The Empty Tomb
1On the first day of the week, at the first light of dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they stood there at a loss, suddenly two men in dazzling clothing were standing beside them. 5The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, and the men said to them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee: 7that the Son of Man must be handed over into the hands of sinners and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8And they remembered his words. 9They came back from the tomb and reported all this to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the other women with them were telling the apostles the same thing. 11But to them these words seemed like nonsense, and they did not believe the women. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending down, he saw the linen wrappings and nothing else, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
The Road to Emmaus
13That same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, sixty stadia from Jerusalem, 14and they were talking together about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and argued it over, Jesus himself came near and walked with them, 16but their eyes were held from recognizing him. 17He said to them, “What is this you are debating as you walk?” They stopped, their faces downcast, 18and one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what has happened there these last few days?” 19“What things?” he asked. They said to him, “About Jesus the Nazarene, a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and crucified him. 21We had hoped that he was the one who would set Israel free. And on top of all this, today is the third day since it happened. 22Some women of our group also astonished us. They went to the tomb early in the morning 23and did not find his body, and they came back saying they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. 24Some of those with us went off to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” 25Then he said to them, “How foolish you are, how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and so enter his glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said about himself throughout the Scriptures. 28As they came near the village they were going to, he acted as if he were going farther on. 29But they urged him: “Stay with us; evening is coming and the day is nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30And when he had taken his place at table with them, he took the bread, gave the blessing, broke it and handed it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him — and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were our hearts not burning within us while he talked to us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33They got up that very hour and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the Eleven gathered together with their companions, 34who said, “The Lord has really been raised, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35And the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had come to know him in the breaking of the bread.
He Stands among Them
36While they were still talking about this, he himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37Startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost. 38But he said to them, “Why are you so shaken? Why do such doubts rise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet: it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you can see I have.” 40And saying this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While they still could not believe it for sheer joy and amazement, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of grilled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in front of them. 44Then he said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms had to be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and he said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and in his name repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And I am sending upon you what my Father promised. Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
The Parting Blessing
50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51And as he was blessing them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52They worshiped him and went back to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and they were continually in the temple, blessing God.
