Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Luke 24
The Empty Tomb
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women came to the tomb carrying the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. When they entered, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, look—two men in dazzling clothing stood beside them. The women became terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. The men said, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here but has been raised. Remember how he spoke to you while he was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be handed over into the hands of sinful people, be crucified, and rise on the third day.” Then they remembered his words. They returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not trust the women. Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths by themselves. Then he went away, amazed at what had happened.
The Road to Emmaus
That same day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about sixty stadia from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and walked with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are these things you are discussing with each other as you walk?” They stopped, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” He asked, “What things?” They said, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet powerful in deed and word before God and all the people. Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Also, some women from our group amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning and did not find his body. They came back saying they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he is alive. Some of those with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow in heart to trust everything the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter his glory?” Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the Scriptures. They approached the village where they were going, and Jesus acted as though he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; then he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us on the road, while he was opening the Scriptures to us?” They got up that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord really has been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two described what had happened on the road and how Jesus had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
While they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them. Startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a spirit. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself. Touch me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” After saying this, he showed them his hands and feet. While they still did not trust because of joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish. He took it and ate it in front of them.
Scripture, Witness, and Promise
Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you: everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He said to them, “Thus it is written: the Christ must suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look—I am sending my Father’s promise upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Jesus Blesses Them and Is Taken Up
Jesus led them out as far as Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. They bowed before him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They were continually in the temple blessing God.