The testimony of so many different witnesses had not yet convinced the Apostles: when they had heard that "Jesus was alive, and had been seen of Mary Magdalene, they believed not. And when the other women came with their testimony," their words seemed to the Apostles as "idle tales, and they believed them not."

Still all that they heard was not without some effect; for Peter was anxious to visit the sepulchre again: "Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves." But he saw nothing more; "and he departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass." We learn from the Scriptures that Peter was the first of the Apostles who did see the Lord after His resurrection; but how and when this meeting took place, we are not told; and it is most likely that it took place now, whilst Peter was returning from his second visit to the sepulchre, "wondering in himself at that which was come to pass." What joy it must have been to Peter, to see that his Lord and Master was indeed alive, and to be able to receive forgiveness for the sin he had committed, in denying all knowledge of Him. What passed between our Lord and Peter on this occasion, is not written down in either of the Gospels; but we may be sure that Jesus spake kindly and lovingly to Peter. It is no wonder to find that ever afterwards, Peter devoted himself heartily to the service of God. After this interview with Peter, Jesus appeared to two of the disciples, who were not also Apostles: "he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country." To Peter, Jesus probably appeared in His own person, so as to be recognized at once: on the occasion of which we are now to speak, He concealed Himself under the form of a "stranger." St. Luke tells us, that two of the disciples went that same day, (the first day of the week,) to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs; that is, about seven miles and a half, for eight furlongs make a mile. And, very naturally, "they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden, that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one with another, and are sad?" Jesus asked not such questions for His own information, but to enable Him to show the truth to the disciples, who were surprised that any person, even a stranger, should be ignorant of the wonderful events which had happened. "And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the Chief Priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not." In this account of the matter, given by these two to a stranger, as they supposed, we see the state of doubt and perplexity in which all the disciples were: a little more faith would have set their minds at rest: but it is evident that though, whilst He lived they had believed Jesus to be the true Messiah, who should redeem Israel, His death and burial had so far shaken their belief, that they could not at once feel sure that He had risen from the dead, though they could not altogether reject that idea.

When these two disciples had ended their account, they must have been somewhat surprised at being reproached for their unwillingness to believe all that their Prophets had spoken concerning the Messiah; for Jesus, still in His character of a stranger, "said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken"! And then He reminded them, that the Scriptures had expressly said, that Christ must suffer death on earth, before He could enter into glory in heaven: saying, "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?" that is, ought not these very things which trouble you to have happened just as they have done, to fulfil the Scriptures, and to show that this was indeed the promised Messiah.

When Jesus had shown the two disciples that want of faith alone caused their perplexity, He graciously went on, "and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded (or explained) unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." No wonder these disciples, whose faith must have been strengthened by the explanations of their unknown companion, were unwilling so soon to part with one so learned in the Scriptures; and, as it was near evening, they urged Him to go in and abide with them for the night. At their earnest entreaty, "he went in to tarry with them." Emmaus, where our Lord now was, was a village about seven or eight miles to the west of Jerusalem; the dwelling-place, probably, of the two disciples whose guest He was. "And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them." Jesus probably did what He had done at the last Passover Supper, when He appointed Bread and Wine to be taken and received, in "continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby."

At any rate, by this act, Jesus made Himself known to Cleopas and his companion: "their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?" They had felt great interest in the conversation and teaching of the stranger, and now they seem to feel that all he had said should have shown them that One Who thus taught could be no other than the Lord Himself. Their next thought was to tell these great and glad tidings to the rest of the disciples; and though it was drawing towards night, and they had already had a long walk, "they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem,"—setting us a good example not to let any personal inconvenience prevent us from doing anything that we feel it is our duty to do. When they reached Jerusalem, they "found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." Peter had by this time related how the Lord had spoken to him, and his testimony had convinced his fellow disciples that their Lord had indeed risen from the dead. Cleopas and his companion now bore witness to the same fact, and "told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread." But some of the disciples do not seem to have been convinced even yet, for St. Mark says of these two, "they went and told it unto the residue, neither believed they them."

"Then the same day at evening," (nearly 6 o'clock,) still being the first day of the week, "when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus: as they thus spake, Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." Notwithstanding all that had already past, it seems that the greater part, at least, of the disciples could not believe that this was really and truly the Lord, in the same body as He had borne before His death: "they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet, and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord."

Doubts, however, still lingered in the minds of some, and these our Lord graciously condescended to remove; for "while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained."

"Remit" here means forgive; sins remitted are sins forgiven. To "retain" means just the contrary—not forgiven sins; "retained" means sins that are not forgiven, of which the guilt still rests upon those who have committed them. Jesus did not, of course, mean that His Apostles, or any human being, had power to forgive or remit the smallest sin committed against God; none can forgive sin, but God only. But our Lord meant, that when, by the teaching of the Apostles, poor sinners should be brought to believe the Gospel and repent, they, the Apostles, might safely declare unto them the blessed truth, that their sins are forgiven, and done away with, for the sake of all that Jesus Christ has done for us.

But in the same way, the Apostles must warn all who will not believe and repent, that their sins cannot be forgiven; but that their guilt remains, and must hereafter meet with due punishment.