Luke 24

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

At the break of dawn on the first day of the week, they arrived at the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared, accompanied by a few others.

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

They discovered the tombstone had been mysteriously moved aside.

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

They stepped inside, their hearts sank as they discovered that the body of Lord Jesus was no longer there.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

As they stood there, deeply confused and troubled, suddenly, two men in radiant clothing appeared beside them.

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Overwhelmed with fear, they lowered their gaze to the ground. Then they were asked, "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?"

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

He's not here, He has risen! Remember what He told you while He was still in Galilee:

Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

The human embodiment of divinity must be handed over to those who have strayed from righteousness. He will endure the pain of crucifixion, but on the third day, He will triumphantly rise again.

And they remembered his words,

They recalled his words, feeling a surge of emotion.

And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

After visiting the tomb, they rushed back, their hearts pounding with awe and fear, to share everything they had witnessed with the eleven disciples and everyone else.

It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, James's mother, and some other women shared these revelations with the apostles, their voices trembling with emotion.

And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Their words felt like empty stories, and they couldn't bring themselves to believe.

Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Peter jumped up, sprinted to the tomb. He bent over, saw the empty linen wrappings, and left, his mind swirling with awe and confusion about what had happened.

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

On that very day, two of them set off towards a village named Emmaus, located about seven miles from Jerusalem.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

They shared their feelings and thoughts about everything that had occurred.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

As they engaged in deep conversation, Jesus himself approached and joined them, sharing their journey.

But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

Their eyes were veiled, preventing them from recognizing him.

And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

He asked them, "Why are you sharing such sorrowful words with each other as you walk?"

And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

Cleopas, with a hint of surprise in his voice, asked the man, "Are you a visitor in Jerusalem, unaware of the recent events that have shaken our city?"

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

He asked them, "What are you talking about?" They replied, "About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a powerful prophet, respected by God and everyone for his actions and words."

And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

The high priests and our leaders, filled with anger and pride, handed him over to be unjustly sentenced to death, and they heartlessly crucified him.

But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

We had hoped that he was the one to save Israel. And on top of all this, today is the third day since everything happened.

Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

Indeed, some women from our group left us amazed. They were at the tomb early in the morning.

And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

When they couldn't find his body, they returned, sharing that they'd seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described. But they didn't see him there.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!"

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Shouldn't Jesus have endured such hardships to step into his divine radiance?

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Starting with Moses and all the prophets, he passionately explained to them, using every part of the scriptures, the details about himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

As they approached the village they were heading to, he acted as if he wanted to continue on.

But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

They pleaded with him, "Stay with us, it's getting late and the day is almost over." So, he decided to stay with them.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

As he shared a meal with them, he lovingly took the bread, offered a blessing, broke it, and kindly handed it to them.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Suddenly, their eyes were filled with recognition, they realized it was him. But just as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared from their sight.

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

They asked each other, "Didn't our hearts feel on fire when he spoke to us and explained the scriptures?"

And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Immediately, they got up and rushed back to Jerusalem. There, they found the eleven disciples and others, all gathered in deep discussion.

Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

Truly, the Lord has risen! He has shown Himself to Simon, filling our hearts with joy and awe.

And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

They shared their experiences from the journey, expressing how they recognized Him when He broke bread with them.

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

While they were talking, Jesus himself appeared among them, saying gently, "May you have peace."

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

Overwhelmed with fear and dread, they thought they had witnessed a ghost.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

He asked them, "Why are you so worried? Why are doubts creeping into your hearts?"

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Look at my hands and feet, it's really me. Touch me, see for yourself; a ghost doesn't have a physical body like I do.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

After speaking, he emotionally revealed his hands and feet to them.

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

Overwhelmed with joy and disbelief, they stood in awe. He gently asked them, "Do you have any food here?"

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

With warmth in their hearts, they offered him a piece of tenderly cooked fish and a slice of sweet honeycomb.

And he took it, and did eat before them.

With their eyes upon him, he accepted it and savored each bite, a shared moment of communion.

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

He told them, "Remember what I said when I was still with you? Everything about me written in Moses' law, the prophets, and the psalms had to come true."

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

He enlightened their minds, enabling them to truly grasp the meaning of the scriptures.

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

He told them, "The scriptures foretold that Christ had to endure suffering, and then rise from the dead on the third day."

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And that in his name the call to repent, and the forgiveness of sins, would be preached to everyone, everywhere, starting from Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things.

You are witnesses of all these things.

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

I am sending you my Father's promise. But stay in Jerusalem until you are filled with a powerful strength from above.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

He guided them to the outskirts of Bethany, raised his hands high, and showered them with blessings.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

As he showered them with blessings, he gently drifted away, ascending gracefully into the heavenly realm.

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

They adored him, and with hearts brimming with joy, they journeyed back to Jerusalem.

And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

They were always in the temple, joyfully expressing their love and gratitude to God. So be it.