The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  24:2 the stone rolled away. Matthew 28:2–4 records that an earthquake occurred and an angel rolled the stone away. The Roman guards fainted with fear. Mark, Luke, and John make no mention of the guards, so it appears they fled when they awoke to find the empty tomb. The women must have arrived shortly after.

  24:4 two men. These were angels. Only Luke mentioned them both (see note on Mark 16:5). Mark was concerned only with the one who spoke for the duo. Such minor differences in the gospel accounts are all reconcilable. Here’s a summary of the events of the resurrection, assembled from all 4 evangelists’ accounts: Finding the stone rolled away, the women entered the tomb, but found it empty (v. 3). While they were still in the tomb, the angels suddenly appeared (v. 4; Mark 16:5). The angel who spoke reminded them of Jesus’ promises (vv. 6–8), then sent them to find Peter and the disciples to report that Jesus was risen (Matt. 28:7, 8; Mark 16:7, 8). The women did as they were told (vv. 9–11). The disciples were skeptical at first (v. 11), but ran to where the tomb was, John arriving first (John 20:4), but Peter actually entering the tomb first (John 20:6). They saw the linen wrappings intact but empty, proof that Jesus was risen (v. 12; John 20:6–8). They left immediately (v. 12; John 20:10). Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb, and was standing outside weeping when Christ suddenly appeared to her (John 20:11–18). That was His first appearance (Mark 16:9). Sometime soon after that, He met the other women on the road and appeared to them as well (Matt. 28:9, 10). Later that day He appeared to two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (vv. 13–32), and to Peter (v. 34). For a chronological listing of all His post-resurrection appearances, see note on v. 34.

  24:6 how He spoke to you…in Galilee. See notes on 9:22; 18:31–33.

  24:9 all the rest. I.e., other disciples, mostly from Galilee, who were in Jerusalem for the Passover.

  24:10 Mary Magdalene. See note on 8:2. She was the first to see Jesus alive (Mark 16:9; John 20:11–18). See note on v. 4. Joanna. Her husband was Herod’s steward. See note on 8:3. Mary the mother of James. See note on Matt. 27:56. the other women. They are never explicitly identified (cf. 23:49, 55).

  24:11 idle tales. I.e., nonsense.

  24:12 Peter…ran. John ran with Peter, but reached the tomb first (John 20:4). linen cloths. I.e., the empty shell of wrappings that had contained the body.

  24:13 two of them. These evidently were not any of the 11 disciples. According to v. 18, one was named Cleopas. Emmaus. Mentioned nowhere else in Scripture. Its exact location is not known, but tradition says it is a town known as Kubeibeh, 7 mi. NW of Jerusalem.

  24:16 their eyes were restrained. I.e., they were kept by God from recognizing Him.

  24:18 Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem. The crucifixion of Jesus was already such a well known event around Jerusalem that they were shocked that He seemed not to know about it.

  24:21 But we were hoping. They had been looking for an immediate earthly kingdom. With Jesus crucified, they were probably struggling with doubt about whether He was the Messiah who would reign. But they still regarded Him as a true prophet (v. 19). the third day. There may have been a glimmer of hope in these words. They had heard rumors of His resurrection already (vv. 22–24). Perhaps Cleopas recalled the Lord’s promises of 9:22; 18:33. More likely, however, it seems this was his way of expressing surprise that this Stranger did not yet know the news everyone else in Jerusalem had been discussing for the past 3 days.

  24:24 certain of those who were with us. I.e., Peter and John (see note on v. 12). but Him they did not see. This was true. Evidently Cleopas and his companion had not heard about the appearance to Mary Magdalene (see note on v. 4).

  24:26 Ought not. I.e., “Was it not necessary?” OT prophecies spoke often of a suffering servant of Jehovah (see note on v. 27).

  24:27 Moses and all the Prophets. Verse 44 gives the 3-fold division; this expression is merely a shortened way to say the same thing. in all the Scriptures. In the inscrutable wisdom of divine providence, the substance of Christ’s exposition of the OT messianic prophecies was not recorded. But the gist of what He expounded would have undoubtedly included an explanation of the OT sacrificial system, which was full of types and symbols that spoke of His sufferings and death. He also would have pointed them to the major prophetic passages which spoke of the crucifixion, such as Pss. 16:9–11; 22; 69; Is. 52:14—53:12; Zech. 12:10; 13:7. And He would have pointed out the true meaning of passages like Gen. 3:15; Num. 21:6–9; Ps. 16:10; Jer. 23:5, 6; Dan. 9:26—and a host of other key messianic prophecies, particularly those that spoke of His death and resurrection.

  24:30 took bread. A simple expression, meaning to share a meal (v. 35).

  24:31 their eyes were opened. I.e., by God. They had been sovereignly kept from recognizing Him until this point (cf. v. 16). His resurrection body was glorified, and altered from its previous appearance (see John’s description in Rev. 1:13–16), and this surely explains why even Mary did not recognize Him at first (cf. John 20:14–16). But in this case, God actively intervened to keep them from recognizing Him until it was time for Him to depart. He vanished from their sight. His resurrection body, though real and tangible (John 20:27)—and even capable of ingesting earthly food (vv. 42, 43)—nonetheless possessed certain properties that indicate it was glorified, altered in a mysterious way (cf. 1 Cor. 15:35–54; Phil. 3:21). Christ could appear and disappear bodily, as seen in this text. His body could pass through solid objects—such as the grave clothes (see note on v. 12), or the walls and doors of a closed room (John 20:19, 26). He could apparently travel great distances in a moment, for by the time these disciples returned to Jerusalem, Christ had already appeared to Peter (v. 34). The fact that He ascended into heaven bodily demonstrated that His resurrection body was already fit for heaven. Yet it was His body, the same one that was missing from the tomb, even retaining identifying features such as the nail-wounds (John 20:25–27). He was no ghost or phantom.

  24:34 appeared to Simon. Cf. 1 Cor. 15:5–8. Scripture describes at least 10 distinct appearances of Christ between the resurrection and ascension. He appeared to: 1) Mary Magdalene at the tomb (Mark 16:9; John 20:11–18); 2) to the women on the road (Matt. 28:9, 10); 3) to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (vv. 13–32); 4) to Peter (v. 34); 5) to 10 of the 11 disciples, Thomas being absent (vv. 36–43; Mark 16:14; John 20:19–25); 6) to the 11 disciples (with Thomas present) 8 days later (John 20:26–31); 7) to 7 disciples by the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1–25); 8) to more than 500 disciples, probably on a mountain in Galilee (1 Cor. 15:6; see note on Matt. 28:16); 9) to James (1 Cor. 15:7); and 10) to the apostles when He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:3–11). After His ascension, He appeared to Paul (1 Cor. 15:8). The next time He appears it will be in glory (Matt. 24:30).

  24:36 Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them. The doors were closed and locked (John 20:19). See note on v. 31.

  24:39 Behold My hands and My feet. He was showing them the nail wounds to prove it was really Him. Cf. John 20:27.

  24:41–43 See note on v. 31. Cf. Acts 10:41.

  24:44 the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms. I.e., the whole OT. See note on v. 27.

  24:45 opened their understanding. He undoubtedly taught them from the OT, as He had on the road to Emmaus (see note on v. 27). But the gist of the expression also seems to convey a supernatural opening of their minds to receive the truths He unfolded. Whereas their understanding was once dull (9:45), they finally saw clearly (cf. Ps. 119:18; Is. 29:18, 19; 2 Cor. 3:14–16).

  24:46–53 This section contains several ideas that are echoed in the opening of Acts, including Christ’s suffering and resurrection (v. 46; Acts 1:3); the message of repentance and remission of sins (v. 47; Acts 2:38); the disciples as His witnesses (v. 48; Acts 1:8); the Promise of the Father (v. 49; Acts 1:4); tarrying in Jerusalem (v. 49; Acts 1:4) and the beginning of gospel outreach there (v. 47; Acts 1:8); power from on high (v. 49; Acts 1:8); Christ’s ascension (v. 51; Acts 1:9–11); the disciples’ return to Jerusale
m (v. 52; Acts 1:12); and their meeting in the temple (v. 53; Acts 2:46).

  24:46 it is written. I.e., in the OT. See note on v. 27.

  24:47 This was the Great Commission (cf. Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15).

  24:49 the Promise of My Father. I.e., the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26; cf. Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:1–4).

  24:50 Bethany. See notes on 19:29; Mark 11:1.

  24:51 carried up into heaven. I.e., visibly. Before when the resurrected Christ left them, He simply vanished (v. 31). This time they saw Him ascend. Cf. Acts 1:9–11.

  24:52 they worshiped Him. I.e., a formal act of worship. Now that He had opened their understanding (see note on v. 45), they perceived the full truth of His deity, unclouded by the darkness of confusion or doubt. Cf. Matt. 28:9; John 20:28; contra. Matt. 28:17.

  24:53 in the temple. This became the first meeting-place of the church (Acts 2:46; 5:21, 42). There were rooms around the porticoes of the outer court available for such meetings.

  Luke 1

  1:1 a John 20:31

  1:1 1 Or are most surely believed

  1:2 b Mark 1:1; John 15:27; Acts 1:21, 22

  1:2 c Acts 1:2

  1:2 d Acts 1:3; 10:39; Heb. 2:3; 1 Pet. 5:1; 2 Pet. 1:16; 1 John 1:1

  1:3 e Acts 1:1

  1:3 2 Lit. accurately followed

  1:4 f (John 20:31)

  1:5 g Matt. 2:1

  1:5 h 1 Chr. 24:1, 10

  1:5 i Neh. 12:4

  1:5 j Lev. 21:13, 14

  1:9 k Ex. 30:7, 8; 1 Chr. 23:13; 2 Chr. 29:11

  1:9 3 he was chosen by lot

  1:10 l Lev. 16:17

  1:11 m Ex. 30:1

  1:12 n Judg. 6:22; Dan. 10:8; Luke 2:9; Acts 10:4; Rev. 1:17

  1:13 o Luke 1:57, 60, 63

  1:14 p Luke 1:58

  1:15 q (Luke 7:24–28)

  1:15 r Num. 6:3; Judg. 13:4; Matt. 11:18

  1:15 s Jer. 1:5; Gal. 1:15

  1:17 t Mal. 4:5, 6; Matt. 3:2; 11:14; Mark 1:4; 9:12

  1:18 u Gen. 17:17

  1:19 v Dan. 8:16; (Matt. 18:10); Heb. 1:4

  1:19 w Luke 2:10

  1:19 4 this good news

  1:20 x Ezek. 3:26; 24:27

  1:23 y 2 Kin. 11:5; 1 Chr. 9:25

  1:25 z Gen. 30:23; Is. 4:1; 54:1, 4

  1:27 a Matt. 1:18; Luke 2:4, 5

  1:28 b Dan. 9:23

  1:28 c Judg. 6:12

  1:28 5 NU omits blessed are you among women

  1:29 d Luke 1:12

  1:29 6 NU omits when she saw him

  1:30 e Luke 2:52

  1:31 f Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:21, 25; Gal. 4:4

  1:31 g Luke 2:21; (Phil. 2:9–11)

  1:32 h Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 5:7; Luke 1:35, 76; 6:35; Acts 7:48

  1:32 i 2 Sam. 7:12, 13, 16; Ps. 132:11; (Is. 9:6, 7; 16:5; Jer. 23:5)

  1:32 j 2 Sam. 7:14–17; Acts 2:33; 7:55

  1:32 k Matt. 1:1

  1:33 l (Dan. 2:44; Obad. 21; Mic. 4:7); John 12:34; (Heb. 1:8); 2 Pet. 1:11

  1:34 7 Am a virgin

  1:35 m Matt. 1:20

  1:35 n Ps. 2:7; Matt. 3:17; 14:33; 17:5; Mark 1:1; John 1:34; 20:31; Acts 8:37; (Rom. 1:1–4; Heb. 1:2, 8)

  1:37 o Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17; Matt. 19:26; Mark 10:27; Rom. 4:21

  1:39 p Josh. 21:9

  1:41 q Acts 6:3

  1:42 r Judg. 5:24

  1:45 s John 20:29

  1:45 8 Or believed that there

  1:46 t 1 Sam. 2:1–10; Ps. 34:2, 3; Hab. 3:18

  1:46 9 Declares the greatness of

  1:47 u Ps. 35:9; Hab. 3:18

  1:47 v 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4; Jude 25

  1:48 w 1 Sam. 1:11; Ps. 138:6

  1:48 x Luke 11:27

  1:49 y Ps. 71:19; 126:2, 3

  1:49 z Ps. 111:9; Rev. 4:8

  1:50 a Gen. 17:7; Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 103:17

  1:51 b Ps. 98:1; 118:15; Is. 40:10

  1:51 c Ps. 33:10; (1 Pet. 5:5)

  1:52 d 1 Sam. 2:7, 8

  1:53 e (Matt. 5:6)

  1:54 f Is. 41:8

  1:54 g Ps. 98:3; (Jer. 31:3)

  1:55 h Gen. 17:19; Ps. 132:11; (Gal. 3:16)

  1:55 i (Rom. 11:28)

  1:55 j Gen. 17:7

  1:58 k (Rom. 12:15)

  1:59 l Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3; Luke 2:21; Phil. 3:5

  1:60 m Luke 1:13, 63

  1:66 n Luke 2:19

  1:66 o Gen. 39:2; Acts 11:21

  1:67 p Joel 2:28

  1:68 q 1 Kin. 1:48; Ps. 106:48

  1:68 r Ex. 3:16

  1:69 s 2 Sam. 22:3; Ps. 132:17; Ezek. 29:21

  1:70 t Jer. 23:5; Rom. 1:2

  1:70 u Acts 3:21

  1:72 v Lev. 26:42

  1:73 w Gen. 12:3; 22:16–18; (Heb. 6:13)

  1:74 x (Rom. 6:18; Heb. 9:14)

  1:75 y Jer. 32:39; (Eph. 4:24; 2 Thess. 2:13)

  1:76 z Matt. 3:3; 11:9; Mark 3:2, 3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23

  1:76 a Is. 40:3; Mal. 3:1; Matt. 11:10

  1:77 b (Jer. 31:34; Mark 1:4); Luke 3:3

  1:78 10 Lit. Dawn; the Messiah

  1:78 11 NU shall visit

  1:79 c Is. 9:2; Matt. 4:16; (Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 5:14)

  1:79 d (John 10:4; 14:27; 16:33)

  1:80 e Luke 2:40

  1:80 f Matt. 3:1

  Luke 2

  2:2 a Dan. 9:25; Acts 5:37

  2:4 b 1 Sam. 16:1; Mic. 5:2

  2:4 c Matt. 1:16

  2:5 d (Matt. 1:18)

  2:5 1 NU omits wife

  2:7 e Matt. 1:25; Luke 1:31

  2:7 2 feed trough

  2:9 f Luke 1:12

  2:9 3 NU omits behold

  2:10 g Luke 1:13, 30

  2:10 h Gen. 12:3; Is. 49:6; (Matt. 28:19; Mark 1:15; Col. 1:23)

  2:11 i Is. 9:6

  2:11 j Matt. 1:21; John 4:42; (Acts 5:31)

  2:11 k Matt. 1:16; 16:16, 20; John 11:27; Acts 2:36; Phil. 2:11

  2:12 4 feed trough

  2:13 l Gen. 28:12; Ps. 103:20; 148:2; Dan. 7:10; (Heb. 1:14); Rev. 5:11

  2:14 m Matt. 21:9; Luke 19:38; Eph. 1:6

  2:14 n Is. 57:19; (Rom. 5:1); Eph. 2:17; (Col. 1:20)

  2:14 o (John 3:16; Eph. 2:4, 7; 2 Thess. 2:16; 1 John 4:9)

  2:14 5 NU toward men of goodwill

  2:17 6 NU omits widely

  2:19 p Gen. 37:11; Luke 1:66

  2:20 q Luke 19:37

  2:21 r Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3

  2:21 s (Matt. 1:21)

  2:21 t Luke 1:31

  2:21 7 NU for His circumcision

  2:22 u Lev. 12:2–8

  2:23 v Ex. 13:12; 22:29; Lev. 27:26; Deut. 18:4; Neh. 10:36

  2:23 w Ex. 13:2, 12, 15; Num. 3:13; 8:17

  2:24 x Lev. 12:2, 8

  2:25 y Is. 40:1; Mark 15:43; Luke 2:38; 23:51

  2:26 z Ps. 89:48; (John 8:51; Heb. 11:5)

  2:27 a Matt. 4:1

  2:29 b Gen. 46:30; (Phil. 1:23)

  2:30 c Ps. 119:166, 174; (Is. 52:10; Luke 3:6)

  2:32 d Is. 9:2; 42:6; 49:6; 60:1–3; Matt. 4:16; Acts 10:45; 13:47; 28:28; (Rom. 9:24; Gal. 3:14)

  2:33 8 NU And His father and mother

  2:34 e Is. 8:14; Hos. 14:9; Matt. 21:44; (Rom. 9:32); 1 Cor. 1:23; (2 Cor. 2:16; 1 Pet. 2:7, 8)

  2:34 f Matt. 28:12–15; Acts 4:2; 17:32; 28:22; (1 Pet. 2:12; 4:14)

  2:35 g Ps. 42:10; John 19:25

  2:36 h Josh. 19:24

  2:37 i Acts 26:7; 1 Tim. 5:5

  2:37 9 NU until she was eighty-four

  2:38 j Lam. 3:25, 26; Mark 15:43; Luke 24:21

  2:38 10 NU God

  2:40 k Luke 1:80; 2:52; (1 Cor. 1:24, 30)

  2:40 11 NU omits in spirit

  2:41 l John 4:20

  2:41 m Ex. 23:15, 17; 34:23; Deut. 16:1, 16; Luke 22:15

  2:42 n Ex. 23:14, 15

  2:43 o Ex. 12:15

  2:43 12 NU His parents

  2:47 p Matt. 7:28; 13:54; 22:33; Mark 1:22; 6:2; 11:18; Luke 4:32; John 7:15

  2:49 q John 9:4

  2:49 r (Mark 1:22; Luke 4:22, 32; John 4:34; 5:17, 3
6)

  2:50 s Mark 9:32; Luke 9:45; 18:34; John 7:15, 46

  2:51 t Dan. 7:28

  2:51 13 obedient

  2:52 u (Is. 11:2, 3; Col. 2:2, 3)

  2:52 v 1 Sam. 2:26; (Prov. 3:1–4)

  Luke 3

  3:1 a Matt. 27:2

  3:2 b John 11:49; 18:13; Acts 4:6

  3:2 c Luke 1:13

  3:2 1 NU, M in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas

  3:3 d Matt. 3:1; Mark 1:4

  3:3 e Luke 1:77

  3:4 f Is. 40:3–5; Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:3

  3:6 g Ps. 98:2; Is. 52:10; Luke 2:10; (Rom. 10:8–18)

  3:7 h Matt. 3:7; 12:34; 23:33

  3:7 2 Offspring

  3:8 i (2 Cor. 7:9–11)

  3:9 j Matt. 7:19; Luke 13:6–9

  3:10 k Luke 3:12, 14; (Acts 2:37, 38; 16:30, 31)

  3:11 l Luke 11:41; 2 Cor. 8:14; James 2:15, 16; (1 John 3:17; 4:20)

  3:11 m Is. 58:7; (1 Tim. 6:17, 18)

  3:12 n Matt. 21:32; Luke 7:29

  3:13 o Luke 19:8

  3:14 p Ex. 20:16; 23:1; Lev. 19:11

  3:14 3 Lit. shake down for money

  3:16 q Matt. 3:11, 12; Mark 1:7, 8

  3:16 r John 7:39; 20:22; Acts 2:1–4

  3:17 s Mic. 4:12; Matt. 13:24–30

  3:19 t Matt. 14:3; Mark 6:17

  3:19 4 NU brother’s wife

  3:21 u Matt. 3:13–17; John 1:32

  3:22 v Ps. 2:7; (Is. 42:1); Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 1:35; 9:35; 2 Pet. 1:17

  3:23 w (Num. 4:3, 35, 39, 43, 47)

  3:23 x Matt. 13:55; John 6:42

  3:27 y Ezra 2:2; 3:8

  3:31 z Zech. 12:12

  3:31 a 2 Sam. 5:14; 7:12; 1 Chr. 3:5; 17:11; Is. 9:7; Jer. 23:5

  3:32 b Ruth 4:18–22; 1 Chr. 2:10–12; Is. 11:1, 10

  3:34 c Gen. 11:24, 26–30; 12:3; Num. 24:17; 1 Chr. 1:24–27

  3:36 d Gen. 11:12

  3:36 e Gen. 10:22, 24; 11:10–13; 1 Chr. 1:17, 18

  3:36 f Gen. 5:6–32; 9:27; 11:10

  3:38 g Gen. 5:1, 2

  Luke 4

  4:1 a (Is. 11:2; 61:1); Matt. 4:1–11; Mark 1:12, 13

  4:1 b Ezek. 3:12; Luke 2:27

  4:1 1 NU in

  4:2 c Ex. 34:28; 1 Kin. 19:8

  4:2 2 tested

  4:3 d Mark 3:11; John 20:31

  4:4 e Deut. 8:3

  4:4 3 NU omits but by every word of God

  4:5 4 NU And taking Him up, he showed Him

  4:6 f (John 12:31; 14:30; Rev. 13:2, 7)