Two of Jesus' disciples were on
their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from
Jerusalem; and as they talked together about what had happened,
Jesus himself drew near and went with them; but their eyes were kept
from knowing him.
He said to them, "What are you talking about so earnestly as you
walk along?" And they stood still, looking sad, and one of them,
named Cleopas, answered, "Are you only a stranger stopping in
Jerusalem? Do you not know the things that have happened there
within these last few days?" He asked, "What things?" They answered,
"Why, about Jesus of Nazareth, who proved himself a prophet, mighty
in word and deed before God and all the people, and how our high
priests and rulers gave him over to be sentenced to death and had
him crucified. But we were hoping that he was the one to save
Israel. It is now the third day since these things happened. Yet
some of our women who were at the tomb early this morning, amazed
us. They told us that they had not found his body but that they had
seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Then some of
those who were with us went to the tomb and found it as the women
had said. But him they did not see."
Then Jesus said to them, "O foolish men, so slow of heart to believe
in what the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the
Christ to suffer and so win his glory?"
When they came to the village to which they were going, he seemed to
be going farther on, but they urged him, saying, "Stay with us, for
it is almost evening, the day is nearly over." So he went in to stay
with them.
As he sat with them at table, he took the bread, blessed it, broke
it, and passed it to them. Then their eyes were opened so that they
knew him; but he disappeared from their sight. They said to one
another, "Did not our hearts glow while he was talking with us on
the way!"
At once they started back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven
disciples gathered with their companions, and from them they learned
that the Lord had really risen and that he had appeared to Simon.
Then they told of their own experience on the road, and how they
knew him when he broke the bread.