This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of Easter. The return of the two disciples from Emmaus returns the focus to Jerusalem which is the “center” of the Luke-Acts narrative. In the gospel all roads lead to Jerusalem. In Acts all roads lead from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. Upon their return they find “the eleven and those with them. The travelers are greeted with the news abuzz in the room: The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”

As an aside, Luke recounts the tradition of Jesus’ appearance to Simon (the Apostle Peter’s original name) as does Mark, although neither record the appearance in either gospel. This also is in concert with an even older report from 1 Cor 15:4-5 “that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared to Kephas [Simon], then to the Twelve.” In all cases, the accounts preserve Peter’s role as leader of the Apostles. It is only after the travelers hear of the appearance to Peter do they have the chance to share their experience of the risen Jesus.

Jesus had predicted his passion and death – and that those predictions have come to pass is apparent to the small community of disciples sequestered away in the upper room, unsure of all that has passed, and even more unsure of what awaits them. But Jesus had also predicted his resurrection. We need to remember that the disciples have heard several accounts of the Resurrected Jesus: from women, Simon and others (cf. 34:22-27) and the disciples from the Emmaus road have returned to proclaim: “The Lord is risen, indeed!” (v.34). It is at this point that Jesus appears among them in the Upper Room. Their reaction is less than stellar: But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost (v.37). 

Only in the later Lucan account of the Ascension (vv.50–53) do the Upper Room fear, amazement, and doubt (vv.37, 41) give way to worship, great joy, and obedience.

For the disciples it is a liminal moment. They are caught betwixt and between what they believed was possible and what is now being revealed. Even though Jesus had told them he would be raised from the dead, they were never quite sure what that meant and now they are face-to-face with the reality of the Resurrection.

Culpepper [484] offers that his passage can be understood as a story told in three parts:

(1) proofs of the Resurrection (vv.36-43),

(2) interpretation of the Scriptures and commissioning of the disciples (vv.44-49), and

(3) the departure (Ascension) of Jesus (vv.50–53; with this last section just outside the boundaries of our Sunday gospel)

Image credit: Maesta altar piece, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308, Museo dell’Opera Metropolitana del Duomo, Siena | Public Domain