Luke 24:52 kjv
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Luke 24:52 nkjv
And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
Luke 24:52 niv
Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
Luke 24:52 esv
And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
Luke 24:52 nlt
So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.
Luke 24 52 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 16:11 | "You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy..." | Joy found in God's presence. |
| Isa 35:10 | "and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; with everlasting joy on their heads..." | Redeemed experiencing everlasting joy. |
| Matt 2:11 | "...they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him..." | Magi worship Jesus as King. |
| Matt 14:33 | "And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God.'" | Disciples worship Jesus after miracle. |
| Matt 28:9 | "And behold, Jesus met them and said, 'Greetings!' And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him." | Women worship resurrected Jesus. |
| Matt 28:17 | "And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted." | Disciples worship the resurrected Lord. |
| John 16:22 | "So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." | Promise of enduring joy post-resurrection. |
| Luke 24:49 | "And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." | Command to return to Jerusalem and wait. |
| Acts 1:4 | "And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father..." | Repetition of command to wait in Jerusalem. |
| Acts 1:9-11 | "And when he had said these things... he was lifted up... 'This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the..." | Description of Jesus' ascension. |
| Acts 2:46 | "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts" | Early believers in Jerusalem marked by joy. |
| Acts 8:8 | "So there was much joy in that city." | Great joy accompanying the Gospel. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every..." | Jesus' exaltation leading to universal worship. |
| Heb 1:6 | "And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God’s angels worship him.'" | Angels instructed to worship Christ. |
| Heb 4:14 | "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God..." | Jesus ascended as the great High Priest. |
| Heb 7:26 | "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." | Jesus exalted to the highest place. |
| 1 Pet 3:22 | "who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him." | Christ's ascension and enthronement. |
| Rev 5:12-14 | "...Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!...Amen." | Heavenly worship of the ascended Lamb. |
| Rom 15:13 | "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." | Joy as a gift of the Holy Spirit. |
| Jude 1:24 | "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy..." | Hope of presentation with great joy before God's glory. |
Luke 24 verses
Luke 24 52 Meaning
Luke 24:52 describes the immediate reaction of Jesus' disciples following His ascension into heaven. After witnessing Him depart, they performed an act of worship toward Him, acknowledging His divine nature and supreme authority. Subsequently, they obeyed His earlier instruction by returning to Jerusalem. This return was not marked by sorrow or confusion, but by profound and abiding joy, rooted in the understanding of His resurrection, His sovereign power, and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24 52 Context
Luke 24:52 concludes Luke's Gospel, setting the stage for the Book of Acts. The entire chapter focuses on the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, emphasizing His living reality, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning His suffering, resurrection, and mission (Luke 24:25-27, 44-47). The preceding verse (Luke 24:51) describes Jesus' physical separation from the disciples through His ascension. This immediate verse shows the disciples' theological response to witnessing His departure. They were previously sorrowful and confused (Luke 24:17-21, 37-38), but the revelation of the scriptures (Luke 24:45), the reality of the resurrection, and now the ascension have profoundly transformed their understanding and emotional state. The command to return to Jerusalem (Luke 24:49) links directly to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which Luke details at the beginning of Acts (Acts 1:4-8).
Luke 24 52 Word analysis
- And they (καὶ αὐτοὶ, kai autoi): Connects this action to the previous event of the ascension. "They" refers to the eleven disciples and others present with them (Luke 24:33).
- worshiped (προσκυνήσαντες, proskynesantes): A participle from proskyneō, meaning "to prostrate oneself in homage," "to reverence," or "to worship." This term is consistently used in the Bible for divine adoration, particularly of God. Its application to Jesus here, post-ascension, signifies a profound theological understanding by the disciples of Jesus' unique divine identity and supreme authority, explicitly recognizing Him as worthy of such worship. This act serves as a declaration against any contemporary beliefs that might have reduced the Messiah to a mere prophet or human king; He is now seen as fully divine and Lord.
- Him (αὐτόν, auton): Refers directly to Jesus. The object of their worship is unequivocally Jesus Himself, solidifying His divine status in the minds of His followers.
- and returned (καὶ ὑπέστρεψαν, kai hypestrepsan): Indicates an immediate and obedient action. They did not linger in doubt or despair, but acted in accordance with the prior instructions of Jesus (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4).
- to Jerusalem (εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ, eis Hierousalēm): The city where the prophecies of suffering and resurrection were fulfilled (Luke 24:18-21, 44), and where the promised "power from on high" (the Holy Spirit) was to be received, initiating their global mission (Acts 1:8).
- with great joy (μετὰ χαρᾶς μεγάλης, meta charas megalēs): Describes their profound emotional state. This is not mere happiness but an overwhelming, enduring spiritual joy that triumphs over physical separation. It stems from comprehending the Messiah's mission, the victory of the resurrection, Jesus' exaltation, and the promise of the Holy Spirit and His future return. This stands in stark contrast to their previous sadness (Luke 24:17).
Luke 24 52 Bonus section
The specific setting of the disciples' worship and return "to Jerusalem" is highly symbolic for Luke. Jerusalem, the place of rejection and crucifixion for Jesus, becomes the geographical and spiritual birthplace of the Church. This highlights a theme in Luke-Acts: God’s redemptive plan often unfolds in unexpected places, turning points of despair into starting points of divine blessing. The phrase "great joy" can also be understood as a foretaste of the Holy Spirit, even before Pentecost, as the Spirit is often linked with joy throughout the New Testament (e.g., Gal 5:22). The worship described is not passive awe but active reverence, demonstrating their acceptance of Jesus' new, exalted status, acknowledging Him as Lord. This culminating worship scene at the end of the Gospel bookends neatly with scenes of praise and worship at the beginning, especially by Simeon and Anna, establishing worship as a consistent response to God's salvation.
Luke 24 52 Commentary
Luke 24:52 serves as a pivotal concluding statement in Luke's Gospel, capturing the disciples' transformative response to the events of Jesus' resurrection and ascension. Their act of worship is immensely significant, directly addressing Jesus with an adoration typically reserved for God alone. This affirms His divine nature and heavenly authority, a profound shift for Jewish monotheists. The return to Jerusalem, far from being a retreat of despair, demonstrates their immediate and hopeful obedience to Jesus' commission and their anticipation of the Holy Spirit. Their "great joy" highlights the supernatural nature of their peace and understanding. Despite Jesus' physical departure, their joy springs from the full revelation of His identity, His victory over death, His glorious exaltation, and the certainty of His promised empowering Spirit. This ending sets the perfect stage for the explosive beginning of the church in the book of Acts, born out of worship, obedience, and supernatural joy.