Luke 24:22

Luke 24:22

In Luke 24:22, the earliest witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection speak of astonishment stirred not only by the empty tomb but by a surprising group among “our company” of followers. This line sits within Luke’s resurrection narrative after the women report finding the tomb empty and angels proclaiming Jesus alive. The phrase “early at the sepulchre” highlights the immediacy and urgency of the first discoveries. The women’s testimony is central in Luke’s witness account, and here the male disciples acknowledge that some of their peers were surprised—an important admission that belief would not be instantaneous or uniform. Culturally, Second Temple Judaism valued women’s testimony less in legal matters, yet Luke elevates their credibility by foregrounding their message as a catalyst for belief among the male disciples. The reference to “certain women” underscores that the resurrection shatters expectations and expands the circle of witnesses beyond the inner group. Theologically, it foreshadows the theme that God’s new thing breaks conventional boundaries and that the resurrection is verified through multiple testimony strands, including women’s early reports.

This verse foregrounds witness and astonishment as part of the resurrection drama. It shows that belief begins with women’s testimony and then moves to the male disciples, illustrating that Jesus’ resurrection defies human expectations and conventional norms about who is credible or trustworthy. There is a subtle affirmation that God honors faithful, earnest seekers who go first to the tomb, even when the world discounts their account. Theologically, the verse hints at the broader pattern of God’s redemptive work: surprising witnesses, surprising messages, and the reversal of sorrow into wonder. It also reinforces the certainty of the resurrection as something that unsettles and astonishes, not something to be dismissed. The apostles’ astonishment invites readers to examine their own boundaries of belief and to consider how God might surprise them today.

This verse invites us to value testimonies that may seem unlikely by human standards. Like the women, we can begin with honest questions and seek God earnestly, especially when reality seems unresolved. Practical takeaway: cultivate a habit of attentive listening to those on the margins—women, the young, the overlooked—because God often uses unexpected voices to awaken faith. When life offers “astonishment” moments—empty opportunities, failed plans, or unanswered prayers—we can resist rushing to skepticism and instead follow the evidence to Jesus, who meets us in our questions. Sharing your own grappling questions within a trust-filled community can be transformative, as it did for the early believers. Let astonishment become a doorway rather than a derailment: pursue the evidence, remain open, and allow God to expand your circle of belief beyond your preconceived norms.

Cross-References: Matthew 28:1-8; John 20:11-18; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:9-11; Acts 1:3