Luk 24:1-8 | RWP | e4.org | At early dawn ( ορθρου βαθεος ). Genitive of time. Literally, at deep dawn. The adjective βαθυς (deep) was often used of time. This very idiom occurs in Aristophanes, Plato, et cetera. adds "while it was yet dark." That is, when they started, for the sun was risen when they arrived ( ). Which they had prepared ( α ητοιμασαν ). notes that they bought other spices after the sabbath was over besides those which they already had ( ).

‏ Luke 24:1-8

At early dawn ( ορθρου βαθεος ). Genitive of time. Literally, at deep dawn. The adjective βαθυς (deep) was often used of time. This very idiom occurs in Aristophanes, Plato, et cetera. Joh 20:1 adds "while it was yet dark." That is, when they started, for the sun was risen when they arrived (Mr 16:2).

Which they had prepared ( α ητοιμασαν ). Mr 16:1 notes that they bought other spices after the sabbath was over besides those which they already had (Lu 23:56).

Rolled away ( αποκεκυλισμενον ). Perfect passive participle of αποκυλιω, late verb and in the N.T. only in this context (Mr 16:3; Mt 28:2) while Joh 20:1 has ηρμενον (taken away).

Of the Lord Jesus ( του κυριου Ιησου ). The Western family of documents does not have these words and Westcott and Hort bracket them as Western non-interpolations. There are numerous instances of this shorter Western text in this chapter. For a discussion of the subject see my Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament, pp. 225-237. This precise combination (the Lord Jesus) is common in the Acts, but nowhere else in the Gospels.

While they were perplexed thereabout ( εν τω απορεισθα αυτας περ τουτου ). Luke's common Hebraistic idiom, εν with the articular infinitive (present passive απορεισθα from απορεω, to lose one's way) and the accusative of general reference.

Two men ( ανδρες δυο ). Men, not women. Mr 16:5 speaks of a young man ( νεανισκον ) while Mt 28:5 has "an angel." We need not try to reconcile these varying accounts which agree in the main thing. The angel looked like a man and some remembered two. In verse 23 Cleopas and his companion call them "angels."

Stood by ( επεστησαν ). Second aorist active indicative of εφιστημ. This common verb usually means to step up suddenly, to burst upon one.

In dazzling apparel ( εν εσθητ αστραπτουση ). This is the correct text. This common simplex verb occurs only twice in the N.T., here and Lu 17:24 (the Transfiguration). It has the same root as αστραπη (lightning). The "men" had the garments of "angels."

As they were affrighted ( εμφοβων γενομενων αυτων ). Genitive absolute with second aorist middle of γινομα, to become. Hence,

when they became affrighted. They had utterly forgotten the prediction of Jesus that he would rise on the third day.

He is not here, but is risen ( ουκ εστιν ωδε, αλλα ηγερθη ). Another Western non-interpolation according to Westcott and Hort. The words are genuine at any rate in Mr 16:6; Mt 28:7.

The third day rise again ( τη τριτη ημερα αναστηνα ). See 9:22; 18:32, 33 where Jesus plainly foretold this fact. And yet they had forgotten it, for it ran counter to all their ideas and hopes.