Luke 24:11 - These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them.

Generated Verse: Luke 24:11

What does "Luke 24:11" mean?


Luke 24:11 states, "These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them." This refers to the initial reaction of the apostles (specifically, the men who were followers of Jesus) to the news brought by the women who had gone to Jesus' tomb on the morning of the resurrection. Let's break it down:

"These words": This refers to the news/report given by the women. The women had returned from the empty tomb and told the apostles that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that Jesus was alive.

"Seemed to them to be nonsense" (or "idle tales" in some translations): The Greek word translated as "nonsense" or "idle tales" (lēros) suggests something frivolous, foolish, absurd, or unfounded. Essentially, the apostles dismissed the women's report as unbelievable and lacking credibility. It didn't make logical sense to them based on their understanding of death and the world.

"And they didn't believe them": This is a direct consequence of the previous statement. Because the apostles thought the women's words were nonsense, they simply didn't believe what they were being told. This is important to note: the apostles, who later became key witnesses of Jesus' resurrection, initially doubted the news.

In essence, the verse highlights:

The apostles' initial disbelief: They found the idea of resurrection too extraordinary to accept at face value.
The societal context: Women's testimony was often undervalued in that culture, which likely contributed to the apostles' skepticism.
The transformation that occurred: This initial disbelief is contrasted later in the chapter by Jesus appearing to them and proving his resurrection, leading them to believe. It emphasizes the radical change in their perspective. The verse underscores the monumental and almost unbelievable nature of the resurrection message, even to those closest to Jesus.

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