Chapter 24

1Very early on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared.

2They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb.

3But when they went inside, they did not find the body.

4While they stood there wondering what had happened, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes appeared beside them.

5The women became terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. The men said to them, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?

6He is not here; he has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee:

7‘The Son of Man, as he called himself, must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and rise on the third day.’”

8Then the women remembered his words.

9They returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven remaining apostles and everyone else.

10The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them. They told these things to the apostles,

11but the apostles thought their story was nonsense and did not believe them.

12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the linen burial cloths. Then he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

13That same day, two of Jesus’ followers were walking to a village named Emmaus, about sixty stadia—roughly seven miles—from Jerusalem.

14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

15While they were talking and discussing these events, Jesus himself came near and began walking with them.

16But they were prevented from recognizing him.

17Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing with each other as you walk?” They stopped, looking sad.

18One of them, named Cleopas, answered, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what has happened there during these past few days?”

19Jesus asked them, “What happened?” They replied, “The things involving Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, powerful in what he did and said before God and all the people.

20Our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.

21We had hoped that he was the one who would set Israel free. Besides all this, this is now the third day since these things happened.

22Some women from our group also astonished us. They went to the tomb early this morning,

23but they did not find his body. They came back saying that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.

24Some of those with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”

25Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe everything the prophets said!

26Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then enter into his glorious honor?”

27Beginning with Moses and continuing through all the prophets, Jesus explained what all the Scriptures said about him.

28As they approached the village they were traveling to, Jesus acted as though he were going farther.

29But they strongly urged him, “Stay with us. Evening is approaching, and the day is nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30When Jesus settled down to eat with them, he took the bread, gave thanks for it, broke it, and handed it to them.

31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. At that moment, he disappeared from their sight.

32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33They got up at once and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven apostles and the others gathered with them.

34The gathered group was saying, “The Lord really has been raised, and he appeared to Simon Peter!”

35Then the two travelers described what had happened on the road and how they had recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.

36While they were still talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them.

37Startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost.

38Jesus said to them, “Why are you so troubled? Why are doubts arising in your minds?

39Look at my hands and my feet. You can see that it really is me. Touch me and see. A ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you can see that I do.”

40After saying this, he showed them his hands and feet.

41They were still too joyful and amazed to believe it. So Jesus asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

42They gave him a piece of roasted fish.

43He took it and ate it in front of them.

44Then Jesus said to them, “This is what I meant when I told you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must come true.”

45Then he opened their minds so that they could understand the Scriptures.

46He told them, “This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

47and in his name people of every nation must be called to turn away from sin and receive forgiveness, beginning from Jerusalem.

48You are the eyewitnesses who can tell others about these things.

49I am sending you what my Father promised. But remain in the city until you are clothed with power from above.”

50Then Jesus led them out toward Bethany. He raised his hands and spoke God’s blessing over them.

51While he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven.

52They bowed before him in worship and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

53They remained continually in the temple grounds, blessing God.