Devine Scripture

Luke 24:23

What does Luke 24:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 24:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 24:23 means

They report that when the women did not find His body, they came saying they had seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. Their wording betrays caution—calling it a “vision”—even while conveying the joyful claim. They repeat the angels’ central message without embracing it. This is a reminder that hearing the right words is not the same as believing them. Yet their careful recounting keeps the truth alive in their minds, ready for Jesus to ignite it. The path from perplexity to faith often passes through honest yet hesitant restatement of what God has said.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And it was not there; then they came saying that they had seen a vision of angels who said that he was living.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and not having found his body, they came, saying also to have seen an apparition of messengers, who say he is alive,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And not finding his body, came, saying that they had all seen a vision of angels, who say that he is alive.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and, not having found his body, came, saying that they also had seen a vision of angels, who say that he is living.

Context

This verse continues the travelers’ retelling of the women’s report, following their mention of the early visit (v. 22). It highlights the empty tomb and the angelic testimony that Jesus is alive, elements central to the chapter’s message. Verse 24 will add the check by certain disciples who found the tomb as reported but did not see Jesus. The flow portrays a community with mounting signs but lacking interpretive clarity. Jesus will address that lack in verses 25–27 by appealing to all the Scriptures, showing that the message of suffering and rising on the third day was written beforehand.

v.22Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb;

v.23This passage

v.24And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

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