Luke 24:13-21

Jesus Walks the Road to Emmaus

24:13 Now ¹  that very day two of them ²  were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles ³  from Jerusalem. ⁴  24:14 They ⁵  were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. 24:15 While ⁶  they were talking and debating ⁷  these things, ⁸  Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them 24:16 (but their eyes were kept ⁹  from recognizing ¹⁰  him). ¹¹  24:17 Then ¹²  he said to them, “What are these matters ¹³  you are discussing so intently ¹⁴  as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad. 24:18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, ¹⁵  “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know ¹⁶  the things that have happened there ¹⁷  in these days?” 24:19 He ¹⁸  said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man ¹⁹  who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet ²⁰  before God and all the people; 24:20 and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over ²¹  to be condemned to death, and crucified ²²  him. 24:21 But we had hoped ²³  that he was the one who was going to redeem ²⁴  Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened.

John 16:6

16:6 Instead your hearts are filled with sadness ²⁵  because I have said these things to you.

John 16:20-22

16:20 I tell you the solemn truth, ²⁶  you will weep ²⁷  and wail, ²⁸  but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, ²⁹  but your sadness will turn into ³⁰  joy. 16:21 When a woman gives birth, she has distress ³¹  because her time ³²  has come, but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being ³³  has been born into the world. ³⁴  16:22 So also you have sorrow ³⁵  now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. ³⁶ 

Acts 1:9-10

1:9 After ³⁷  he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. 1:10 As ³⁸  they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly ³⁹  two men in white clothing stood near them

[24:13]  ¹ tn Grk “And behold.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. The Greek word ἰδού (idou) at the beginning of this statement has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[24:13]  ² tn These are disciples as they know about the empty tomb and do not know what to make of it all.

[24:13]  ³ tn Grk “sixty stades” or about 11 kilometers. A stade (στάδιον, stadion) was a unit of distance about 607 feet (187 meters) long.

[24:13]  ⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[24:14]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[24:15]  ⁶ tn Grk “And it happened that while.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[24:15]  ⁷ tn This term suggests emotional dialogue and can thus be translated “debated.”

[24:15]  ⁸ tn The phrase “these things” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.

[24:16]  ⁹ sn The two disciples will not be allowed to recognize Jesus until v. 31.

[24:16]  ¹⁰ tn This is an epexegetical (i.e., explanatory) infinitive in Greek.

[24:16]  ¹¹ sn This parenthetical remark by the author is necessary so the reader will understand the account.

[24:17]  ¹² tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[24:17]  ¹³ tn Grk “words,” but the term λόγος (logos) can refer to “matters” rather than only “words” (BDAG 600 s.v. 1.a.ε).

[24:17]  ¹⁴ 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).

[24:18]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “answering him, said.” This is redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.

[24:18]  ¹⁶ 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.

[24:18]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “in it” (referring to the city of Jerusalem).

[24:19]  ¹⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[24:19]  ¹⁹ tn This translates the Greek term ἀνήρ (anhr).

[24:19]  ²⁰ sn The role of Jesus as prophet is a function Luke frequently mentions: 4:25-27; 9:35; 13:31-35.

[24:20]  ²¹ sn Handed him over is another summary of the passion like Luke 9:22.

[24:20]  ²² sn See the note on crucify in 23:21.

[24:21]  ²³ tn The imperfect verb looks back to the view that they held during Jesus’ past ministry.

[24:21]  ²⁴ sn Their messianic hope concerning Jesus is expressed by the phrase who was going to redeem Israel.

[16:6]  ²⁵ tn Or “distress” or “grief.”

[16:20]  ²⁶ tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”

[16:20]  ²⁷ tn Or “wail,” “cry.”

[16:20]  ²⁸ tn Or “lament.”

[16:20]  ²⁹ tn Or “sorrowful.”

[16:20]  ³⁰ tn Grk “will become.”

[16:21]  ³¹ sn The same word translated distress here has been translated sadness in the previous verse (a wordplay that is not exactly reproducible in English).

[16:21]  ³² tn Grk “her hour.”

[16:21]  ³³ tn Grk “that a man” (but in a generic sense, referring to a human being).

[16:21]  ³⁴ sn Jesus now compares the situation of the disciples to a woman in childbirth. Just as the woman in the delivery of her child experiences real pain and anguish (has distress), so the disciples will also undergo real anguish at the crucifixion of Jesus. But once the child has been born, the mother’s anguish is turned into joy, and she forgets the past suffering. The same will be true of the disciples, who after Jesus’ resurrection and reappearance to them will forget the anguish they suffered at his death on account of their joy.

[16:22]  ³⁵ tn Or “distress.”

[16:22]  ³⁶ sn An allusion to Isa 66:14 LXX, which reads: “Then you will see, and your heart will be glad, and your bones will flourish like the new grass; and the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants, but he will be indignant toward his enemies.” The change from “you will see [me]” to I will see you places more emphasis on Jesus as the one who reinitiates the relationship with the disciples after his resurrection, but v. 16 (you will see me) is more like Isa 66:14. Further support for seeing this allusion as intentional is found in Isa 66:7, which uses the same imagery of the woman giving birth found in John 16:21. In the context of Isa 66 the passages refer to the institution of the messianic kingdom, and in fact the last clause of 66:14 along with the following verses (15-17) have yet to be fulfilled. This is part of the tension of present and future eschatological fulfillment that runs throughout the NT, by virtue of the fact that there are two advents. Some prophecies are fulfilled or partially fulfilled at the first advent, while other prophecies or parts of prophecies await fulfillment at the second.

[1:9]  ³⁷ tn Grk “And after.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[1:10]  ³⁸ tn Grk “And as.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[1:10]  ³⁹ tn Grk “behold.”