Why did the disciples not believe the women's testimony? Study Luke 24 with context, apologetic analysis, and cross-references.
Luke 247 questions
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Commentary provenance
Dr. Lucas D. Shallua Commentary · Luke 24
01
The precise difficulties
Why did the disciples not believe the women's testimony?
Why did Jesus appear to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?
What does it mean that their eyes were opened?
Why did Jesus eat broiled fish?
What does it mean that Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures?
What is the promise of the Father?
Why did Jesus ascend into heaven?
02
Verse and question study
Why did the disciples not believe the women's testimony?
The disciples did not believe because they were not expecting a resurrection. Despite Jesus' repeated predictions, they did not understand. They were grieving, afraid, and confused. The resurrection was not a logical conclusion they reached; it was a reality that broke into their lives and demanded a response. Their unbelief makes the accounts more credible. If the early church were inventing the resurrection, they would have portrayed the disciples as instantly believing. Instead, they record their doubts and resistance.
Why did Jesus appear to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?
Jesus appeared to the two disciples to teach them how to read the Scriptures. He showed them that the Old Testament is about Him. Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them the things concerning Himself. This is the key to understanding the Bible. The cross and resurrection were not a deviation from the plan; they were the plan.
What does it mean that their eyes were opened?
The opening of the eyes is a divine act. The disciples were kept from recognizing Jesus until the breaking of bread. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. This is a picture of spiritual illumination. It is not enough to see Jesus with the physical eyes; we must see Him with the eyes of faith. The Spirit opens our eyes to recognize the risen Christ.
Why did Jesus eat broiled fish?
Jesus ate broiled fish to prove that He was not a ghost. The resurrection is physical. Jesus has a real body, not a spirit. He can be touched. He can eat. The physicality of the resurrection is essential to the gospel. If Jesus did not rise bodily, then the tomb is not empty, and our faith is in vain.
What does it mean that Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures?
The opening of the mind is a divine act. Understanding Scripture is not merely an intellectual exercise; it requires the illumination of the Spirit. The Christological reading of the Old Testament is the key to understanding all of Scripture. The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms all testify of Christ.
What is the promise of the Father?
The promise of the Father is the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they are clothed with power from on high. This is the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which empowers believers for witness. The promise was fulfilled at Pentecost, when the Spirit descended on the disciples and they spoke in other tongues and proclaimed the gospel with boldness.
Why did Jesus ascend into heaven?
The ascension is the completion of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of His heavenly reign. He ascends to the right hand of God, where He sits in glory and intercedes for His people. The ascension also makes possible the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.”
03
Historical and literary context
Chapter 23 ended with the burial of Jesus and the women preparing spices and ointments. The Sabbath has passed. It is now the first day of the week, the day of resurrection. Luke's account of the resurrection is unique in several details: the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, the extended conversation about the Scriptures, the breaking of bread, and the specific mention of Jesus eating broiled fish. The chapter is the climax of Luke's Gospel. Everything has been leading to this moment. The King who was crucified is now alive. The tomb is empty. The Scriptures are fulfilled. The mission is launched. The Gospel ends with the ascension and the disciples worshiping in the temple, waiting for the promised Spirit.
04
Apologetic note
Some critics argue that the resurrection is a legend or a hoax. But the evidence is overwhelming. The tomb was empty. The disciples were transformed from fearful deserters into bold proclaimers of the resurrection. They died for their testimony. The women were the first witnesses, which would have been socially awkward in a culture that did not accept women's testimony. The disciples did not believe the women's testimony. They had to be convinced. The physicality of the resurrection is emphasized. Jesus ate broiled fish. He showed His hands and feet. The most plausible explanation for the empty tomb, the resurrection appearances, and the transformation of the disciples is that Jesus actually rose from the dead. The account of the road to Emmaus is also historically plausible. The detail of the two disciples, the village of Emmaus, the conversation, the breaking of bread, and the return to Jerusalem are vivid and specific. The early church preserved this account because it was a powerful testimony to the reality of the resurrection and the Christ-centered interpretation of Scripture. The most plausible explanation is that it preserves genuine historical memory. The opening of the mind to understand the Scriptures is a key theme in Luke's Gospel. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. This is the apostolic interpretation of the Old Testament. The most plausible explanation is that it preserves genuine historical memory.