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 pa.s.s there in these days? 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 G.o.d and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found _it_ even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then said he unto them,
O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
And they drew nigh unto the village whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
And it came to pa.s.s, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed _it_, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things _were done_ in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread: neither believed they them.
And as they thus spake, the same day at evening, being the first _day_ of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were a.s.sembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them,
Peace _be_ unto you.
But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them,
Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them _his_ hands, and _his_ feet, and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them.
Have ye here any meat?
And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took _it_, and did eat before them. Then said Jesus to them again,
Peace _be_ unto you: as _my_ Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on _them_, and said unto them,
Receive ye the holy Ghost. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; _and_ whose soever _sins_ ye retain, they are retained.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Dydimus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But, he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: _then_ came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, as they sat at meat, and said,
Peace be unto you;
and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Then saith he to Thomas,
Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust _it_ into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my G.o.d. Jesus said unto him,
Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed _are_ they that have not seen, and _yet_ have believed.
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying,
All hail.
And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them,
Be not afraid; go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
CHAPTER LXXIX.
JESUS APPEARS TO THE ELEVEN; THEN TO FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN AT ONCE.
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Sea of Galilee.]
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, _even_ unto the end of the world. Amen.
After that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once.
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he _himself_.
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the _sons_ of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the sh.o.r.e: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them,
Children, have ye any meat?
They answered him, No, And he said unto them,
Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.
They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the mult.i.tude of fishes.
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, it is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt _his_ fisher"s coat _unto him_, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them,
Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.