Luke 24:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

NIV: They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

NASB: And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

CSB: They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

NLT: They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

KJV: And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

NKJV: But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas, Salome, Joanna, and possibly other women walk to Jesus' tomb on Sunday morning. They are bringing spices to cover Jesus' body. Tradition gives them the right to tend to the body so long as they don't move it. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary watched Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus place Jesus in the tomb and roll a stone in place (Matthew 27:57–61; John 19:38–42). They have one question: who will roll away the stone from the entrance (Mark 16:3)?

What the women don't know is that while they were observing the Sabbath, the Pharisees placed soldiers to guard the grave (Matthew 27:62–66). Not only are the soldiers watching closely, but they also secured the tomb, possibly by wrapping a cord where the stone meets the rock and covering it in wax. Even if someone rolled the stone away and then put it back, the authorities would know.

It turns out the women don't have to worry. An angel from God came down from heaven. His appearance was so frightening the soldiers went catatonic. He easily rolled the stone away and sat on it (Matthew 28:2–4).

When the women arrive, the stone is already moved; there's no indication they saw the angel move it. That means the Gospel writers heard it either directly from one of the soldiers, from one of the priests who later trusted in Jesus, or from someone else, listening in on the guards' report (Matthew 28:11–15; Acts 6:7).

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.