Luke 24 18

Luke 24:18 kjv

And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

Luke 24:18 nkjv

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"

Luke 24:18 niv

One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

Luke 24:18 esv

Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

Luke 24:18 nlt

Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days."

Luke 24 verses

Luke 24 18 Meaning

Luke 24:18 captures the bewilderment and profound sorrow of one of the disciples, Cleopas, after Jesus' crucifixion. His question, "Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?" reveals their utter astonishment that anyone could be unaware of the monumental and devastating events that had just unfolded in Jerusalem. It underscores their spiritual blindness to Jesus' true identity and the divine purpose behind these events, even while their minds were consumed by the human tragedy.

Luke 24 18 Context

Luke 24 begins on the resurrection morning. While the women have encountered angels and seen the empty tomb (Lk 24:1-12), many of the disciples remain confused, skeptical, and sorrowful. Luke 24:13 introduces two disciples walking the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus, discussing the very recent, perplexing events. They are despondent because their hopes that Jesus was the one to redeem Israel have been shattered by His crucifixion. As they walk, Jesus Himself joins them, but their eyes are supernaturally "holden" so they do not recognize Him. Verse 17 sets up Cleopas's response, as Jesus asks them what they are discussing. Their grief-stricken state and complete misunderstanding of the scriptural necessity of the Messiah's suffering underpin their astonishment at Jesus' perceived ignorance in verse 18. The conversation marks a turning point from confusion to understanding as Jesus later expounds the Scriptures to them.

Luke 24 18 Word analysis

• And: Greek kai. Standard conjunction, but here it transitions from Jesus' question to Cleopas's immediate, surprised response, indicating a direct conversational flow.
• one of them: Refers to the two unnamed disciples of verse 13.
• named Cleopas: Greek Kleonpas. A specific personal identifier. Though mentioned only here in the Gospels, tradition links him to one of the Seventy disciples or as a relative of Jesus (husband of Mary, sister of Jesus' mother). His identification adds historical grounding and highlights the individual nature of this encounter. The name might mean "glory of the father," which stands in poignant contrast to his current despondency.
• answering said unto him: Indicates Cleopas's direct, almost incredulous, reply to Jesus' initial query about their sad conversation (Lk 24:17). It shows their eagerness to explain their sorrow.
• Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem: Greek Sú mónos paroikeîs Ierousalēm (σὺ μόνος παροικεῖς Ἱερουσαλήμ).
  • Art thou (Sú): "You." Emphatic pronoun, stressing Jesus as the perceived sole person in Jerusalem unaware.
  • only (mónos): "alone," "solitary." Reinforces the shock: "Are you the only person who is unaware...?" It implies a remarkable, almost absurd, level of isolation or detachment.
  • a stranger (paroikeîs): A verb meaning "to sojourn," "to dwell as a foreigner," "to live as a temporary resident" (from pároikos meaning a resident alien). It suggests not merely passing through quickly, but residing for a period without being a permanent citizen or fully integrated into the local culture. Cleopas implies that even a temporary resident should know about such widely impactful events. There's deep irony, as Jesus, the King of Israel and Master of Jerusalem, is perceived as the ultimate outsider.
  • in Jerusalem (Ierousalēm): The very center of Jewish life and the location where these events—Passover, arrest, trial, crucifixion—took place. It implies that news from the capital would certainly disseminate rapidly, especially concerning such a prominent public figure.
• and hast not known: Greek ouk égnōs (οὐκ ἔγνως). A strong negative ("not") combined with "did you know," conveying Cleopas's utter disbelief that anyone could remain ignorant. It suggests a lack of understanding or information about common knowledge.
• the things which are come to pass: Greek tà genómena (τὰ γενόμενα). "The things which have happened/occurred." This refers to the specific, recent events surrounding Jesus' arrest, crucifixion, and the confusion about the empty tomb and rumors of resurrection. For Cleopas, these were tragic events marking the failure of his hopes.
• there in these days: Greek en taútais tais hēmerais (ἐν ταύταις ταῖς ἡμέραις). Specifically pinpoints the very recent period, emphasizing the immediacy and impact of the events, which had occurred just a few days prior.

Word-group analysis

• "And one of them, named Cleopas": Pinpoints the speaker and emphasizes the personal nature of the dialogue. It sets up the immediate response to Jesus's inquiry. The introduction of Cleopas, identified by name, gives a concrete, relatable feel to the narrative, contrasting with the often unnamed disciple.
• "Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem": This phrase encapsulates Cleopas's incredulity and highlights the universal nature of the events. He's asking if Jesus is uniquely ignorant among all who visit or reside temporarily in Jerusalem, making Jesus' assumed ignorance astonishing. The term "stranger" here is laden with irony; Jesus, the Christ, the one whose redemptive acts unfolded in Jerusalem, is viewed as an outsider oblivious to his own central drama.
• "and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?": This forms the core of their astonishment and highlights their immersion in grief and confusion. They assume the 'things' are common knowledge to all in Jerusalem, demonstrating how widely the crucifixion (and associated rumors of the empty tomb) would have been discussed and debated. Their focus is purely on the human tragedy, completely missing the divine plan, thus necessitating Jesus's explanation.

Luke 24 18 Bonus section

The narrative choice to make Cleopas ask such a question not only reveals the disciples' spiritual state but also sets up a profound theological reversal. Cleopas identifies Jesus as a paroikos (stranger/sojourner), yet this term is frequently applied to God's people in the Old Testament and to believers in the New Testament (Heb 11:13, 1 Pet 2:11), seeing themselves as aliens in a world that is not their true home, looking for a better, heavenly country. In a deep sense, Jesus was a sojourner on earth, though Cleopas did not intend this meaning. Conversely, the disciples themselves were spiritually strangers to the full truth of God's redemptive plan unfolding before them. Their question thus carries a dual, unintended truth about the nature of their own walk of faith and Jesus' unique position. The sheer widespread knowledge of "the things" contrasts sharply with the deep theological ignorance concerning their meaning, setting the stage for the Christ-centered hermeneutic Jesus would then provide.

Luke 24 18 Commentary

Luke 24:18 is a pivotal moment in the Emmaus Road narrative, showcasing the profound spiritual blindness of Jesus' own disciples just after His resurrection. Cleopas's question reveals not only his grief and confusion but also the widely recognized nature of the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion within Jerusalem. It is deeply ironic: Jesus, the central figure of the entire drama, who knows the divine plan better than anyone, is perceived by His devoted followers as a naive outsider. The use of "stranger" (paroikeîs) points to the cultural shock of a seemingly ignorant visitor amidst events that have shaken the very foundations of their world. Their assumption that everyone knew of these "things" highlights the scale of Jesus' public ministry and death, yet their understanding remained superficial. This initial misunderstanding serves as a crucial setup for Jesus' subsequent teaching, where He reorients their focus from mere historical facts and sorrow to the prophetic fulfillment found in the Old Testament, demonstrating that true knowledge of these "things" comes not from being a resident in Jerusalem, but from divine revelation and an opened understanding of the Scriptures.