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Easter Season · Third Sunday of Easter · Year A

Luke 24:13-35

The Road to Emmaus

April 19, 2026

Supper at Emmaus, Caravaggio
Supper at Emmaus, Caravaggio, c. 1601National Gallery, London
The moment of recognition, with one disciple's arms flung wide towards the viewer and a basket of fruit tipping off the edge of the table.Their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he vanished from their sight. The painting is the half second before the vanishing.CaravaggioThe painter who put street models and raking light into altarpieces, killed a man in a brawl, and changed European painting in under twenty years.National Gallery, LondonFounded in 1824 by buying one banker's collection, and deliberately placed in Trafalgar Square so that people from every part of London could walk to it.National Gallery, London
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 24:13-35Lk 24:13-35
Epistle1 Pet. 1:17-231 Pt 1:17-23
Old TestamentActs 2:14a, 36-41
PsalterPs. 116:1-4, 12-19Ps 116:1-4, 12-19

Overview & Insights

“But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21)

The geography carries much of the meaning. Two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem, and everything in this Gospel since 9:51 has been aimed at that city, so the journey runs in the wrong direction. Their own summary of events in verses 19 to 24 is accurate and reasonably complete, the women’s report included, and it leaves them despondent anyway, which is the narrative’s way of saying that information was never the missing thing. The sentence at verse 21, that they had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel, is the only place in the New Testament where that hope is spoken of in the past tense. What changes them is exposition beginning from Moses and the prophets (v. 27) and then a gesture at table. Their return the same night, seven miles in the dark, measures what the recognition cost them in prudence.

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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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