Luke 24

₁Very early on the Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb where Joseph had buried Jesus. They had the sweet-smelling spices and oil that they had prepared to put on Jesus' body. ₂When they came to the tomb, they saw that someone had rolled away the stone that was in front of the tomb. ₃They went into the tomb but they did not see the body of the Lord Jesus there. ₄The women were very surprised. While they were thinking about this, 2 men in bright clothes appeared in front of them. ₅The women were afraid and they bowed down. The men said to them: ‘Why do you look for the One who lives, here in a tomb for dead people? ₆Jesus is not here. God has raised Him up and made Him live again. Remember what Jesus told you when you were in Galilee. ₇He said God would give Him to bad people and they would kill Him, the Son of man. They would crucify Him but on the 3rd day He would rise and live again.’

₈The women then remembered what Jesus had said ₉and they went back home. They told everything to the 11 apostles and the other believers. ₁₀The women who saw what happened at the tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and some other women with them. When they told these things to the apostles, ₁₁the apostles did not believe them. They said it could not be true. ₁₂Then Peter got up and he ran to the tomb. He bowed down and looked into the tomb and he saw only the cloth that they had put around the body of Jesus. He went back and he was very surprised about what had happened.

₁₃That same Sunday 2 of the people who used to follow Jesus walked to the town of Emmaus. Emmaus was 60 stadioi from Jerusalem. ₁₄They talked to each other about everything that had happened to Jesus. ₁₅While they were talking and thinking, Jesus came and He walked with them. ₁₆But they did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus did not want them to know at that time who He was. ₁₇Jesus asked them: ‘What are you talking about while you walk along the road?’

The 2 men stopped. They were very surprised. ₁₈Cleopas, one of the men, asked Jesus: ‘Don't you live in Jerusalem? Don't you know about all the things that have happened there in the last few days?’ ₁₉Jesus asked them: ‘What things?’ They said: ‘All the things that happened to Jesus, the Man from Nazareth. He was a prophet who did wonderful miracles. He was a Teacher from God. God was with Him and all the people listened to Him. ₂₀But the chief_priests and the leaders of our people arrested Him and they asked Pilate to punish Him and then they crucified Jesus. ₂₁We had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah that would free the Israelites. But it did not happen. Jesus died 3 days ago.

_22-23A few women who were with us went to the tomb early this morning and they did not find Jesus' body there. We were surprised about it. The women also said they saw angels and the angels told them that Jesus is alive. ₂₄Some other men that we know went to the tomb and they saw that everything was like the women had said and that Jesus was not there.’

₂₅Jesus said to the men: ‘Why don't you understand what happened? Why don't you believe what the prophets said? ₂₆The prophets said the Christ must suffer and die before He would become King.’

₂₇Then Jesus started to explain to them what the books_of_Moses and the prophets and the other books of the Old_Testament said about Him. ₂₈When they got near the town of Emmaus, Jesus said He wanted to go to the next town. ₂₉But the 2 men said to Jesus: ‘Please, stay with us. It is nearly evening and the sun is going down.’ Then Jesus went with them to their house and He stayed with them. ₃₀When they started to eat, Jesus took the bread and He thanked God for it. He broke the bread and He gave it to the 2 men. ₃₁Immediately God opened their eyes and they saw that it was Jesus. But then Jesus disappeared. They could not see Him anymore. ₃₂The 2 men said to each other: ‘Now we know why we were so happy when He talked to us on the road and explained the Bible to us.’

₃₃The 2 men immediately got up and went back to Jerusalem. They found the 11 apostles and other believers with them. ₃₄The apostles told the 2 men that it was true, that Jesus was alive again and that He had appeared to Simon. ₃₅Then the 2 men told the apostles and other people everything that had happened when they walked to Emmaus, and when they saw that it was Jesus when He broke the bread.

₃₆The apostles were still talking about these things when Jesus stood there with them and He said to them: ‘God gives his peace to you.’ ₃₇They were afraid. They thought they had seen a ghost. ₃₈But Jesus said to them: ‘Why are you afraid? Why don't you believe what you see? ₃₉Look at my hands and my feet. You can see that it is I. Come and touch Me. Come and feel that I have a body. A ghost does not have a body with flesh and bones.’

₄₀After Jesus said this, He showed them his hands and his feet. ₄₁They were so glad that they could not believe what they saw, and they did not know what to say. Then Jesus said to them: ‘Do you have some food here that I can eat?’

₄₂They gave him a piece of fish and ₄₃Jesus took it and they saw how He ate the fish. ₄₄Then Jesus said to them: ‘Do you remember what I said when I was with you before I died? I told you that everything that is written about Me in the books_of_Moses, and also the things that are written in the books of the prophets and the book of Psalms, must happen.’

₄₅Then Jesus helped them to understand the Bible. ₄₆He told them: ‘The Old_Testament says that the Christ must suffer and die, but that He will rise and start to live again on the 3rd day. ₄₇It is written that the people who believe in God must go and tell everyone that God forgives the sins of everyone who believes in Christ and turns to God and starts living as He wants. You must start telling the people in Jerusalem. ₄₈Tell the people what you saw Me do and what I said. ₄₉I will give you the Holy_Spirit. My Father has promised you that He will give you the Holy_Spirit. But you must stay in Jerusalem until God gives you power from heaven.’

₅₀Then Jesus told the apostles to go with Him. He took them to a place near the town of Bethany. Then Jesus held up his hands and He blessed them. ₅₁He blessed them while He was going away from them. God lifted Jesus up to his home in heaven. ₅₂The apostles worshipped Jesus and then they went back to Jerusalem. They were very happy. ₅₃They went to the temple every day and they praised God.