Jesus" question apparently so shocked the two disciples that they stopped walking. It opened a wound in their hearts and renewed their sorrow. Cleopas" casual comment tells the reader that Jesus was the talk of Jerusalem. Everyone there, residents and pilgrims alike, knew about Him and what had happened to Him. Luke may have mentioned Cleopas by name because some of his readers knew him or knew about him. According to Christian tradition he was Jesus" uncle, Joseph"s brother, and he became a leader of the Jerusalem church. [1] He could have been the husband of Mary, the wife of Clopas, a variant spelling of the same name, who was present at Jesus" crucifixion ( John 19:25). However that may have been a different man. There was a tradition in the early Byzantine church that Luke was the second, unnamed disciple. [2][source]
Context Summary
Luke 24:13-27 - Walking With The Risen Lord
This exquisite idyll of the Resurrection is too lifelike and natural to have been invented. The sorrowful walk; the reasonings; the wonder that anyone could have been for ever so short a time in Jerusalem without knowing of the events that filled their souls; the lingering hope; the despair that the third day was waning and He had not come; the clue of the morning announcement which had not been followed up; the burning heart-all these touches are full of natural pathos.
How swiftly the seven and a half miles must have sped in such company; and what new light illumined the pages of the Old Testament! All the Bible is full of Him, but we need to be shown its meaning. It is only through suffering that we shall come to the glory. But why should not life be one sweet walk of fellowship with One whom we cannot see, but whose presence fills our hearts with burning love, until suddenly the veil shall part in twain! See 1 Peter 1:8. [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 24
1Jesus' resurrection is declared by two angels to the women who come to the tomb 9They report it to others 13Jesus himself appears to the two disciples that went to Emmaus; 36afterwards he appears to the apostles, and reproves their unbelief; 47gives them a charge; 49promises the Holy Spirit; 50and so ascends into heaven
Greek Commentary for Luke 24:17
That you have with another [ους αντιβαλλετε προς αλληλους] Αντιβαλλω Anti -εστατησαν ballō is an old verb and means to throw in turn, back and forth like a ball, from one to another, a beautiful picture of conversation as a game of words. Only here in the N.T. [source]
They stood still [ιστημι] First aorist passive of σκυτρωποι histēmi intransitive. They stopped. Looking sad (σκυτρος skuthrōpoi). This is the correct text. It is an old adjective from οπς skuthros gloomy and ops countenance. Only here in the N.T. [source]
Looking sad [σκυτρος] This is the correct text. It is an old adjective from οπς skuthros gloomy and ops countenance. Only here in the N.T. [source]
Ye have [ἀντιβάλλετε] Lit., throw back and forth; exchange.“Discussed a doubt and tossed it to and fro” (Tennyson). [source]
And are sad [σκυθρωποί] Only here and Matthew 6:16, on which see note. The best texts put the interrogation point after walk, add καὶ ἐστάθησαν , and render, and they stood still, looking sad. So Rev. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 24:17
Matthew 6:16Of a sad countenance [σκυθρωποί] An uncommon word in the New Testament, occurring only here and at Luke 24:17. Trench (“Studies in the Gospels”) explains it by the older sense of the English dreary, as expressing the downcast look of settled grief, pain, or displeasure. In classical Greek it also signifies sullenness and affected gravity. Luther renders, Look not sour. [source]
Matthew 6:16Of a sad countenance [σκυτρωποι] Only here and Luke 24:17 in the N.T. It is a compound of σκυτρος skuthros (sullen) and οπς ops (countenance). These actors or hypocrites “put on a gloomy look” (Goodspeed) and, if necessary, even “disfigure their faces” They conceal their real looks that they may seem to be fasting, conscious and pretentious hypocrisy. [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 24:17 mean?
He saidthentothemWhat-words [are]thesethatyou exchangewithone anotherwalkingAndthey stood stilllooking sad
Greek Commentary for Luke 24:17
Αντιβαλλω Anti -εστατησαν ballō is an old verb and means to throw in turn, back and forth like a ball, from one to another, a beautiful picture of conversation as a game of words. Only here in the N.T. [source]
First aorist passive of σκυτρωποι histēmi intransitive. They stopped. Looking sad (σκυτρος skuthrōpoi). This is the correct text. It is an old adjective from οπς skuthros gloomy and ops countenance. Only here in the N.T. [source]
This is the correct text. It is an old adjective from οπς skuthros gloomy and ops countenance. Only here in the N.T. [source]
Lit., throw back and forth; exchange.“Discussed a doubt and tossed it to and fro” (Tennyson). [source]
Only here and Matthew 6:16, on which see note. The best texts put the interrogation point after walk, add καὶ ἐστάθησαν , and render, and they stood still, looking sad. So Rev. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 24:17
An uncommon word in the New Testament, occurring only here and at Luke 24:17. Trench (“Studies in the Gospels”) explains it by the older sense of the English dreary, as expressing the downcast look of settled grief, pain, or displeasure. In classical Greek it also signifies sullenness and affected gravity. Luther renders, Look not sour. [source]
Only here and Luke 24:17 in the N.T. It is a compound of σκυτρος skuthros (sullen) and οπς ops (countenance). These actors or hypocrites “put on a gloomy look” (Goodspeed) and, if necessary, even “disfigure their faces” They conceal their real looks that they may seem to be fasting, conscious and pretentious hypocrisy. [source]