.

Luke 24:8 They remembered his words, that is, his prophecies of 9:22; 44; 18:32–33.

Luke 24:9 the eleven. Judas is now missing (see v. 33; Matt. 28:16; Acts 1:26). and to all the rest. See Luke 24:13–25; Acts 1:15.

Luke 24:10 Mary . . . and the other women. At least five women went to the tomb (see note on Mark 16:7). For apostles, see Luke 6:13 and note on Rom. 1:1.

Luke 24:12 Peter rose and ran. Compare John 20:3–6. For the linen cloths by themselves, see note on John 20:6.

Luke 24:13 That very day is the first day of the week, Sunday (see v. 1). two of them. One is unnamed, the other is Cleopas (v. 18). They were going to Emmaus, possibly after having celebrated the Passover in Jerusalem. The location of Emmaus is uncertain, but it was in Judea seven miles (11 km) from Jerusalem.

Luke 24:16 But their eyes were kept (by God; compare 9:45; 18:34) from recognizing him. Compare John 20:14–15; 21:4.

Luke 24:19–20 Prophet is a correct but inadequate designation (see 7:16). chief priests and rulers . . . crucified him. While the physical act of crucifixion was done by the Romans, Luke places the human responsibility for Jesus’ crucifixion primarily on the Jewish religious leaders.

Luke 24:24 Some of those . . . went to the tomb assumes that, after Peter’s visit, other disciples went (compare John 20:2–10) and also found it empty.

Luke 24:26 Was it not necessary? The OT teaches that the Messiah will die (Isa. 53:1–12) before entering into his glory (see Luke 9:22; 24:44). This glory, foreshadowed in 9:32, comes at his resurrection and then more fully at his ascension into heaven (22:69; Acts 2:33; Phil. 2:8–11; Heb. 1:3).

Luke 24:27 Moses and all the Prophets. The entire OT, also referred to as all the Scriptures. Jesus explained to them how the prophecies about the Messiah and the patterns of God’s activity throughout the OT looked forward to Jesus himself. (See Overview of the Bible.)

Luke 24:30 For other resurrection appearances associated with eating, see vv. 41–43; John 21:9–15; Acts 10:41. he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. There is striking similarity between this, the Last Supper (Luke 22:19), and the feeding of the 5,000 (see 9:16).

Luke 24:31 Their eyes were opened when Jesus broke the bread, suggesting that they recognized him as the crucified one who died for the redemption of Israel (see v. 21). Jesus vanished. Compare v. 36; John 20:19, 26.

Luke 24:34–35 The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon. See Mark 16:7; 1 Cor. 15:5.

Luke 24:36 Jesus . . . stood among them. For Jesus in his resurrected state being able to appear and disappear, see note on John 20:19. Peace to you. See John 20:19 and note on John 14:27.

Luke 24:38 In light of what Jesus says in vv. 39–40, their doubts include some confusion about the physical reality of Jesus’ resurrection body and continuing questions about the reality of the resurrection itself.

Luke 24:39 See. . . . Touch me, and see (compare John 20:25, 27; 1 John 1:1). Jesus is not a disembodied spirit. it is I. The risen Christ and Jesus of Nazareth are the same person. The resurrected body of the risen Christ is gloriously different from his pre-resurrection body. His body now is fully healed and not subject to death and decay (see 1 Cor. 15:1–19, 50–58).

Luke 24:41 anything . . . to eat. Jesus proves the physicality of his resurrected body by eating and allowing the disciples to touch him.

Luke 24:44 My words refers to Jesus’ teaching about his death and resurrection (see note on 9:21–22). The Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms refers to the three divisions of the OT in Jesus’ day.

Luke 24:45 he opened their minds to understand. True understanding of the Scriptures is a gift of God (see 9:45; 18:34).

Luke 24:46 The Christ should suffer repeats v. 26. Jesus’ death and resurrection were necessary in order to fulfill God’s plan.

Luke 24:47 repentance for the forgiveness of sins. See esv footnote; and note on Acts 2:38. in his name. See notes on Acts 2:38; 10:48. to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. All the peoples of the earth; see Acts 1:8.

Luke 24:48 witnesses of these things. As eyewitnesses, the disciples served as guardians of the gospel tradition (1:2).

Luke 24:49 The promise of my Father refers to the Holy Spirit (see note on Acts 2:33). John the Baptist announced that the coming of the Holy Spirit is a sign that the Messiah had come (Luke 3:15–17). The Holy Spirit would enable the disciples to act as Jesus’ witnesses (see Acts 1:8). But stay in the city until (see Acts 1:4). For the tie between power and the Spirit, see note on Luke 1:16–17.

Luke 24:50 Jesus led them out as far as Bethany on the Mount of Olives (see notes on 19:29; John 11:1).

Luke 24:51 While he blessed them indicates that the blessing of v. 50 lasted for a period of time. he parted from them and was carried up into heaven (see Acts 1:9, 11). In John 20:17 Jesus states that he is “ascending” to his Father. See note on Acts 1:9.

Luke 24:52–53 And they worshiped him (see note on Matt. 28:9). The Gospel ends where it began, with God’s people in the temple (compare Luke 1:5–17; 24:53) blessing God with great joy, “for he has visited and redeemed his people” (1:68).