Luke 24 2

Luke 24:2 kjv

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

Luke 24:2 nkjv

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Luke 24:2 niv

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

Luke 24:2 esv

And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

Luke 24:2 nlt

They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

Luke 24 verses

Luke 24 2 Meaning

Luke 24:2 reveals the initial and pivotal discovery by the women at Jesus' tomb: the massive stone sealing the entrance had been moved. This unexpected finding directly challenged their expectation of finding a lifeless body to anoint and immediately signaled that something extraordinary had occurred, setting the stage for the announcement of Jesus' resurrection. It marked the first physical evidence contradicting the finality of death and burial, preparing the way for understanding the triumph over the grave.

Luke 24 2 Context

Luke 24:2 immediately follows the arrival of a group of women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, at Jesus' tomb on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, carrying spices to anoint Jesus' body (Lk 24:1). Their intent was to perform a respectful and final burial ritual that had been interrupted by the Sabbath. The previous day, Jesus had been crucified, confirmed dead by a centurion, and hastily buried by Joseph of Arimathea in a newly hewn tomb, with a large stone sealing the entrance (Lk 23:50-56). The verse therefore details their very first, unexpected discovery at the site. Culturally, Jewish tombs were often rock-cut caves sealed by heavy, round stones, designed to prevent disturbance. The women’s concern mentioned in Mark 16:3, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" highlights the immense challenge this stone presented. Its removal, therefore, indicates an extraordinary event that no human, particularly a group of women, could have accomplished.

Luke 24 2 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction linking this observation directly to the women's arrival in Lk 24:1, indicating a continuous narrative sequence. It suggests a cause-and-effect relationship without explicit explanation, emphasizing the immediacy of the discovery upon their arrival.
• they (αὗται - hautai): Refers directly to "they" (women) from the preceding verse (Lk 24:1). It highlights that these faithful women were the initial witnesses to this pivotal event. Their testimony, though often doubted in ancient society, becomes foundational for the resurrection message.
• found (εὗρον - heuron): Aorist active indicative of εὑρίσκω (heuriskō). This verb implies a discovery made, an objective observation of something unexpected rather than an anticipated finding. It emphasizes their direct, empirical perception of the tomb's state. It denotes the moment of realization.
• the stone (τὸν λίθον - ton lithon): Refers to a specific, well-known, large stone. This was no small rock but a heavy, usually disc-shaped stone designed to completely seal the tomb's entrance (Mt 27:60, Mk 16:4). Its size signifies security and finality, reinforced by the Roman seal and guard mentioned in Mt 27:66.
• rolled away (ἀποκεκυλισμένον - apokekylisménon): Perfect passive participle of ἀποκυλίω (apokyliō). The "perfect" tense signifies a completed action with enduring results; the stone was not being rolled away but was already rolled away. The "passive voice" indicates that an external agent, not the women themselves, performed the action, hinting at a supernatural intervention (Mt 28:2 explicitly names an angel). The verb "away" (ἀπο-) indicates that it was fully moved from the entrance, leaving the tomb accessible and open.
• from the tomb (ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου - apo tou mnēmeiou): Identifies the origin point of the stone's removal. The "tomb" (μνημεῖον - mnēmeion) refers to a burial chamber or sepulcher. The phrase precisely indicates that the stone was removed from its original sealing position, thus making the entrance unobstructed. This removal allows entry and facilitates the subsequent discovery of the empty space.

Word-groups analysis:

• "And they found": This phrase marks the transition from anticipation to direct observation. It portrays the women's unadorned experience, their arrival met with an astonishing physical reality. This objective finding serves as the immediate factual basis for the extraordinary narrative to unfold.
• "the stone rolled away from the tomb": This is the core discovery. The monumental effort required to move such a stone underscores the magnitude of the event. It negates human agency (Mk 16:3 "Who will roll away?") and points to divine intervention. This moved stone symbolizes the shattering of the barrier between death and life, paving the way for the revelation of Christ's resurrection. It visually communicates that the enclosure of death has been overcome.

Luke 24 2 Bonus section

• The significance of the stone being rolled away (ἀποκεκυλισμένον) lies not only in its displacement but also in its permanent removal, signifying that the way into the tomb, and symbolically out of death's dominion, is now open. This removal means access to witness the lack of a body, rather than blocking the egress of Jesus.
• This specific detail aligns with prophecies concerning a breaking forth from the bonds of death (e.g., Ps 16:10), signaling a definitive and decisive action from God to negate the power of the grave.
• The fact that women were the first to witness this (and later the angels' message) is noteworthy. In ancient Jewish culture, women’s testimony was not admissible in court, yet God chose them to be the primary witnesses to this world-changing event, subverting cultural norms and underscoring the universal, unadulterated nature of the good news.
• The act itself anticipates the symbolic rolling away of barriers between God and humanity that Christ's resurrection achieves, moving from old covenant strictures to new covenant freedom and life.

Luke 24 2 Commentary

Luke 24:2 serves as the dramatic entry point to the resurrection narrative, moving from the sorrowful expectation of burial rites to the bewildered realization of an empty tomb. The mere discovery of the "stone rolled away" is, in itself, not proof of resurrection but rather an essential catalyst. It is the undeniable physical anomaly that challenges all human assumptions about Jesus' fate, compelling the women, and subsequently the disciples, to seek an explanation. This seemingly simple detail highlights the immediate, tangible evidence that contradicted their preconceived notions of death's finality. It asserts divine power effortlessly overriding human efforts to seal and secure the grave (guards and seals), and sets a profound theological trajectory from grief and mourning to revelation and joy. The removal of the stone was not for Jesus to exit, but for humanity to enter and witness the empty tomb, initiating the process of understanding His triumph over death.