Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 24:13

"And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem." — Luke 24:13 (ASV)

The opening words of v.13 link this story with the entire Easter event. As two travelers are talking together, they experience the presence of Jesus; thus a valid witness is provided (see comment on vv.4–5). The words “of them” (v.13) do not clearly identify who the two are. They are not two of the Eleven (v.9; cf. v.33). Probably they are two of the followers of Jesus who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover. So they had been among the “disciples” who lauded

Jesus on his triumphal entry to the city (19:39) and were now returning home.

The fact that this event occurs when the two disciples “were going” continues the travel theme prominent in Luke, especially in his unique central section (9:51–19:44). That section began as Jesus “resolutely set out” for

Jerusalem (9:51); now these two are leaving that same city. Shortly after the earlier journey to Jerusalem began, a man had approached Jesus regarding discipleship “as they were walking” (9:57); after the Resurrection, Jesus approaches two disheartened followers as they are walking. Acts continues the theme of Jesus’ disciples traveling, going from Jerusalem to Rome and ultimately to the ends of the earth as “witnesses” (1:8). As for the identity of Emmaus, this is uncertain, though it is a village near Jerusalem.

The two were talking about events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection. Between the lines of their dialogue, Luke shows their bewilderment. Luke introduces Jesus into the story with the emphatic “Jesus himself” and comments that Jesus “walked along with” them. Their being kept “from recognizing him” (v.16) may be a “divine passive,” i.e., a means of connoting that an action is actually the work of God.