Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Luke
Chapter 24: He Is Not Here, but Is Risen
Luke 24 is the dawn of resurrection and the triumphant close of the Gospel. The women come to the tomb with spices and find the stone rolled away and the body gone, and angels ask, 'Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.' On the road to Emmaus the risen Lord walks unrecognized with two downcast disciples and, 'beginning at Moses and all the prophets,' opens to them the Scriptures concerning Himself, until He is known 'in breaking of bread' and their hearts recall how they burned within them. He appears to the gathered eleven, 'Peace be unto you,' and shows them His hands and feet, 'handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have,' and eats before them to prove He is risen bodily. Then He opens their understanding, declaring that it was written 'that Christ should suffer, and... 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.' He sends them as witnesses, promising 'the promise of my Father,' power from on high, and leads them out to Bethany, where, lifting up His hands in blessing, He is 'carried up into heaven,' and they return to Jerusalem with great joy. The chapter proclaims the risen Christ, the opened Scriptures, the gospel for all nations, and the ascended Lord.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Luke chapter 24, the final chapter of the Gospel. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here the risen Lord meets the women at the tomb, walks to Emmaus, appears to the eleven, opens the Scriptures, gives the Great Commission, and ascends to heaven. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
He Is Risen
The women find the stone rolled away and hear the angels' word.
Did Not Our Heart Burn
The risen Lord opens the Scriptures on the road.
Handle Me, and See
He shows His hands and feet and eats before them.
Preached in His Name
Repentance and remission for all nations, then the ascension.
Why Seek Ye the Living Among the Dead? (Luke 24:1-12)
The women come to anoint a dead body and find instead an empty tomb and the angelic proclamation of the resurrection.
He Is Not Here, but Is Risen
"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. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 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 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, 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 returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 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. 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."
Word Study
"is risen," Greek egeiro (ἐγείρω). The word means to raise up, to awaken, to rouse from sleep or from death. "He is not here, but is risen." The passive form points to the Father's mighty act in raising the Son, even as elsewhere Christ speaks of raising Himself; the whole Godhead is glorified in the resurrection, for it is the one God who was in Christ reconciling the world. Death could not hold Him: the tomb is empty because the crucified Lord lives. This is the cornerstone of the gospel, "if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain" (1 Corinthians 15:17); but He is risen indeed, and His rising is the pledge that all who are His shall also be raised.
Explanation
At dawn the women find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, and two shining men rebuke their search: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." They are told to remember His own words foretelling the cross and the third day -- and "they remembered his words." The apostles dismiss the report as "idle tales," but Peter runs to the tomb and finds the linen clothes, and departs "wondering." Luke is careful to show that the resurrection was not the fruit of credulous hope but broke upon witnesses who did not expect it and at first refused to believe.
Gospel Focus
"Upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning," the faithful women come to the tomb, their love undimmed but their hope buried; they bring spices to anoint a corpse, expecting nothing but death. Instead they find "the stone rolled away" and the body gone. As they stand perplexed, two angels in shining garments appear, and their question pierces to the heart of the new reality: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." They were seeking the living Lord in a grave; He is not to be found among the dead, for death has been conquered. The angels call them to remember His own words, that "the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." The resurrection was no surprise to God and no afterthought; Jesus had plainly foretold it, and now the empty tomb confirms every word He spoke. "And they remembered his words." The women become the first witnesses and preachers of the resurrection, running to tell the eleven, though their testimony is dismissed as "idle tales." Even the apostles, who had heard the same predictions, are slow to believe. Peter, however, runs to the tomb and sees "the linen clothes laid by themselves", the grave-clothes left in order, not the disarray of a stolen body, and departs "wondering." The empty tomb, the angelic word, the remembered promise, and the grave-clothes all bear witness to the one glorious fact: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. The One who died bearing our sins is alive again, and death, the last enemy, is broken. Do not seek Him among the dead; He lives, and because He lives, all who trust Him shall live also.
Did Not Our Heart Burn Within Us? (Luke 24:13-35)
The risen Lord walks with two disheartened disciples, opens the Scriptures to them, and is known in the breaking of bread.
He Expounded Unto Them in All the Scriptures
"And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 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. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 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 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. 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; 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. 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? 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. 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 their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 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, 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."
Word Study
"opened," Greek dianoigo (διανοίγω). The word means to open thoroughly, to open what was shut fast. Luke uses it three times in this chapter, and together they tell the whole story of coming to know the risen Christ: He "opened to us the scriptures" on the road, their "eyes were opened" at the breaking of bread, and later He "opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." Left to ourselves our eyes are "holden," our understanding shut, and the Scriptures a closed book; but the risen Lord opens the Word, opens the eyes, and opens the mind. To know Christ and His Word truly is a work of His opening grace. The same Lord who opened the Scriptures to two disciples on the Emmaus road still opens hearts and minds to see Himself in all the Word.
Explanation
Two disciples trudge toward Emmaus, crushed that their hopes died on a cross, when the risen Jesus joins them unrecognized and, "beginning at Moses and all the prophets," opens the Scriptures to show that Christ "ought" to have suffered before entering His glory. Their hearts burn as He speaks, and He is finally "known of them in breaking of bread" before vanishing. Luke's message is that the risen Christ is met in the Scriptures rightly understood and at the table of fellowship -- the whole Old Testament was always about a suffering and glorified Messiah, and the disciples had been reading it blind until He opened their eyes.
Gospel Focus
Two disciples trudge home to Emmaus that first Easter afternoon, "sad," their hopes shattered: "we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel." They had heard the women's report of angels and an empty tomb, but faith had not yet taken hold. As they walk and reason, "Jesus himself drew near, and went with them", but "their eyes were holden that they should not know him." The risen Lord draws near to the discouraged even when they do not recognize Him. He draws out their grief, letting them pour out the whole story of "Jesus of Nazareth," His mighty works, His crucifixion, and their crushed hopes. Then He gently rebukes not their sorrow but their unbelief of Scripture: "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?" Their error was to expect a conquering Messiah without a suffering one; but the cross was not the failure of God's plan, it was the heart of it, foretold throughout the Scriptures. So the risen Lord becomes the great expositor: "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." The whole Old Testament, the law, the prophets, all of it, points to Christ, His sufferings and His glory. What a Bible study that must have been, the Author Himself unfolding His own Word. As they near the village He makes as if to go on, and they constrain Him, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening", the prayer of every heart that longs for His presence. At the table He takes bread, blesses, breaks, and gives it, the familiar actions of the One they had watched so often, and suddenly "their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight." Recognition came in the fellowship of the broken bread. Looking back, they marvel: "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" The opened Word had already been kindling faith before their eyes were opened. At once they rise and hurry the seven miles back to Jerusalem to find the eleven already proclaiming, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." So the risen Christ is made known through the opened Scriptures and the breaking of bread, and downcast hearts are turned to burning joy.
Repentance and Remission of Sins in His Name (Luke 24:36-53)
Jesus proves His bodily resurrection, opens the disciples' understanding, commissions them to preach to all nations, and ascends in blessing.
Carried Up Into Heaven
"And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 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? 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 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 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. 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 that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 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 he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 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 were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen."
Word Study
"remission," Greek aphesis (ἄφεσις). The word means a sending away, a release, a forgiveness, the letting go of a debt or the pardon of sin. The risen Lord declares "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations." This is the gospel commission, and aphesis is the very word Peter used when the apostles preached it: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Note the order and the ground: repentance and remission are preached "in his name", in the name of Jesus, for there is salvation in no other name. What Jesus commands here at the close of Luke, the apostles carry out at Pentecost in Acts, calling all nations to repent and be baptized in His name for the sending away of their sins.
Explanation
Jesus stands among the eleven with "Peace be unto you," and answers their fright with His own body: "Behold my hands and my feet... handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones." He eats before them -- the resurrection is bodily and real, not a ghost or an idea. Then He "opened... their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures," commissioning them to preach "repentance and remission of sins" in His name to all nations, and promising "the promise of my Father" -- the Spirit for whom they must wait. Leading them out to Bethany, He blesses them and is carried up into heaven, and they return to Jerusalem "with great joy," praising God, awaiting Pentecost.
Gospel Focus
As the disciples discuss the reports, "Jesus himself stood in the midst of them," and His first word is "Peace be unto you", the peace He purchased at the cross now spoken by the risen Lord. Startled, they think they see "a spirit," a ghost, so Jesus gives them solid proof of a real, bodily resurrection. "Behold my hands and my feet," still bearing the marks of the nails; "handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." He is no phantom; the same body that was crucified is raised, glorified yet tangible. And "while they yet believed not for joy", their joy outrunning their faith, He asks for food and eats "a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb" before them, further proof that He is truly, physically alive. Then He turns them to the Scriptures, reminding them that all He suffered was "written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me", the whole Old Testament testifying of Him. "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." The risen Lord unlocks the meaning of the Word, so that they see the necessity of His suffering and rising: "thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day." And out of the cross and resurrection flows the mission: "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." This is the Great Commission in Luke, the very gospel the apostles would preach at Pentecost, calling all peoples to repent and receive remission of sins in the name of Jesus. "And ye are witnesses of these things", they had seen the risen Lord, and now they must testify. But they must not go in their own strength: "tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." He promises "the promise of my Father," the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, the power without which no witness can succeed, the promise fulfilled at Pentecost. Then, with His work on earth complete, Jesus leads them out to Bethany, lifts up His pierced hands, and blesses them, and "while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." The last sight the disciples had of their Lord was His hands raised in blessing; He ascended blessing His people, and He ever lives to bless them still. Their response is worship and joy: "they worshipped him," rendering to Jesus the worship due to God, "and returned to Jerusalem with great joy," and were "continually in the temple, praising and blessing God." So Luke's Gospel ends where it must, with the risen and ascended Lord worshipped by His people, His Word opened, His gospel of repentance and remission going forth in His name to all nations, and His disciples waiting in joyful hope for the promised power from on high. Amen.
Chapter 24 in Review
Luke 24 crowns the Gospel with the resurrection, the opened Scriptures, the Great Commission, and the ascension. The women find the tomb empty and hear the angels, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." On the Emmaus road the risen Lord opens the Scriptures to two downcast disciples, "beginning at Moses and all the prophets," and is known "in breaking of bread," their hearts burning within them. He appears to the eleven, proves His bodily resurrection, "handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones," and eats before them. He opens their understanding, declares that it was written that "Christ should suffer, and... rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations," sends them as witnesses, promises "power from on high," and ascends from Bethany with hands lifted in blessing, while they worship Him and return to Jerusalem "with great joy."
For the Apostolic reader this final chapter gathers up the whole gospel. The resurrection is the foundation: the crucified Saviour is risen bodily, the same Jesus, no ghost, the tomb empty, death conquered, and His rising is the pledge of ours. The opened Scriptures are the key: the whole Bible, law, prophets, and psalms, testifies of Christ's sufferings and glory, and only the risen Lord can open the Word, the eyes, and the understanding to see Him there. The Great Commission is the mission, and it is unmistakably the message of Acts: repentance and remission of sins preached in the name of Jesus to all nations, the very gospel Peter preached at Pentecost, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." And the ascension is the triumph: the Lord who blessed His people at parting is enthroned in heaven, worshipped as God by His disciples, and ever lives to bless and intercede. Yet one thing remained before the mission could begin, the promise of the Father, the enduing with power from on high, the outpouring of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. So the Gospel of Luke ends looking forward to Acts: the risen Christ proclaimed, His name preached for the remission of sins, and His people waiting for the Spirit. Seek the living Lord, let Him open the Scriptures to you, receive His gospel of repentance and remission in His name, and worship the ascended King with great joy.
- Christ is risen; do not seek the living among the dead (24:5-6).
- The whole of Scripture testifies of Christ's suffering and glory (24:27, 44).
- Only the risen Lord opens the Word, the eyes, and the understanding (24:31-32, 45).
- The resurrection is bodily and real: "handle me, and see" (24:39).
- Repentance and remission of sins are preached in His name to all nations (24:47).
- The ascended Lord blesses His people and is worshipped as God (24:51-52).
Questions for Reflection
- Have you met the risen Lord, and do you seek Him among the living?
- Does your heart burn as the Scriptures are opened to reveal Christ?
- Have you received the gospel of repentance and remission of sins in His name?
- Do you worship the ascended King with great joy, and wait for the power of His Spirit?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. The resurrection foretold and accomplished: Luke 9:22, 18:33; 1 Corinthians 15:1-20; Psalm 16:10. Christ in all the Scriptures: John 5:39, 46; Luke 24:27, 44; Acts 3:18. The bodily resurrection: John 20:24-29; Acts 10:40-41; 1 John 1:1. Repentance and remission in His name: Acts 2:38, 4:12, 10:43; Luke 24:47. The promise of the Father and power from on high: Acts 1:4-8, 2:1-4; Joel 2:28-29. The ascension and worship of Christ: Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 4:8-10; Hebrews 1:3; Philippians 2:9-11. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The empty tomb and the risen Lord: Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:1-20; Psalm 16:10.
- The road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-35; John 5:39, 46; Acts 3:18.
- The commission and the ascension: Luke 24:36-53; Acts 1:4-11; 2:38.