Bible Commentaries

1 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.

Ver. 1. Very early in the morning]. About which time, probably, our Saviour rose.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

Ver. 2. See Matthew 27:60; Matthew 27:66.

3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Ver. 3. Found not the body] But the grave clothes only, John 20:6. As Samson, shut up in Gaza, took the gates on his shoulders, and went his way in despite of his enemies; so did Christ here. These women came first, by a wonderful providence, before the apostles, to confute that impudent lie made by the priests, that the disciples had stolen away the body.

4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

Ver. 4. Two men stood] Two angels in the guise of men.

5 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?

Ver. 5. See Matthew 28:5-6.

6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Ver. 6. See Matthew 28:5-6.

7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Ver. 7. See Matthew 17:23; Mark 9:31; Luke 9:22.

8 And they remembered his words,

Ver. 8. And they remembered his words] Which at first hearing they understood not, heeded not. So the new birth of some is like the birth of the elephant, fourteen years after the seed injected into the womb.

9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

Ver. 9. And told all these things] Per os mulieris mors ante processerat, per os mulieris vita reparatur, saith Ambrose. So, Luke 1:28-37, an angel of light communeth with a woman about man’s salvation, as an angel of darkness had done {Genesis 3:1-7} about his fall and destruction.

And told all these things] For it was a day of good tidings, as those lepers said in another case, 2 Kings 7:9, the sum of all the good news in the world.

10 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.

Ver. 10. And other women] Who were to be Apostolorum Apostolae, apostles of the mesasge, as the ancients speak.

11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Ver. 11. As idle tales] Set on with great earnestness, ληρος α λα, particula intensiva, et ερω, valde dico.

12 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.

Ver. 12. And stooping down] Obstipo capite et propenso collo. We need not doubt therefore about the certainty of this history of Christ’s resurrection.

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

Ver. 13. About threescore furlongs] About six miles.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

Ver. 14. And they talked together] So did Elias and Elisha, when the heavenly chariot came to sunder them. Christ is still with two or three met for such a holy purpose.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

Ver. 15. Jesus himself] He made the third among them, as Dionysius, the king of Sicily, wished that he might be admitted into fellowship of friendship with those two fast friends, Damon and Pythias. (Cic. de Offic.) Christ still delights to be one among those that meet to confer about the things of his kingdom.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

Ver. 16. But their eyes were held] Ut ulcus suum discipuli detegerent, ac pharmacum susciperent, saith Theophylact. That they may tell their own disease and receive healing.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Ver. 17. That ye have one to another] Gr. that ye toss one to another, as a ball is tossed between two or more. αντιβαλλετε, tu cum duo pila lusitaut.

And are sad] Christ loves not to see his saints sad; he questions them as Joseph did his prisoners, "Wherefore look ye so sadly today?" Genesis 40:7, and as the king did Nehemiah, Luke 2:2.

18 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?

Ver. 18. And one of them, whose name was Cleophas] They that hold the other of these two to have been St Luke, are refuted by the preface he hath set before the Acts, saith Beza.

Art thou only a stranger, &c.] Tragedies have no prologues, as comedies have, because it is supposed that all men take knowledge of public calamities. (Natal. Comes.)

19 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:

Ver. 19. Which was a prophet] Yea, and more than a prophet. But the disciples were wondrously ignorant, till the Spirit came down upon them, Acts 2:1-4.

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

Ver. 20. Delivered him] viz. to the Roman governor. Hence he is said to have been crucified at Rome, Revelation 11:8.

21 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.

Ver. 21. But we trusted] q.d. Indeed now we cannot tell what to say to it. Here their hope hangs the wing extremely, their buckler is much battered, and needs beating out again. Ferendum et sperandum, speaking and hoping, said the philosopher. ( οιστεον και ελπιστεον. Epictet.) And good men find it more easy to bear evil than to wait for good, Hebrews 10:36.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

Ver. 22. Made us astonished] When they should rather have believed without sciscitation; but that their hearts were yet still stupefied.

23 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.

Ver. 23. Saying that they had seen a vision] But you (wisely) thought that they had dreamed a dream rather, that they had doted and dreamed waking, Luke 24:11.

24 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.

Ver. 24. Certain of them] viz. Peter and John. See John 20:6, {See Trapp on "John 20:6"}

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Ver. 25. O fools, .& c.] Those in a lethargy must have double the quantity of medicine that others have. Some slow bellies must be sharply rebuked, that they may be sound in the faith Titus 1:12-13.

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Ver. 26. Ought not Christ] Ne Iesum quidem audias gloriosum, nisi videris crucifixum, saith Luther in an epistle to Melancthon. Agentem fortiter oportet aliquid pati, It is proper that acting bravely and to suffer somewhat, said a Theban soldier, out of Pindarus, to Alexander, when he had received a wound in battle. For the which sentence he liberally rewarded him. τον δρωντα δεινα και παθειν δει..

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Ver. 27. The things concerning himself] Christ is author, object, matter, and mark of Old and New Testament: the babe of Bethlehem is bound up (as I may so say) in these swathing bands. Turn we the eyes of our minds to him, as the cherubims did their faces toward the mercy seat. The angels do, 1 Peter 1:12.

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

Ver. 28. And he made as though he would, &c.] So did the angels to Lot, Genesis 19:2. See the like, Joshua 8:5-6, 1 Kings 3:24. If Solomon might make as though he would do an act that was unlawful, we may surely do the like in things indifferent. Yet this was never done, as is well observed, but, 1. By those that had authority over others; 2. For some singular good to them with whom they thus dealt.

29 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.

Ver. 29. But they constrained him] Though they had been sharply rebuked by him, whom they knew to be no other than a mere stranger to them.

For it is toward evening] Cry we, now if ever, ere it be too late,

" Vespera iam venit, nobiscum Christe maneto.

Extingui lucem nec patiare tuam."

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

Ver. 30. And blessed it] It is thought they knew him by his ordinary form of giving thanks before meat.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Ver. 31. Their eyes were opened] The free and entire use of their inward and outward senses was restored unto them.

32 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?

Ver. 32. Did not our hearts burn] By that spirit of burning {Isaiah 4:4} that kindleth the fire of God {Song of Solomon 8:6} on the hearth of his people’s hearts, while the mystery of Christ is laid open unto them. Ego vero illius oratione sic incendebar, saith Senarclaeus, concerning Darius the martyr, ut cum eum disserentem audirem, Spiritus Sancti verba me audire existimarem. Methought when I heard him, I heard the Holy Ghost himself speaking to me.

While he opened] Preaching then is the key of the Scripture.

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Ver. 33. The same hour] Late though it were, and they weary, yet they return the same night, not sparing themselves to do good to others.

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

Ver. 34. Appeared to Simon] 1 Corinthians 15:5. To Peter Christ appeared individually; because as he offended more heinously than the rest of the disciples, so he was more grievously troubled.

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Ver. 35. {See Trapp on "Luke 24:30"} Ex benedictionis forma solemni ipsi Christo antequam panem frangeret, saith Calvin here.

36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Ver. 36. See Mark 16:14; John 20:19.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

Ver. 37. But they were terrified and affrighted] Tam meticulosa est incredulitas. Ut etiam tutissima et maxime tranquilla timeat, saith Brentius here.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Ver. 38. Why do thoughts arise] How easily can the Lord trouble us, by turning our own thoughts loose upon us.

39 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.

Ver. 39. Behold my hands, &c.] With those stamps of dishonour that the Jews did me with wicked hands. These he retained even after his resurrection, as for the confirmation of his apostles, so for our instruction, not to think much to suffer loss of honour for our brethren’s good and comfort.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

Ver. 40. He showed them his hands, &c.] For their better assurance and settlement; that they might both remember his resurrection, {2 Timothy 2:8} and with greater power give witness to it, Acts 4:33.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

Ver. 41. Believed not for joy] This was partly the joy of faith; and yet through mixture of the flesh, it became some hindrance to their faith. So Abraham laughed, and yet said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to him that is a hundred years old?" &c., Genesis 17:17. Strong affections, though from good principles, may possibly miscarry us. Watch therefore.

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

Ver. 42. Broiled fish] Left of last night’s supper, prandium quasi perendium.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

Ver. 43. And did eat] Not out of any natural necessity or desire after meat, as once before his passion; but for confirmation of their faith.

44 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.

Ver. 44. And in the Psalms] When a book is set forth, verses of commendation are often set before it. Christ by this one sentence hath more honoured and authorized the Book of Psalms, than all men could have done by their prefaces and eulogies prefixed thereunto. The Turks disclaim both Testaments, yet swear as solemnly by the Psalms of David as by the Koran of Mahomet.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Ver. 45. Then opened he their understanding] He enlightened both organ and object, as Acts 16:14.

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Ver. 46. Thus it is written, &c.] All things done and suffered by our Saviour were punctually and exactly foretold and foreshown by Moses and the prophets; and especially by Isaiah, who writes more like an evangelist than a prophet; and is therefore called the Evangelical Prophet. (Jerome.)

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Ver. 47. And that repentance, &c.] Blessed be God, saith one, that after our shipwreck by Adam, there is such a plank as repentance for a poor sinner to swim to heaven upon. It is a mourning for sin, as it is offensivum Dei, et aversivum a Deo. It is commissa plangere, et plangenda non committere, as Ambrose hath it; to bewail what is done amiss, and to do so no more.

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Ver. 48. And ye are witnesses] Therefore prepare to preach the Gospel to every creature. And take it for a singular seal of my love, that notwithstanding your late shameful defection and deserting of me, I shall yet employ you as my witnesses, and make use of your ministry.

49 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.

Ver. 49. Until ye be endued] Gr. ενδυσησθε, clothed. Carnal men are naked men; when the saints are arrayed with that fine white linen and shining, Revelation 19:8.

50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Ver. 50. As far as to Bethany] Where his three dear friends dwelt, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. From hence he went to his cross, and from hence he would go to his crown.

He lift up his hands] As a good householder; or rather as the high priest of the New Testament: benedixit, id est, valedixit, he blessed them, and so bade them farewell.

51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Ver. 51. And it came to pass] See Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9.

52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

Ver. 52. With great joy] Yet could they not hear of his ascending to the Father without great sorrow, John 14:1-31; John 16:1-33. We grieve for that sometimes which we have great cause to take comfort in; such is our weakness and waywardness.

53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Ver. 53. Praising and blessing God] Inter laudam devotiones, promissum Spiritus Sanct adventure, promptis per omnia paratisque cordibu exspectant. (Beda.) So putting themselves into fit posture to receive the comfort that Christ had promised them.