The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 263

rear no longer the night-journey from which He "stood in the midst of them," though they had dissuaded their unknown Com- the doors were carefully closed and barred p1mion" (Bengel). And found the eleven "for fear of the Jews." Rumours of the gathered together, and them that were with Resurrection, no doubt, bad already spread them, se.ying, The Lord is risen indeed, and through the city, and it was uncertain hath appeared to Simon. Late that evening whether such rumours might not be followed Cleopae and his friend arrived from Emme.us by the arrest of the chief followers of the at Jerusalem. Hastening to the accustomed Crucified. Peace be nnto yon. This was meeting-place of the disciples of Jesus, to the ordinary Jewish greeting, but on thi3 tell their wond l'Ollll story of the meeting occasion, spoken by the Lord, possessed more with the risen Master, they find the eleven than the ordinary meaning. This "peace" together full of joy. Peter had seen and was his solemn, comforting greeting to his had no doubt conversed with his Master. own, just as "his peace" which he left with What e. meeting must that have been I The them on the sad Thursday eve wns his once eager and devoted apostle had probably solemn farewell to the eleven, spoken, per- not go.zed on that form in life since he caught he.ps, in the same "upper room" just before the sorrowful look bent on him in the court- he went ont to the garden of the agony. yard, when Jesus, bonnd, po.seed through Ver. 37.-But they were terrified and and heard his servant denying him with af!'righted. '!'hey spoke one to another of oaths e.ud curses. This appearance to Peter the Master; they discussed the empty se- is not recorded in the Gospels. It is, how- pulchre, the angelic vision, the recital by ever, placed first of all by St. Paul in his· Peter of his interview with the Risen, e.nd records of the manifestation of the Risen were listening to the details of the quiet (1 Cor. xv. 4-8). • Em.me.us meeting, all hoping for something Ver. 35.-And they told what things were more; but this sudden, mysterious appear- .ione in the way, and how he was known ance of their crucified Master in their midst of them in breaking of bread. The two was not, after all, what they had looked for. travellers now relate to the eleven their It terrified them. And supposed that they wondrous story. The words used by Cleope.s had seen a spirit. How else could they and his friend in their narration, /11 -rfi tcAci.cr<& explain his presence in their midst, when -roii lfp-rov, which should be rendered,'" in the the doors were shut? The evangelists make bre&lriug of the bread," are significant. It no attempt to explain his sudden appeamnce. is e.n expression which, e.t the time when He was simply there as they spoke of him. St. Luke wrote his Gospel, had acquired a It is clear that his presence could be ac- definite meaning in the langne.ge of the counted for in no ordinary, natural wo.y. Christian Church, and was applied to break- Hie disciples felt that; hence their supposi- ing bread in the "Supper of the Lord" tion that they were looking on a spirit. W o ( see Aots ii. 42, 46 ; 1 Cor. x. 16). While can, with our pres1mt limited knowledge, they were speaking together, the persona.I Conn no adequate conception of this resur- appearance of the Lord was vouchsafed to rection-body of the Lord. It was a reality, them; for, of a sudden, he stood in the no phantasm or appearance; of that the midst and spoke to them I scene about to be describe,l gives 1lll ample Vere. 36-49.-The Lord appears to the evidence. Still, it is clear that his resurrec- apostles as they were gathered togetl1er on the tion-body was not bound by the present evening of the first Easter Day. conditions of material existence of which wo Ver. 36.-And e.s they thUB epe.ke, 1esns a.re consciollll. Epiphanius ascribes to the himself stood in the midst of them. St. body of the risen Lord AE11TOT'IJS .,,v,vµ.a-rud,, John, who also gives an account of this "a spiritual subtilty." Enthymius uses oppee.mnoe of the Risen, adds the detail, similar language when he speaks of " his "when the doors were shnt." The eleven body being now subtile, thin, and nnmixed." and their friends were go.thered together for He could come into a olosed, barred room. counsel, probo.bly too in hope the.t some- He could be visible or invisible, known or thing more would h11ppen after whe.t had unknown, as he pleased and when he pleased. already to.ken ple.ce that Easter Day-the Ver.38.-Alld he said unto them, Why are report of the holy women of the repeated ye troubled 1 and why do thoughts arise in vision of o.ngels, their own verification of your hearts 1 He had j11St given them his the empty sepulchre, and above all the peace. He proceeds further to allay their testimony of Peter that he had seen the fears. Before showing them his pierced Lord. into this anxious, waiting assembly hands and feet ond side, before eating in the two "Emme.us" disciples enter with their presence, he addresses these comfort- their wondrous story. In the act of their ing words to them: "See," he seems to mentally comparing notes, Jesus himself say, "I give you my peace: why are ye stood in the 'lllidd of them. This sudden tmubled? why do you allow perplexing, presence there is evidently superne.ture.l. harassillg thoughts to arise in your heart11? I,UKE,--II, T  THE GOSPEL .ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [cu. n1v. 1-53.