Luke 24:36-49

Luke 24:36-49

[36] And  as they  spake,  himself  stood  in  the midst  of them,  and  saith  unto them,  Peace  [37] But  they were terrified  and  affrighted,  and supposed  that they had seen  a spirit.  [38] And  he said  unto them,  Why  troubled?  and  do thoughts  arise  in  hearts?  [39] hands  and  feet,  that  it is  myself:  handle  and  for  a spirit  hath  not  flesh  and  bones,  as  ye see  have.  [40] And  spoken,  them  his hands  and  his feet.  [41] And  while they  yet  believed not  for  joy,  and  wondered,  he said  unto them,  Have ye  here  any  meat?  [42] And  they gave  him  a piece  of a broiled  fish,  [43] And  he took  it, and did eat  before  them.  [44] And  he said  unto them,  These  are the words  which  I spake  unto  I was yet  with  that  all things  must  be fulfilled,  which  were written  in  the law  of Moses,  and  in the prophets,  and  in the psalms,  concerning  [45] Then  opened he  their  understanding,  that they might understand  the scriptures,  [46] And  said  unto them,  Thus  it is written,  and  thus  Christ  to suffer,  and  to rise  from  the dead  the third  day:  [47] And  that repentance  and  remission  of sins  should be preached  in  his  name  among  all  nations,  beginning  at  Jerusalem.  [48] witnesses  [49] And,  behold,  send  the promise  Father  upon  but  tarry  in  the city  until  ye  be endued  with power  from  on high. 

What does Luke 24:36-49 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Luke arranged his accounts of Jesus" post-resurrection appearances to give the impression that an ever-increasing audience learned of this great event. First, he recorded an announcement of it with no witnesses ( Luke 24:1-12). Then he told of Jesus appearing to two disciples ( Luke 24:13-35). Next he presented Jesus materializing in the presence of the Eleven minus Thomas (cf. Mark 16:14; John 20:24). Perhaps he meant this presentation to represent the ever-widening circle of witness that the disciples were to give in the world (cf. Acts 1:8). The arrangement does suggest this to the reader, especially since the third incident contains Luke"s version of the Great Commission.
Luke"s account apparently combines two post-resurrection appearances into one. The writer evidently conflated them to give Jesus" instructions to His disciples continuity. This section is the basis for Luke"s apologetic for Jesus" bodily resurrection in Acts 1:3-4 and Peter"s witness to Cornelius in Acts 10:40-43.