Luke 24:47 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

NIV: and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

NASB: and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

CSB: and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

NLT: It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’

KJV: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

NKJV: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

In the last part of this chapter, Luke foreshadows the first two chapters of Acts. This verse previews the mission Jesus gives to the early church: as His "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The apostles and other disciples follow this outline, although not always proactively. The day Jesus' followers receive the Holy Spirit, they begin teaching the Pentecost crowds what Jesus now explains: His place in the prophecies of Jewish Scripture (Acts 2). To the crowd at the temple, Peter shows their own place in prophecy: as those who brought suffering to the Messiah. He then calls them to repent and find forgiveness (Acts 3:11–26).

This message continues until Stephen is martyred and Paul begins his persecution of the church (Acts 7:54—8:3). Many of the disciples flee. Philip finds himself north where a great number of Samaritans, who are reviled by the Jews, believe his message about the Jewish Messiah. Peter and John follow to validate their faith and their place in the Christian church (Acts 8:4–25).

The Gentiles follow. Philip brings an Ethiopian proselyte to faith (Acts 8:26–40). Peter watches the Holy Spirit fall on an entire houseful of Gentiles (Acts 10:44–48). disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene, who had fled Jerusalem, witnessed to Gentiles in Syrian Antioch (Acts 11:19–20), building a church that became Paul's home base to reach as far as Rome—or, possibly, Spain.

This message must be shared "in his name." The message is powerful because it comes with the power and authority of Jesus. As Peter will tell the Sanhedrin, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

This is the great mission Jesus gives the church. First, however, they need the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:44–49 includes the last teachings recorded in Luke, prior to Jesus' ascension. It's unclear where or when this occurs; it seems more of a synopsis than a single event. Jesus opens the disciples' minds to how He has fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. He tells them to stay in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:16–20, John 20:24—21:25, and 1 Corinthians 15:5–7 also record Jesus' experiences during this time.

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.