Luke 24 19

Luke 24:19 kjv

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

Luke 24:19 nkjv

And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

Luke 24:19 niv

"What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

Luke 24:19 esv

And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

Luke 24:19 nlt

"What things?" Jesus asked. "The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth," they said. "He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people.

Luke 24 verses

Luke 24 19 Meaning

This verse opens the disciples' response to the unrecognized Risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, where they identify Jesus as a man from Nazareth, whom they considered a profound prophet. Their understanding of Him was characterized by His significant and powerful actions (deeds) and authoritative teachings (words), which they believed were recognized and approved by both God and the general public. It articulates their pre-resurrection perception of Jesus, reflecting both their accurate observations and their yet-incomplete understanding of His true identity and mission, particularly in light of the crucifixion.

Luke 24 19 Context

Luke 24 recounts the pivotal events immediately following Jesus' resurrection. The chapter opens with the women discovering the empty tomb and receiving angelic confirmation of Jesus' resurrection (vv. 1-12). Our verse (v. 19) is part of the encounter on the road to Emmaus, where two disciples, Cleopas and another, are walking dejectedly, discussing the recent, bewildering events in Jerusalem (vv. 13-18). The resurrected Jesus, unrecognized, joins them. He feigns ignorance, asking about the topic of their sorrowful conversation. Their detailed description of "Jesus of Nazareth" in this verse, immediately after Jesus asks "What things?", sets the stage for Jesus' powerful exposition of the Scriptures and subsequent self-revelation. Historically, the Jewish people lived under Roman occupation, with strong messianic expectations of a powerful, earthly deliverer. Their view of a "prophet mighty in deed and word" fit within their traditional understanding of divinely appointed figures, but they struggled to reconcile this image with a crucified Messiah, leading to their despair.

Luke 24 19 Word analysis

• And he said to them, “What things?” (καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Τίνα)
  • `καὶ (kai)`: "And", a simple connective, moving the narrative forward.
  • `εἶπεν (eipan)`: "he said", referring to Jesus (the unrecognized figure).
  • `Τίνα (Tina)`: "What things?", an interrogative pronoun. Jesus' question isn't born of ignorance but is a pedagogical device. It invites the disciples to articulate their pain, frustration, and the limitations of their understanding, preparing them to receive deeper truth. This method resonates with rabbinic traditions where teachers ask questions to prompt self-discovery.
• And they said to Him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, (Οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, Τὰ περὶ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναζαρηνοῦ)
  • `Οἱ δὲ (Hoi de)`: "And they", indicating their immediate response.
  • `Τὰ περὶ (Ta peri)`: "The things concerning", framing the following statement as a summary of the situation revolving around Jesus.
  • `Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)`: "Jesus", the familiar name of the man they knew.
  • `τοῦ Ναζαρηνοῦ (tou Nazarenou)`: "the Nazarene", a common descriptor and identifier of Jesus, often carrying a slight disparaging tone (Jn 1:46) due to Nazareth's insignificance. It underlines their identification of Him by His geographical origin.
• a Prophet (ἄνδρα προφήτην)
  • `ἄνδρα (andra)`: "a man", literally "a male human being." Their primary identification of Jesus is firmly rooted in His human, earthly identity, not yet fully encompassing His divine nature or the implications of His resurrection.
  • `προφήτην (prophētēn)`: "Prophet." This is the highest office they attribute to Jesus, placing Him in the lineage of Moses, Elijah, and Samuel. A prophet was understood as God's spokesperson, revealing divine will and performing miracles as signs of their anointing (Deut 18:15; Lk 7:16). Their designation confirms their belief in His divine calling and mission but highlights their unfulfilled expectation of a specific kind of prophet-redeemer (Lk 24:21).
• mighty in deed and word (δυνατὸς ἐν ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ)
  • `δυνατὸς (dynatos)`: "mighty, powerful, able." This adjective emphatically describes the prophet's impact. It refers to a demonstrated capacity and efficacy.
  • `ἐν ἔργῳ (en ergō)`: "in deed/work." This refers to Jesus' numerous miracles—healings, exorcisms, raising the dead, control over nature (Lk 4:36, 5:26, 7:16, 8:25). These were tangible, public demonstrations of divine power confirming His prophetic claims.
  • `καὶ λόγῳ (kai logō)`: "and in word/speech." This refers to Jesus' authoritative teaching, His parables, His insightful interpretations of the Law, and His compelling preaching (Lk 4:32; Matt 7:29; Jn 7:46). His words were not just informative but powerful and transformative.
  • This phrase encapsulates Jesus' entire public ministry, recognized by both supporters and opponents for its profound impact in both action and proclamation.
• before God and all the people (ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ)
  • `ἐναντίον (enantion)`: "before, in the sight of." This preposition emphasizes visibility, approval, and testimony. It indicates a public and divine affirmation.
  • `τοῦ Θεοῦ (tou Theou)`: "God." This signifies that Jesus' prophetic power and words were not self-generated but divinely authorized and approved. It points to divine validation and backing for His ministry (Jn 5:36-37; Acts 2:22).
  • `παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ (pantos tou laou)`: "all the people." This highlights the widespread, public recognition and popularity Jesus enjoyed during His ministry among the masses (Lk 19:48; 20:6). This collective testimony adds weight to His standing as a prophet.
  • The dual witness of "God and all the people" provides a comprehensive endorsement of Jesus' ministry, making the disciples' subsequent despair over His death all the more profound, as such a figure seemed too significant to have ended in apparent failure.

Luke 24 19 Bonus section

• Theological Irony: The disciples are perfectly describing the Resurrected Lord to the Resurrected Lord Himself, yet remain spiritually blind to His presence. This dramatic irony emphasizes the need for divine revelation to truly understand Christ.
• A Bridge to Misunderstanding: Their identification of Jesus as "a Prophet mighty in deed and word" sets up their profound disillusionment in the following verse (v. 20-21). A prophet, especially one "mighty," was not expected to suffer and die, particularly by crucifixion—a death reserved for criminals and enemies of Rome. Their expectations for a powerful, earthly redeemer clashed with the reality of a suffering Messiah.
• Polemical Edge: In the broader context of the early church, emphasizing Jesus as "mighty in deed and word before God" implicitly countered Roman claims of Caesar's divine power and the prevalent view among some Jews that Jesus' power came from demonic sources (Mk 3:22) or that He was merely a wise teacher. This statement reaffirms His divine legitimacy.
• Messianic Expectation: This description mirrors Old Testament prophetic archetypes like Moses (Deut 18:15) and Elijah. The people's recognition aligned with a long-held expectation for a powerful, divinely sent figure.

Luke 24 19 Commentary

Luke 24:19 succinctly reveals the Emmaus disciples' pre-resurrection evaluation of Jesus: a man of humble origin (Nazareth) recognized by divine endorsement and popular acclaim as a "Prophet." They correctly recall His unparalleled power in actions (miracles, mighty deeds) and profound authority in words (teaching, pronouncements), indicating a deep awareness of His extraordinary ministry. This precise, factually accurate description ironically frames their current state of despondency (v. 21); they accurately perceived what Jesus was during His ministry, but utterly failed to grasp who He truly was and the necessary divine plan for Him to suffer and rise again. Their answer provides Jesus with the perfect theological foundation to unveil the scriptural necessity of the Messiah's suffering and glory.