| Chapter 24 |
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And, on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared. |
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But they found the stone rolled back from the tomb, |
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and on entering they found that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there. |
4 |
At this they were in great perplexity, when suddenly there stood by them two men whose raiment flashed like lightning. |
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The women were terrified; but, as they stood with their faces bowed to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you search among the dead for Him who is living? |
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He is not here. He has come back to life. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, |
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when He told you that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." |
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Then they remembered His words, |
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and returning from the tomb they reported all this to the Eleven and to all the rest. |
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The women were Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; and they and the rest of the women related all this to the Apostles. |
11 |
But the whole story seemed to them an idle tale; they could not believe the women. |
12 |
Peter, however, rose and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw nothing but the linen cloths: so he went away to his own home, wondering at what had happened. |
13 |
On that same day two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village seven or eight miles from Jerusalem, |
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and were conversing about all these recent events; |
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and, in the midst of their conversation and discussion, Jesus Himself came and joined them, |
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though they were prevented from recognizing Him. |
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"What is the subject," He asked them, "on which you are talking so earnestly, as you walk?" And they stood still, looking full of sorrow. |
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Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered, "Are you a stranger lodging alone in Jerusalem, that you have known nothing of the things that have lately happened in the city?" |
19 |
"What things?" He asked. "The things about Jesus the Nazarene," they said, "who was a Prophet powerful in work and word before God and all the people; |
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and how our High Priests and Rulers delivered Him up to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him. |
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But we were hoping that it was He who was about to ransom Israel. Yes, and moreover it was the day before yesterday that these things happened. |
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And, besides, some of the women of our company have amazed us. They went to the tomb at daybreak, |
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and, finding that His body was not there, they came and declared to us that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. |
24 |
Thereupon some of our party went to the tomb and found things just as the women had said; but Jesus Himself they did not see." |
25 |
"O dull-witted men," He replied, "with minds so slow to believe all that the Prophets have spoken! |
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Was there not a necessity for the Christ thus to suffer, and then enter into His glory?" |
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And, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the passages in Scripture which refer to Himself. |
28 |
When they had come near the village to which they were going, He appeared to be going further. |
29 |
But they pressed Him to remain with them. "Because," said they, "it is getting towards evening, and the day is nearly over." So He went in to stay with them. |
30 |
But as soon as He had sat down with them, and had taken the bread and had blessed and broken it, and was handing it to them, |
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their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. But He vanished from them. |
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"Were not our hearts," they said to one another, "burning within us while He talked to us on the way and explained the Scriptures to us?" |
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So they rose and without an hour's delay returned to Jerusalem, and found the Eleven and the rest met together, who said to them, |
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"Yes, it is true: the Master has come back to life. He has been seen by Simon." |
35 |
Then they related what had happened on the way, and how He had been recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. |
36 |
While they were thus talking, He Himself stood in their midst and said, "Peace be to you!" |
37 |
Startled, and in the utmost alarm, they thought they were looking at a spirit; |
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but He said to them, "Why such alarm? And why are there such questionings in your minds? |
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See my hands and my feet--it is my very self. Feel me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have." |
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And then He showed them His hands and His feet. |
41 |
But, while they still could not believe it for joy and were full of astonishment, He asked them, "Have you any food here?" |
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And they gave Him a piece of roasted fish, |
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and He took it and ate it in their presence. |
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And He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you--that everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me." |
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Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, |
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and He said, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise again from among the dead; |
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and that proclamation would be made, in His name, of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. |
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You are witnesses as to these things. |
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And remember that I am about to send out my Father's promised gift to rest upon you. But, as for you, wait patiently in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." |
50 |
And He brought them out to within view of Bethany, and then lifted up His hands and blessed them. |
51 |
And while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven. |
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They worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. |
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Afterwards they were continually in attendance at the Temple, blessing God. |