Luke 24:17-21

24:17 Then ¹  he said to them, “What are these matters ²  you are discussing so intently ³  as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad. 24:18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, ⁴  “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know ⁵  the things that have happened there ⁶  in these days?” 24:19 He ⁷  said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man ⁸  who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet ⁹  before God and all the people; 24:20 and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over ¹⁰  to be condemned to death, and crucified ¹¹  him. 24:21 But we had hoped ¹²  that he was the one who was going to redeem ¹³  Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened.

¹ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

² tn Grk “words,” but the term λόγος (logos) can refer to “matters” rather than only “words” (BDAG 600 s.v. 1.a.ε).

³ tn “Discussing so intently” translates the reciprocal idea conveyed by πρὸς ἀλλήλους (pro" allhlou"). The term ἀντιβάλλω (antiballw), used only here in the NT, has the nuance of “arguing” or “debating” a point (the English idiom “to exchange words” also comes close).

⁴ tn Grk “answering him, said.” This is redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.

⁵ sn There is irony and almost a sense of mocking disbelief as the question “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?” comes to Jesus; but, of course, the readers know what the travelers do not.

⁶ tn Grk “in it” (referring to the city of Jerusalem).

⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁸ tn This translates the Greek term ἀνήρ (anhr).

⁹ sn The role of Jesus as prophet is a function Luke frequently mentions: 4:25-27; 9:35; 13:31-35.

¹⁰ sn Handed him over is another summary of the passion like Luke 9:22.

¹¹ sn See the note on crucify in 23:21.

¹² tn The imperfect verb looks back to the view that they held during Jesus’ past ministry.

¹³ sn Their messianic hope concerning Jesus is expressed by the phrase who was going to redeem Israel.