Luke 24:36–43

Jesus Makes a Final Appearance

24:36 While they were saying these things, Jesus97 himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”98 24:37 But they were startled and terrified, thinking99 they saw a ghost.100 24:38 Then101 he said to them, “Why are you frightened,102 and why do doubts103 arise in your hearts? 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me!104 Touch me and see; a ghost105 does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.” 24:40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.106 24:41 And while they still could not believe it107 (because of their joy) and were amazed,108 he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”109 24:42 So110 they gave him a piece of broiled fish, 24:43 and he took it and ate it in front of them.

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97	tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
98	tc The words “and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’ ” are lacking in some Western mss (D it). But the clause is otherwise well attested, being found in 𝔓75 and the rest of the ms tradition, and should be considered an original part of Luke.
99	sn The disciples were still not comfortable at this point thinking that this could be Jesus raised from the dead. Instead they thought they saw a spirit.
100	tc This is not a reference to “a phantom” as read by the Western ms D. For πνεῦμα (pneuma) having the force of “ghost,” or “an independent noncorporeal being, in contrast to a being that can be perceived by the physical senses,” see BDAG 833–34 s.v. πνεῦμα 4.
101	tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
102	tn Or “disturbed,” “troubled.”
103	tn The expression here is an idiom; see BDAG 58 s.v. ἀναβαίνω 2. Here καρδία (kardia) is a collective singular; the expression has been translated as plural in English. sn Jesus calls the disciples to faith with a gentle rebuke about doubts and a gracious invitation to see for themselves the evidence of his resurrection.
104	tn Grk “that it is I myself.”
105	tn See tc note on “ghost” in v. 37.
106	tc Some Western mss (D it) lack 24:40. However, it is present in all other mss, including 𝔓75, and should thus be regarded as an original part of Luke’s Gospel.
107	sn They still could not believe it. Is this a continued statement of unbelief? Or is it a rhetorical expression of their amazement? They are being moved to faith, so a rhetorical force is more likely here.
108	sn Amazement is the common response to unusual activity: 1:63; 2:18; 4:22; 7:9; 8:25; 9:43; 11:14; 20:26.
109	sn Do you have anything here to eat? Eating would remove the idea that a phantom was present. Angelic spirits refused a meal in Jdt 13:16 and Tob 12:19, but accepted it in Gen 18:8; 19:3 and Tob 6:6.
110	tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Jesus’ request for food.

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