Luke 24:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,

NIV: It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

NASB: Now these women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.

CSB: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things.

NLT: It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

Luke now lists some of the women who have experienced the dramatic events of the last few verses.

Mary Magdalene is a familiar figure. She and Joanna, the wife of Herod Antipas's household manager Chuza, have supported Jesus for a long time (Luke 8:2–3). Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, the mother of James and Joses and wife of Clopas, had been with Jesus' mother at the cross and followed Joseph of Arimathea when he buried Jesus (John 19:25; Mark 15:47). Salome, the wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John, had been at the crucifixion, too (Mark 16:1; Matthew 27:56).

"These things" in Luke are that the tomb is empty and angels have told the women that Jesus has risen, just as He said He would (Luke 24:2–9). Yet it's also much more. Before the angels appeared, when the women realized Jesus' body was gone, Mary Magdalene seems to have run to tell Peter (John 20:1–2). While she was gone, the other women met the two angels. But on their way to tell the men, they also met Jesus (Matthew 28:8–10).

After Mary Magdalene tells Peter, he and John run to the tomb, look inside, and return to the other men (John 20:3–10). Mary follows but stays at the tomb where she sees two angels. Then she sees Jesus. Thinking He is the gardener, she asks him where He has placed Jesus' body. Whether because Jesus has His glorified body and is no longer covered in blood and wounds or because Mary does not look at His face, Mary doesn't recognize Him. He says her name, and she turns around, realizing it's her rabbi. Then she clings to Him so tightly, He must remind her He has other work to do (John 20:11–17).

Whether the group of women reach the men first and Mary follows or Mary catches up with the women and they all come together isn't clear. Their message is. As Mary tells them, "I have seen the Lord" (John 20:18).

Luke 24:1–12 reports that the women who had prepared spices find Jesus' tomb empty. Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas, Salome, Joanna, and possibly others saw where Jesus was buried and gathered spices before the Sabbath began. Early Sunday morning, they return but the stone is rolled away. Two angels remind them Jesus had promised to rise from the dead. They tell Peter who also finds the tomb empty. Mark 16:1–8 gives a similar account. Matthew 28:1–10 and John 20:1–18 say that the women meet Jesus and John is with Peter.

After Jesus is executed and buried (Luke 23:52–53), the women who had followed Him from Galilee come to improve His burial condition. They find an open, empty tomb and angels. The disciples are informed. Two of them spend time speaking with a stranger while walking, only to realize it was Jesus Himself. Jesus appears to His followers, eating fish and explaining how His role as Messiah was predicted in Scripture. Jesus then ascends to heaven while His disciples worship.

Luke 24 describes how Jesus' followers learned of His resurrection. Luke 23 recorded His legal trials, crucifixion, death, and burial. Acts chapter 1, also written by Luke, explains how Jesus' followers prepare for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. Luke 24's theme is the fulfillment of prophecy from Jesus and the Old Testament prophets. Once Jesus' followers understand, He returns to heaven. Matthew 28 includes how the Sanhedrin bribed the guards. John chapter 20 adds Thomas coming to believe while chapter 21 records Peter's reconciliation with Jesus.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.