1 Now at early dawn on the first day of the week [i.e., early Sunday morning], the women [See Mark 16:1] went to Jesus' grave site, taking the spices which they had prepared [for His burial].
2 But they found the stone [had already been] rolled away from the [opening of the] grave site.
3 So, they went in [i.e., into the cave-like tomb], but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it happened, while they wondered about the situation, suddenly two men in brilliant clothing [were seen] standing beside them.
5 As the women became terrified and bowed down with their faces toward the ground [i.e., in reverence and awe], the two men said to them, "Why are you looking for the living [One] where they bury dead people?
6 He is not here; for He has risen [from the dead]. [Do you not] remember what He told you when He was still in Galilee, saying,
7 The Son of man must be turned over into the hands of sinful men to be crucified, but the third day [He will] rise again [from the dead]?'"
8 Then they remembered what He had said to them.
9 When they returned from the grave site, they told all this to the eleven apostles and to all the rest [of the disciples].
10 Now the women who told these things to the apostles were Mary from Magdala; Joanna [Note: This was the wife of Chuzas, Herod's property manager. See Luke 8:3], and other women who were with them.
11 But these words seemed as nonsense to the apostles, and they refused to believe the women. {{Some ancient authorities do not include verse
12 But Peter got up and ran to the grave site. He stooped down [i.e., because of the low opening in the cave-like tomb], looked in and saw the linen cloths [lying there] by themselves. Then he went home, puzzled over what had happened.}}
13 Then, on that same day, two disciples [See Mark 16:12] were [walking along], going to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles [northwest] of Jerusalem.
14 And they were discussing with each other everything that had [recently] happened.
15 And it happened, as they were talking and discussing together, that Jesus came near [them] and began walking along with them.
16 But they were [miraculously ?] prevented from recognizing who He was.
17 Then Jesus said to them, "What have you been talking about while [you were] walking along together?" And they stopped [suddenly], looking dejected.
18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered Jesus, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what all happened there the past few days?"
19 And He replied, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus, from Nazareth, who was a prophet speaking powerful words and performing powerful deeds in front of God and all the people.
20 And the leading priests and our leaders turned him over to be sentenced to death and had him crucified.
21 But we had hoped that he was the one who would purchase the Israelites back [from their bondage]. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
22 However, certain women of our group, who went to the grave site early [Sunday morning] amazed us.
23 When they did not find Jesus' body they came and told us that they had also seen a vision of angels who said Jesus was alive.
24 Then some of our companions [i.e., Peter and John. See John 20:2-9] went to the grave site and found things just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus [either]."
25 Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish men! How slow your minds are to believe everything the prophets have spoken [in their writings]!
26 Was it not necessary for the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one] to suffer these things, and [then] to enter His glorious state [with the Father]?"
27 Then, beginning from [the writings of] Moses and all the prophets, Jesus explained to the two men about the things referring to Himself [contained] in all these Scripture passages.
28 And as they got close to the village [i.e., of Emmaus], where the men were going, Jesus appeared as though He were planning to continue on.
29 So, the men urged Him to remain with them, saying, "Stay with us [i.e., overnight], because it is getting late and the day is almost over." So, He went [to their house] to stay with them.
30 And it happened when Jesus had reclined at the dinner table with them [Note: See Matt. 23:6], that He took a [small] loaf of bread, asked God's blessing on it, then broke it and gave [pieces] to the two men.
31 [Immediately] their eyes were opened [i.e., they were given insight] so they could recognize Him. And [just then] He disappeared from their view [Note: The Greek says, "became invisible," suggesting that He vanished miraculously].
32 Then the two men said to each other, "Were not our hearts stirred up within us [i.e., our emotions thrilled] when Jesus spoke to us along the road and opened up the Scriptures [to our understanding]?"
33 So, they got up at once and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven apostles gathered together with some other disciples.
34 The apostles [or, some think the two men] were saying, "The Lord truly has risen and has appeared to Simon [i.e., Peter]."
35 Then the two men recounted what happened along the road and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the loaf of bread.
36 And as the apostles were talking about these things, Jesus Himself [reappeared], standing among them, and said to them, "May there be peace in your lives."
37 But they became frightened and [even] terrified, and assumed they were seeing a spirit.
38 Then Jesus said to them, "Why are you [so] upset? And why are you having doubts [about me] in your minds?
39 Look at my hands and my feet and realize that it is I, myself. Feel me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have." {{Some ancient authorities omit verse
40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.}}
41 And while they still could not believe [i.e., or, could hardly believe], out of joy and wonderment, Jesus said to them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"
42 So, they gave Him a piece of broiled fish.
43 And He took it and ate it in front of them.
44 Then Jesus said to the apostles, "These are the words that I told you while I was still with you, [when I said] that everything written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms about me needed to be fulfilled."
45 Then He opened their minds [miraculously ?] so they would understand the Scriptures.
46 And He said to them, "This is what was written: The Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one] will suffer, and [then] rise again from the dead on the third day.
47 And [the need for] a change of heart and life in order to receive the forgiveness of sins [from God] will be preached in Jesus' name [i.e., by His authority] to people of all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You apostles are [to be] witnesses of these things [i.e., they were to give their testimony of these truths. See Acts 1:8].
49 And look, I [am going to] send upon you apostles what my Father promised [i.e., the Holy Spirit. See John 14:26]; but you should wait in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power from above." [Note: This promise was fulfilled when the apostles were immersed in the Holy Spirit. See Acts 1:4 - 2:4].
50 Then Jesus led His apostles out [of Jerusalem] until they came near to Bethany [Note: This was a village fewer than two miles east of Jerusalem]. [There] He raised His hands and asked God's blessing on them.
51 And it happened, as He was blessing them, that He left them and was taken up to heaven.
52 And the apostles worshiped Jesus, then returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
53 And they were there in the Temple [area] continually praising God [i.e., for the next ten days. See Acts 2].