The Meaning of Luke 24:23 Explained

Luke 24:23

KJV: And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

YLT: and not having found his body, they came, saying also to have seen an apparition of messengers, who say he is alive,

Darby: and, not having found his body, came, saying that they also had seen a vision of angels, who say that he is living.

ASV: and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  when they found  not  his  body,  they came,  saying,  that they had  also  seen  a vision  of angels,  which  said  that he  was alive. 

What does Luke 24:23 Mean?

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

1  Jesus' resurrection is declared by two angels to the women who come to the tomb
9  They report it to others
13  Jesus himself appears to the two disciples that went to Emmaus;
36  afterwards he appears to the apostles, and reproves their unbelief;
47  gives them a charge;
49  promises the Holy Spirit;
50  and so ascends into heaven

Greek Commentary for Luke 24:23

Had seen [εωρακεναι]
Perfect active infinitive in indirect assertion after λεγουσαι — legousai Same construction for ζηιν — zēin after λεγουσιν — legousin But all this was too indirect and uncertain (women and angels) for Cleopas and his companion. [source]
That they had seen - which said []
Cleopas, absorbed in his story, throws himself back to the time of his interview with the women. Lit., “They came saying that they have seen a vision of angels which say ” ( λέγουσιν )i1. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 24:23

Luke 22:43 There appeared [ὤφθη]
The word most commonly used in the New Testament of seeing visions. See Matthew 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 1:11; Luke 22:43; Acts 2:17; Acts 7:35. The kindred noun ὀπτασία , wherever it occurs in the New Testament, means a vision. See Luke 1:2; Luke 24:23, etc. [source]
Acts 1:3 Shewed himself alive [παρεστησεν εαυτον ζωντα]
To the disciples the first Sunday evening (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25), the second Sunday evening (John 20:26-29), at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-23), on the mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:6), to the disciples in Jerusalem and Olivet (Luke 24:44-53; Mark 16:19.; Acts 1:1-11). Luke uses this verb παριστημι — paristēmi 13 times in the Acts both transitively and intransitively. It is rendered by various English words (present, furnish, provide, assist, commend). The early disciples including Paul never doubted the fact of the Resurrection, once they were convinced by personal experience. At first some doubted like Thomas (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:41; John 20:24.; Matthew 28:17). But after that they never wavered in their testimony to their own experience with the Risen Christ, “whereof we are witnesses” Peter said (Acts 3:15). They doubted at first, that we may believe, but at last they risked life itself in defence of this firm faith. After his passion (μετα το πατειν αυτον — meta to pathein auton). Neat Greek idiom, μετα — meta with the articular infinitive (second aorist active of πασχω — paschō) and the accusative of general reference, “after the suffering as to him.” For πατειν — pathein used absolutely of Christ‘s suffering see also Acts 17:3; Acts 26:23. By many proofs Literally, “in many proofs.” Τεκμηριον — Tekmērion is only here in the N.T., though an old and common word in ancient Greek and occurring in the Koiné{[28928]}š (papyri, etc.). The verb τεκμαιρω — tekmairō to prove by sure signs, is from τεκμαρ — tekmar a sign. Luke does not hesitate to apply the definite word “proofs” to the evidence for the Resurrection of Christ after full investigation on the part of this scientific historian. Aristotle makes a distinction between τεκμηριον — tekmērion (proof) and σημειον — sēmeion (sign) as does Galen the medical writer. Appearing (οπτανομενος — optanomenos). Present middle participle from late verb οπτανω — optanō late Koiné{[28928]}š verb from root οπτω — optō seen in οπσομαι ωπτην — opsomaiοπτασια — ōphthēn In lxx, papyri of second century b.c. (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 83). Only here in the N.T. For δι ημερων τεσσερακοντα — optasia for vision, see note on Acts 26:19; Luke 1:22; Luke 24:23. By the space of forty days At intervals In the Gospel of Luke 24 this separation of forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension is not drawn. The things concerning the Kingdom of God (ευαγγελιον — ta peri tēs basileias tou theou). This phrase appears 33 times in Luke‘s Gospel, 15 times in Mark, 4 times in Matthew who elsewhere has “the kingdom of heaven,” once in John, and 6 times in Acts. No essential distinction is to be drawn between the two for the Jews often used “heaven” rather than “God” to avoid using the Tetragrammaton. But it is noticeable how the word kingdom drops out of Acts. Other words like gospel (τα περι — euaggelion) take the place of “kingdom.” Jesus was fond of the word “kingdom” and Luke is fond of the idiom “the things concerning” (ta peri). Certainly with Jesus the term “kingdom” applies to the present and the future and covers so much that it is not strange that the disciples with their notions of a political Messianic kingdom (Acts 1:6) were slow to comprehend the spiritual nature of the reign of God. [source]
Acts 1:3 By many proofs [εν πολλοις τεκμηριοις]
Literally, “in many proofs.” Τεκμηριον — Tekmērion is only here in the N.T., though an old and common word in ancient Greek and occurring in the Koiné{[28928]}š (papyri, etc.). The verb τεκμαιρω — tekmairō to prove by sure signs, is from τεκμαρ — tekmar a sign. Luke does not hesitate to apply the definite word “proofs” to the evidence for the Resurrection of Christ after full investigation on the part of this scientific historian. Aristotle makes a distinction between τεκμηριον — tekmērion (proof) and σημειον — sēmeion (sign) as does Galen the medical writer. Appearing (οπτανομενος — optanomenos). Present middle participle from late verb οπτανω — optanō late Koiné{[28928]}š verb from root οπτω — optō seen in οπσομαι ωπτην — opsomaiοπτασια — ōphthēn In lxx, papyri of second century b.c. (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 83). Only here in the N.T. For δι ημερων τεσσερακοντα — optasia for vision, see note on Acts 26:19; Luke 1:22; Luke 24:23. By the space of forty days At intervals In the Gospel of Luke 24 this separation of forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension is not drawn. The things concerning the Kingdom of God (ευαγγελιον — ta peri tēs basileias tou theou). This phrase appears 33 times in Luke‘s Gospel, 15 times in Mark, 4 times in Matthew who elsewhere has “the kingdom of heaven,” once in John, and 6 times in Acts. No essential distinction is to be drawn between the two for the Jews often used “heaven” rather than “God” to avoid using the Tetragrammaton. But it is noticeable how the word kingdom drops out of Acts. Other words like gospel (τα περι — euaggelion) take the place of “kingdom.” Jesus was fond of the word “kingdom” and Luke is fond of the idiom “the things concerning” (ta peri). Certainly with Jesus the term “kingdom” applies to the present and the future and covers so much that it is not strange that the disciples with their notions of a political Messianic kingdom (Acts 1:6) were slow to comprehend the spiritual nature of the reign of God. [source]
Acts 1:3 Appearing [οπτανομενος]
Present middle participle from late verb οπτανω — optanō late Koiné{[28928]}š verb from root οπτω — optō seen in οπσομαι ωπτην — opsomaiοπτασια — ōphthēn In lxx, papyri of second century b.c. (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 83). Only here in the N.T. For δι ημερων τεσσερακοντα — optasia for vision, see note on Acts 26:19; Luke 1:22; Luke 24:23. [source]
Acts 26:19 I was not disobedient [ουκ εγενομην απειτης]
Litotes again, “I did not become (second aorist middle indicative of γινομαι — ginomai) disobedient” Unto the heavenly vision (τηι ουρανιωι οπτασιαι — tēi ouraniōi optasiāi). A later form of οπσις — opsis from οπταζω — optazō in lxx, and in N.T. (Luke 1:22; Luke 24:23; Acts 26:19; 2 Corinthians 12:1). Only time that Paul uses it about seeing Christ on the Damascus road, but no reflection on the reality of the event. [source]
Acts 26:19 Unto the heavenly vision [τηι ουρανιωι οπτασιαι]
A later form of οπσις — opsis from οπταζω — optazō in lxx, and in N.T. (Luke 1:22; Luke 24:23; Acts 26:19; 2 Corinthians 12:1). Only time that Paul uses it about seeing Christ on the Damascus road, but no reflection on the reality of the event. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 24:23 mean?

and not having found the body of Him they came declaring also a vision of angels to have seen who say He is alive
καὶ μὴ εὑροῦσαι τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ἦλθον λέγουσαι καὶ ὀπτασίαν ἀγγέλων ἑωρακέναι οἳ λέγουσιν αὐτὸν ζῆν

εὑροῦσαι  having  found 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
σῶμα  body 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: σῶμα  
Sense: the body both of men or animals.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἦλθον  they  came 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
λέγουσαι  declaring 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ὀπτασίαν  a  vision 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὀπτασία  
Sense: the act of exhibiting one’s self to view.
ἀγγέλων  of  angels 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἄγγελος  
Sense: a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God.
ἑωρακέναι  to  have  seen 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Infinitive Active
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
λέγουσιν  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ζῆν  is  alive 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).

What are the major concepts related to Luke 24:23?

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