Luke 24 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Very early Sunday morning, the women came to the tomb (grave) where Jesus’ body was laid. They brought the sweet-smelling spices they had prepared.

² \{A heavy stone had been put in the doorway to close the tomb.\} But the women found that the stone was rolled away.

³ They went in, but they did not find the Lord Jesus’ body.

⁴ The women did not understand this. While they were wondering about it, two men (angels) in shining clothes stood beside them.

⁵ The women were very afraid; they bowed their heads down. The two men said to the women, “Why are you looking for a living person here? This is a place for dead people!

⁶ Jesus is not here. He has risen from death! Do you remember what he said in Galilee?

⁷ Jesus said that the Son of Man {\cf2\super [387]} must be given to evil men, be killed on a cross, and rise from death on the third day.”

⁸ Then the women remembered the things that Jesus said.

⁹ The women left the tomb (grave) and went to the eleven apostles {\cf2\super [388]} and the other followers. The women told them everything that happened at the tomb.

¹⁰ These women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and some other women. These women told the apostles everything that happened.

¹¹ But the apostles did not believe what the women said. It sounded like crazy talk.

¹² But Peter got up and ran to the tomb to see. He looked in, but he saw only the cloth that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in. The cloth was lying there alone. \{Jesus was gone.\} Peter went away to be alone, wondering what had happened.

¹³ That same day two of Jesus’ followers were going to a town named Emmaus. It is about seven miles from Jerusalem.

¹⁴ They were talking about everything that had happened.

¹⁵ While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself came near and walked with them.

¹⁶ (But the two men were not allowed to recognize Jesus.)

¹⁷ Then Jesus said, “What are these things you are talking about while you walk?”

¹⁸ The one named Cleopas answered, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem that does not know what has just happened there.”

¹⁹ Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about?”

²⁰ But our leaders and the leading priests gave him away to be judged and killed. They nailed Jesus to a cross.

²¹ We were hoping that Jesus would be the one to free Israel (the Jews). But then all this happened. And now something else: It has been three days since \{Jesus was killed\},

²² but today some of our women told us an amazing thing. Early this morning the women went to the tomb (grave) where the body of Jesus was laid.

²³ But they did not find his body there. They came and told us that they had seen some angels in a vision. {\cf2\super [390]} The angels said that Jesus was alive!

²⁴ So some of our group went to the tomb, too. It was just like the women said—\{the tomb was empty\}. They saw the tomb, but they did not see him (Jesus).”

²⁵ Then Jesus said to the two men, “You are foolish and slow to realize what is true. You should believe everything the prophets {\cf2\super [391]} said.

²⁶ The prophets said that the Christ {\cf2\super [392]} must suffer these things before he enters his glory.”

²⁷ Then Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures. {\cf2\super [393]} Jesus started with the books of Moses and then he talked about what the prophets had said about him.

²⁸ They came near the town of Emmaus and Jesus acted like he did not plan to stop there.

²⁹ But they wanted him to stay. They begged him, “Stay with us. It is late; it is almost night.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ Jesus got ready to eat with them and took some bread. He gave thanks for the food and divided it. Then he gave it to them.

³¹ At that time, the men were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared.

³² The two men said to each other, “When Jesus talked to us on the road, it felt like a fire burning in us. It was exciting when he explained to us the true meaning of the Scriptures. {\cf2\super [394]} ”

³³ So the two men got up then and went back to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem they found the followers of Jesus meeting together. The eleven apostles {\cf2\super [395]} and those people that were with them

³⁴ said, “The Lord (Jesus) really has risen from death! He showed himself to Simon (Peter).”

³⁵ Then the two men told the things that had happened on the road. They talked about how they recognized Jesus when he divided the bread.

³⁶ While the two men were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among the group of followers. Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you.”

³⁷ This surprised the followers. They became afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost.

³⁸ But Jesus said, “Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see?

³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me! Touch me. You can see that I have a living body; a ghost does not have a body like this.”

⁴⁰ After Jesus told them this, he showed them \{the holes in\} his hands and feet.

⁴¹ The followers were amazed and very, very happy to see that Jesus was alive. They still could not believe what they saw. Jesus said to them, “Do you have any food here?”

⁴² They gave him a piece of cooked fish.

⁴³ While the followers watched, Jesus took the fish and ate it.

⁴⁴ Jesus said to them, “Remember when I was with you before? I said that everything written about me must happen—everything written in the law of Moses, the books of the prophets, {\cf2\super [396]} and the Psalms.”

⁴⁵ Then Jesus helped the followers understand these Scriptures {\cf2\super [397]} written \{about him\}.

^46-48 Jesus said to them, “It is written that the Christ {\cf2\super [398]} would be killed and rise from death on the third day.

⁴⁹ Listen! My Father has promised you something; I will send it to you. But you must stay in Jerusalem until you have received that power from heaven.”

⁵⁰ Jesus led his followers out of Jerusalem almost to Bethany. Jesus raised his hands and blessed his followers.

⁵¹ While Jesus was blessing them, he was separated from them and carried into heaven.

⁵² The followers worshiped him there. Then they went back to the city. They were very happy.

⁵³ They stayed at the temple {\cf2\super [400]} all the time, praising God.