1 B ut on the first day of the week, at early dawn, went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had made ready.

2 A nd they found the stone rolled back from the tomb,

3 B ut when they went inside, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 A nd while they were perplexed and wondering what to do about this, behold, two men in dazzling raiment suddenly stood beside them.

5 A nd as were frightened and were bowing their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you look for the living among dead?

6 H e is not here, but has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee

7 T hat the Son of Man must be given over into the hands of sinful men (men whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God) and be crucified and on the third day rise '> from death].

8 A nd they remembered His words.

9 A nd having returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven apostles and to all the rest.

10 N ow it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who reported these things to the apostles.

11 B ut these reports seemed to the men an idle tale ( madness, feigned things, nonsense), and they did not believe the women.

12 B ut Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen cloths alone by themselves, and he went away, wondering about and marveling at what had happened.

13 A nd behold, that very day two of were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

14 A nd they were talking with each other about all these things that had occurred.

15 A nd while they were conversing and discussing together, Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them.

16 B ut their eyes were held, so that they did not recognize Him.

17 A nd He said to them, What is this discussion that you are exchanging ( throwing back and forth) between yourselves as you walk along? And they stood still, looking sad and downcast.

18 T hen one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, Do you alone dwell as a stranger in Jerusalem and not know the things that have occurred there in these days?

19 A nd He said to them, What things? And they said to Him, About Jesus of Nazareth, Who was a Prophet mighty in work and word before God and all the people—

20 A nd how our chief priests and rulers gave Him up to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him.

21 B ut we were hoping that it was He Who would redeem and set Israel free. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things occurred.

22 A nd moreover, some women of our company astounded us and drove us out of our senses. They were at the tomb early

23 B ut did not find His body; and they returned saying that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive!

24 S o some of those with us went to the tomb and they found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.

25 A nd said to them, O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe (adhere to and trust in and rely on) everything that the prophets have spoken!

26 W as it not necessary and essentially fitting that the Christ (the Messiah) should suffer all these things before entering into His glory (His majesty and splendor)?

27 T hen beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He went on explaining and interpreting to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning and referring to Himself.

28 T hen they drew near the village to which they were going, and He acted as if He would go further.

29 B ut they urged and insisted, saying to Him, Remain with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. So He went in to stay with them.

30 A nd it occurred that as He reclined at table with them, He took bread and praised and gave thanks and asked a blessing, and then broke it and was giving it to them

31 W hen their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He vanished ( departed invisibly).

32 A nd they said to one another, Were not our hearts greatly moved and burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and as He opened and explained to us the Scriptures?

33 A nd rising up that very hour, they went back to Jerusalem, where they found the Eleven gathered together and those who were with them,

34 W ho said, The Lord really has risen and has appeared to Simon (Peter)!

35 T hen they related what had happened on the road, and how He was known and recognized by them in the breaking of bread.

36 N ow while they were talking about this, Jesus Himself took His stand among them and said to them, Peace ( freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin) be to you!

37 B ut they were so startled and terrified that they thought they saw a spirit.

38 A nd He said to them, Why are you disturbed and troubled, and why do such doubts and questionings arise in your hearts?

39 S ee My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Feel and handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.

40 A nd when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

41 A nd while they still could not believe it for sheer joy and marveled, He said to them, Have you anything here to eat?

42 T hey gave Him a piece of broiled fish,

43 A nd He took and ate before them.

44 T hen He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything which is written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

45 T hen He opened up their minds to understand the Scriptures,

46 A nd said to them, Thus it is written that the Christ (the Messiah) should suffer and on the third day rise from ( among) the dead,

47 A nd that repentance forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48 Y ou are witnesses of these things.

49 A nd behold, I will send forth upon you what My Father has promised; but remain in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

50 T hen He conducted them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He invoked a blessing on them.

51 A nd it occurred that while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was taken up into heaven.

52 A nd they, worshiping Him, went back to Jerusalem with great joy;

53 A nd they were continually in the temple celebrating with praises and blessing and extolling God. Amen (so be it).