¹Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. ²They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. ⁵The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”⁸Then the women remembered his words, ⁹and when they returned from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. ¹¹But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them. ¹²But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened. ¹³Now that very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. ¹⁵While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them ¹⁶(but their eyes were kept from recognizing him). ¹⁷Then he said to them, “What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹He said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet before God and all the people; ²⁰and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened. ²²Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, ²³and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” ²⁵So he said to them, “You foolish people—how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” ²⁷Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures. ²⁸So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther, ²⁹but they urged him, “Stay with us because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰When he had taken his place at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹At this point their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Then he vanished out of their sight. ³²They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?” ³³So they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those with them gathered together ³⁴and saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵Then they told what had happened on the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread. ³⁶While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷But they were startled and terrified, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸Then he said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.” ⁴⁰When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹And while they still could not believe it (because of their joy) and were amazed, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴²So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate it in front of them. ⁴⁴Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” ⁵⁰Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹Now during the blessing he departed and was taken up into heaven. ⁵²So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³and were continually in the temple courts blessing God.