Luke 24:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is now the third day, and some of our women have astonished us. This reflects a sense of confusion. It appears that these two individuals were caught in significant uncertainty, neither fully believing nor entirely doubting. Their statement, “we hoped that He would deliver Israel,” expresses a lack of faith, while the phrase, “it is now the third day,” indicates they were close to recalling the Lord's promise: “the third day I will rise again.” Additionally, their remark about the women’s amazement suggests a similar wavering in their belief. Taken as a whole, these phrases vividly illustrate the mindset of those grappling with deep doubts, as they were confronted with the extraordinary reality of the resurrection.

As they conversed, Jesus drew near and walked alongside them, yet they did not recognize Him, for “their eyes were closed, so that they did not recognize Him.” He inquired, “What are you discussing that has caused you to walk so sorrowfully?” One of them, named Cleopas, replied, “Are you a mere traveler in Jerusalem?” They proceeded to share the news of the resurrection that the women had reported, as well as Peter’s account, but He did not accept their words. By stating, “And the women marvelled at us, who found no body,” they indicated that they had not been persuaded by this news, nor did they perceive it as truth; rather, it provoked feelings of anxiety and wonder.

Certain women among us, referring to believers like ourselves, are mentioned, particularly Mary Magdalene. They astonished us with their claims, for they proclaimed something truly remarkable.

On the other hand, there were still those who did not believe (Mark 16:13), and many of the faithful lacked a comprehensive understanding of His current condition. Additionally, it was essential for the Lord to provide them with spiritual nourishment following their days of distress, in accordance with their divine mission, and to reinforce the bonds He had established with them. To accomplish this, the Lord planned to reveal Himself to them collectively. Prior to this, the wavering faith among them would lead to a temporary withdrawal of the Holy Spirit’s grace, which would return fully on the day of Pentecost, as the Spirit would be poured out upon them.

When Cleopas and his companion relayed the message from the angels announcing that Jesus was alive, they expressed deep skepticism regarding His resurrection, remarking that the women had truly bewildered us. “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into His glory?” Jesus responded, and He began to clarify all that was written about Himself in the Scriptures, starting from Moses.

The individuals expressed their astonishment regarding the accounts shared by the women concerning the angelic vision and the trustworthy affirmation from some of their fellow believers that the tomb was devoid of a body. Yet, the narrator lamented with a tone of disbelief and sadness, stating, “He was not seen” by them.

The travelers continued, mentioning that “some of our women astonished us” (ἐξε'στησαν cf. Acts 2:12), leaving us in a state of confusion as we struggled to grasp the entire situation. They had gone to the tomb early and quickly returned, claiming they did not find what they were looking for, namely the body of the buried Jesus. Instead, they encountered unexpected sights—angels—and heard astonishing news: the angels informed them that He was alive. The simplicity with which the travelers recount the women's visit to the tomb and what they witnessed and heard is noteworthy.