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Easter · Year A

Third Sunday of Easter

April 19, 2026

The Supper at Emmaus, Rembrandt
The Supper at Emmaus, Rembrandt, 1648Musée du Louvre, Paris
The moment of recognition at a bare table, with the light coming from behind him and the servant still unaware.When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and their eyes were opened.RembrandtRembrandt, who painted this scene again and again and finally made it quiet.Musée du Louvre, ParisThe Louvre, Paris.Musée du Louvre, Paris
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 24:13-35Lk 24:13-35
Epistle1 Pet. 1:17-251 Pt 1:17-25
Old TestamentActs 2:14a, 36-41
PsalterPs. 116:1-14Ps 116:1-14

Overview & Insights

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?” (Luke 24:32)

The longest of the resurrection narratives is also the one shaped most like a service: scripture expounded on the road, then bread taken, blessed, broken and given (v. 30), the same four verbs Luke used at the feeding of the crowd (9:16) and at the last supper (22:19), and then recognition. He is careful to say that the travelers’ eyes were held shut (v. 16) until that moment, and that he vanished at it, so the story explains how the risen Christ is present to a church that will not see him. Only Cleopas is named; the second traveler has been guessed at for centuries without result. Their summary in vv. 19-24 is the earliest form of Christian disappointment, we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel, and the answer they receive is not evidence but interpretation, beginning with Moses and all the prophets (v. 27). The seven-mile walk back to Jerusalem at night measures the change.

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Take it further: Luke 24:13-35

Commentary

Commentary on Luke 24:13-35Commentary on Lk 24:13-35 Working Preacher (Luther Seminary)

Lutheran exegetical anchor on why belief in the risen Jesus came only through his appearing, not self-evidence.

Luke 24:13-35 CommentaryLk 24:13-35 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching-focused reading of the Emmaus encounter for this exact pericope.

Breaking Bread: SALT's Lectionary Commentary for Easter 3 SALT Project

Ecumenical progressive-Christian lens on Christ recognized in the breaking of bread.

The Road to Emmaus Explained Catholic Productions (Dr. Brant Pitre)

Catholic voice tying the Emmaus meal to the Eucharist.

Danger, Laughter, Easter 3 (A) Sermons That Work (The Episcopal Church)

Episcopal preaching voice on Christ's offered body on the Emmaus road.

Background & Word Study

Gospel of Luke Summary, Part 2 (Luke 10-24)Gospel of Lk Summary, Part 2 (Lk 10-24) BibleProject

Animated overview placing chapter 24 within Luke's larger literary design.

Luke 24 InterlinearLk 24 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear text for word-level study of the Emmaus narrative.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Luke 24Catena on Lk 24 catenabible.com

Patristic catena of comments on the Emmaus chapter.

Sermons & Reflections

In the Breaking of the Bread Journey with Jesus

Lectionary essay for this exact Sunday (Amy Frykholm) reflecting on Luke 24:13-35.

Worship & Prayers

Week 2 - Third Sunday of Easter, Year A - Preaching Notes UMC Discipleship Ministries

Per-Sunday worship and preaching planning notes for this text.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave #352 - Third Sunday of Easter Working Preacher Sermon Brainwave

Podcast episode covering all four Third-Sunday-of-Easter Year A texts, including Luke 24:13-35.

Art & Music

Third Sunday of Easter, Year A - texts and art Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary

Vanderbilt's per-Sunday page pairing artwork with the day's texts.

Study Hub

Luke 24:13-49 resource indexLk 24:13-49 resource index Textweek

Curated link index for further study of the Emmaus passage.

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