Devine Scripture

Luke 24:48

What does Luke 24:48 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 24:48 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 24:48 means

“Ye are witnesses of these things,” Jesus says. Their role is not to invent a message but to testify to what they have seen and understood: His suffering, resurrection, and the Scriptures that foretold it. Witness is personal yet public, grounded in encounter and explanation. This identity will shape their lives; they will bear the gospel into the world, enduring opposition with the certainty of firsthand knowledge. Jesus ties the church’s mission to the reliability of these eyewitnesses, ensuring that faith rests on stable testimony. Their task begins at Jerusalem and extends outward, as God opens doors through His Spirit.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Ye are witnesses of these things.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And ye are witnesses of these things.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Ye are witnesses of these things.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You are witnesses of these things.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and ye--ye are witnesses of these things.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And you are witnesses of these things.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And ye are witnesses of these things.

Context

After stating the gospel and its global scope (vv. 46–47), Jesus identifies the disciples’ vocation (v. 48). This prepares naturally for the promise of empowerment in verse 49, without which witness would falter. The commissioning thus rests on three pillars already established in the chapter: bodily resurrection proofs, Scripture fulfillment, and the Lord’s authoritative mandate. The subsequent verses (50–53) will depict Jesus’ blessing and ascension, and the disciples’ worshipful joy, anticipating the next volume where their witness unfolds in power.

v.47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

v.48This passage

v.49And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 1:22

    beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.

  • Acts 4:33

    And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

  • 1 Peter 5:1

    The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

  • 1 John 1:2

    (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us);

  • Hebrews 2:3

    how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;

  • Acts 5:32

    And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

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