Luke 24:30
in Luke 24While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them.
KJV
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
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This verse in Luke 24
Commentary
15 notes on this verse(ut sup.) They lay out a table, they bring food. And God whom they had not known in the expounding of Scriptures, they knew in the breaking of bread; for it follows, And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave it to them.
This site's exposition
He took bread
on Luke 24:30-31
At the table He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them, the same actions as at the feeding of the crowd and at the Last Supper. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus, the restraint of verse 16 now lifted, and He disappeared from their sight. He leaves without walking out the door, and at verse 36 he stands among the disciples in the same way.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Remember, though, dearly beloved, how the Lord Jesus desired to be recognized in the breaking of bread, by those whose eyes had been kept till then from recognizing him. The faithful know what I'm talking about. They know Christ in the breaking of bread. It isn't every loaf of bread, you see, but the one that receives Christ's blessing and becomes the body of Christ. That's where they recognized him. They were overjoyed and went straight to the others. They found whom they already knew. By telling what they had seen, they added to the gospel. It was all said, all done, all written down. And it has reached us.
(de Con. Ev. lib. iii. c. 25.) For they walked not with their eyes shut, but there was something within them which did not permit them to know that which they saw, which a mist, darkness, or some kind of moisture, frequently occasions. Not that the Lord was not able to transform His flesh that it should be really a different form from that which they were accustomed to behold; since in truth also before His passion, He was transfigured in the mount, so that His face was bright as the sun. But it was not so now. For we do not unfitly take this obstacle in the sight to have been caused by Satan, that Jesus might not be known. But still it was so permitted by Christ up to the sacrament of the bread, that by partaking of the unity of His body, the obstacle of the enemy might be understood to be removed, so that Christ might be known.
Even when the army surrounded Elisha a voice proved the key to the eyes of the shepherd. When the disciples' eyes were held closed, bread too was the key whereby their eyes were opened to recognize the omniscient: saddened eyes beheld a vision of joy …
(de Qu. Ev. lib. ii. c. 51.) Now this relates not to falsehood. For not every thing we feign is a falsehood, but only when we feign that which means nothing. But when our feigning has reference to a certain meaning it is not a falsehood, but a kind of figure of the truth. Otherwise all the things figuratively spoken by wise and holy men, or even by our Lord Himself, must be accounted falsehoods. For to the experienced understanding truth consists not in certain words, but as words so also deeds are feigned without falsehood to signify a particular thing. (ut sup.) Or because the Lord feigned as if He would go farther, when He was accompanying the disciples, expounding to them the sacred Scriptures, who knew not whether it was He, what does He mean to imply but that through the duty of hospitality men may arrive at a knowledge of Him; that when He has departed from mankind far above the heavens, He is still with those who perform this duty to His servants. He therefore holds to Christ, that He should not go far from him, whoever being taught in the word communicates in all good things to him who teaches. (Gal. 6:6.) For they were taught in the word when He expounded to them the Scriptures. And because they followed hospitality, Him whom they knew not in the expounding of the Scriptures, they know in the breaking of bread. For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Rom. 2:13.)
And no one should doubt that his being recognized in the breaking of bread is the sacrament, which brings us together in recognizing him.
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
They set the table, they offer food, and the God whom they had not recognized in the exposition of Sacred Scripture, they recognize in the breaking of bread.
Second, as regards the open recognition of Christ, he adds: And it came to pass, while he sat at table with them, he took bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. For this was the custom of Christ, that he always …
And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. Whom they did not recognize in the explanation of Holy Scripture, …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And it came to pass as he sat at meat with them,.... When they were sat down at table with the provisions before them: he took bread and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them; as if he was the master of the house, when he was both a guest, and a stranger, and as he used to do at common meals, when he ate with his disciples; and thus he did, when he fed five thousand at one time, and four at another, Mat 14:19 see the notes there. See Gill on Mat 14:
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
He took bread - This was the office of the master and father of a family, and this was our Lord’s usual custom among his disciples. Those whom Christ lodges with he feeds, and feeds too with bread that himself hath blessed, and this feeding not only strengthens, but also enlightens the soul.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The history contained in these verses, is not found in any other Gospel but that of Luke. Of all the eleven appearances of Christ after His resurrection, none perhaps is so interesting as the one described in this passage. Let us mark, in these verses — what encouragement there is to believers to speak to one another about Christ . We are told of two disciples walking together to Emmaus, and talking of their Master's crucifixion. And then come the remarkable words, "As they talked and discussed these things with each other — Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them." Conference on spiritual subjects is a most important means of grace. As iron sharpens iron — so does exchange of thoughts with brethren, sharpen a believer's soul. It brings down a special blessing on all who make a practice of it. The striking words of Malachi were meant for the Church in every age — "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other — and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. 'They will be Mine,' says the LORD Almighty, 'in the day when I make up My jewels.'" (Malachi 3:16, 17.) What do we ourselves know of spiritual conversation with other Christians? Perhaps we read our Bibles, and pray in private, and use public means of grace. It is all well, very well. But if we stop short here — then we neglect a great privilege and have yet much to learn. We ought to "consider how to provoke one another to love and good works." We ought to "exhort" and "edify one another." (Hebrews 10:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:11.) Have we no time for spiritual conversation? Let us think again. The quantity of time wasted on frivolous, trifling, and unprofitable talk — is fearfully great. Do we find nothing to say on spiritual subjects?
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The history contained in these verses, is not found in any other Gospel but that of Luke. Of all the eleven appearances of Christ after His resurrection, none perhaps is so interesting as the one described in this passage. Let us mark, in these verses — what encouragement there is to believers to speak to one another about Christ . We are told of two disciples walking together to Emmaus, and talking of their Master's crucifixion.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Sat at meat - Reclined at the table, or while he was at supper. He took bread and blessed it ... - This was the office of the master of a feast, and perhaps this first attracted particularly their attention. Though he was in “their” house, yet he acted as “master” of the feast, as he used to do with them before his death. Perhaps, also, as he “gave” them the bread, they observed the “prints” in his hands, and they knew that it was Jesus. This was not a “sacramental,” but a common supper; yet our Saviour sought a blessing on the food, and thus set an example to all his followers to acknowledge God in their daily gifts, and to seek his benediction in all their enjoyments.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐγένετο | egeneto | it came to pass | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐν | en | during | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατακλιθῆναι | kataklithenai | reclining | G2625 → | 5 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| μετ᾽ | met᾽ | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| λαβὼν | labon | having taken | G2983 → | 257 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἄρτον | arton | bread | G740 → | 97 times |
| εὐλόγησεν | eulogesen | He blessed [it] | G2127 → | 41 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| κλάσας | klasas | having broken [it] | G2806 → | |
| ἐπεδίδου | epedidou | He was giving [it] | G1929 → | 9 times |
| αὐτοῖς. | autois | to them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐγένετοit came to pass
egenetoG1096 →667 times
ἐνduring
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
κατακλιθῆναιreclining
kataklithenaiG2625 →5 times
αὐτὸνof Him
autonG846 →5565 times
μετ᾽with
met᾽G3326 →461 times
αὐτῶνthem
autonG846 →5565 times
λαβὼνhaving taken
labonG2983 →257 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἄρτονbread
artonG740 →97 times
εὐλόγησενHe blessed [it]
eulogesenG2127 →41 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
κλάσαςhaving broken [it]
klasasG2806 →
ἐπεδίδουHe was giving [it]
epedidouG1929 →9 times
αὐτοῖς.to them.
autoisG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 22:19And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 11:23–29
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
- 1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
- Mark 14:22–24
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
- Luke 22:20
In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.
- Matthew 26:26–28
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:23–29
Through
Matthew 14:19And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and…
it leads to
- Acts 27:35
After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 4:4–5
For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Samuel 9:13
As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the…
- Acts 27:35
Where this verse is studied
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About Luke

This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 234.2; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, LETTER 149; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 24; Ephrem the Syrian, HYMNS ON PARADISE 15.4; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 23; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748).
