1Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb. They were carrying the spices that they had prepared. 2They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. 3When they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were puzzled about this, two men in clothes that were as bright as lightning suddenly stood beside them. 5The women were terrified and bowed to the ground. The men asked the women, "Why are you looking among the dead for the living one? 6He's not here. He has been brought back to life! Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee. 7He said, 'The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and come back to life on the third day.'" 8Then the women remembered what Jesus had told them. 9The women left the tomb and went back to the city. They told everything to the eleven apostles and all the others. 10The women were Mary from Magdala, Joanna, and Mary (the mother of James). There were also other women with them. They told the apostles everything. 11The apostles thought that the women's story didn't make any sense, and they didn't believe them. 12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down to look inside and saw only the strips of linen. Then he went away, wondering what had happened.

13On the same day, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. 15While they were talking, Jesus approached them and began walking with them. 16Although they saw him, they didn't recognize him. 17He asked them, "What are you discussing?" They stopped and looked very sad. 18One of them, Cleopas, replied, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who doesn't know what has happened recently?" 19"What happened?" he asked. They said to him, "We were discussing what happened to Jesus from Nazareth. He was a powerful prophet in what he did and said in the sight of God and all the people. 20Our chief priests and rulers had him condemned to death and crucified. 21We were hoping that he was the one who would free Israel. What's more, this is now the third day since everything happened. 22Some of the women from our group startled us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23and didn't find his body. They told us that they had seen angels who said that he's alive. 24Some of our men went to the tomb and found it empty, as the women had said, but they didn't see him."

25Then Jesus said to them, "How foolish you are! You're so slow to believe everything the prophets said! 26Didn't the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27Then he began with Moses' Teachings and the Prophets to explain to them what was said about him throughout the Scriptures.

28When they came near the village where they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29They urged him, "Stay with us! It's getting late, and the day is almost over." So he went to stay with them. 30While he was at the table with them, he took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, "Weren't we excited when he talked with us on the road and opened up the meaning of the Scriptures for us?" 33That same hour they went back to Jerusalem. They found the eleven apostles and those who were with them gathered together. 34They were saying, "The Lord has really come back to life and has appeared to Simon." 35Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road and how they had recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.

36While they were talking about what had happened, Jesus stood among them. He said to them, "Peace be with you!" 37They were terrified, and thought they were seeing a ghost. 38He asked them, "Why are you afraid? Why do you have doubts? 39Look at my hands and feet, and see that it's really me. Touch me, and see for yourselves. Ghosts don't have flesh and bones, but you can see that I do." 40As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41The disciples were overcome with joy and amazement because this seemed too good to be true. Then Jesus asked them, "Do you have anything to eat?" 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish. 43He took it and ate it while they watched him.

44Then he said to them, "These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. I told you that everything written about me in Moses' Teachings, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true." 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46He said to them, "Scripture says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day. 47Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses to these things. 49"I'm sending you what my Father promised. Wait here in the city until you receive power from heaven."

50Then Jesus took them to a place near Bethany. There he raised his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken to heaven. 52The disciples worshiped him and were overjoyed as they went back to Jerusalem. 53They were always in the temple, where they praised God.