Luke 24:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.

NIV: While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

NASB: While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in gleaming clothing;

CSB: While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes.

NLT: As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

KJV: And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

NKJV: And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

Several women gathered embalming spices to anoint Jesus' body. At first, they're concerned about who can roll the stone away from the entrance, but when they arrive, the tomb is open, and Jesus' body is gone (Mark 16:3; Luke 24:1–3).

At this point, it appears, Mary Magdalene rushes to tell Peter. The other women stay and try to figure out what has happened. While they are talking, two angels appear: a proper witness (Deuteronomy 19:15).

Angels hold a special place in announcing Jesus' arrival throughout His life. They told Mary and Joseph about Jesus' birth (Luke 1:26–38; Matthew 1:18–24). Here, the angels attest that Jesus has risen and will see them again (Luke 24:6–7). At Jesus' ascension, two angels tell the disciples that Jesus will return the same way He left (Acts 1:10–11).

Like many parts of the Gospels' resurrection accounts, certain details about the angels need to be reconciled. The women didn't see the angel roll the stone away and sit on it. The soldiers did. The Gospel writers found out either from one of the soldiers, someone they told (Matthew 28:11–15; Acts 6:7), or someone who overheard the conversation. It's not a contradiction that the angel moved or hid himself from the women.

Matthew 28:5 and Mark 16:5 say that one angel speaks. This doesn't contradict Luke's two angels—it just says only one of them spoke.

Matthew 28:2 seems to say the angel is sitting on the stone. Mark 16:5 says he is inside the tomb. Luke says the two angels are standing, which probably means they're in the garden since the cave ceiling would be low. In John 20:12, Mary Magdalene sees the two angels sitting inside the tomb, not unlike the cherubim on the ark of the covenant. That's not a contradiction, either. The angels could have moved around, each Gospel writer mentioning one position.

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.