1But on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women and some others went to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
2They found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb.
3So they went inside, but they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4While they were very confused about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.
5The women were terrified and bowed down with their faces to the ground. The men asked them, "Why are you looking for a living person among the dead?
6He is not here; he has risen! Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee,
7saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and rise again on the third day?"
8Then they remembered his words.
9They returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven apostles and to all the others.
10The women who told these things to the apostles were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, along with the other women.
11Their words seemed like nonsense to the apostles, and they did not believe the women.
12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent over and looked inside, and saw only the strips of linen. Then he went home, wondering what had happened.
13That same day, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about 7 miles from Jerusalem.
14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
15As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them.
16But God kept them from recognizing him.
17He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking sad.
18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know what has been happening there these past few days?"
19He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus, the man from Nazareth. He was a prophet who demonstrated great power through his actions and words before God and all the people.
20Our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.
21But we were hoping that he was the one who would free Israel. And besides all that, it has now been three days since these things happened.
22Also, some women from our group amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning,
23and when they didn't find his body, they came back saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them he was alive.
24Some of us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described, but they didn't see him."
25Then he said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow you are to believe everything the prophets have said!
26Didn't the Messiah have to suffer these things before entering his glory?"
27Then, starting with Moses and continuing through all the prophets, he explained to them what all the Scriptures said about himself.
28When they came near the village where they were going, he acted as if he were going to continue on his way.
29But they urged him, "Stay with us, because it's almost evening and the day is nearly over." So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them.
31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he disappeared from their sight.
32They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn within us while he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"
33That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven apostles and those with them gathered together,
34who were saying, "The Lord has truly risen and has appeared to Simon!"
35Then the two told what had happened on the road and how Jesus had become known to them when he broke the bread.
36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself suddenly stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37But they were terrified and afraid, thinking they were seeing a ghost.
38Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts come into your minds?
39Look at my hands and my feet. It is really me. Touch me and see. A ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
40After he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41They still did not believe because they were so full of joy and wonder. So he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
42They gave him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb.
43He took them and ate in front of them.
44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
46He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47and that a message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
48You are witnesses of these things.
49Look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you receive power from heaven.”
50He led them out as far as Bethany. Then he lifted his hands and blessed them.
51As he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
52They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
53They spent all their time in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.