Jesus Appears to the Disciples in Jerusalem (36-43)

As they were comparing notes, Jesus appeared, standing in the middle of them, saying three words, “Peace to you.” Of course, they were startled and frightened and thought they were seeing a spirit (36-37). Jesus' pattern is obvious: He always sent His word ahead of His appearance. In other words, He began by revealing Himself first through the word, then in person. Jesus revealed Himself here but only after they were told He was risen, in fulfillment of Moses and the Prophets. It was after they heard the word that they witnessed Jesus.

After the word, Jesus showed His hands and feet and allowed Himself to be touched, so they knew and could confirm He was both flesh and bone, not spirit (38-40). The disciples were still struggling with belief; it was hard for them to imagine He was anything but spirit. A resurrected body that could do what Jesus could do was hard to fathom; how could this be anything but spirit? Not being able to decide, they were left astonished and joyous. As they were trying to make sense of it all and decide whether Jesus was spirit or His body had been raised, Jesus asked for something to eat. They gave Him fish, and He ate it in front of them. Indeed, an odd thing for a spirit to do (41-43).

Jesus Makes Sense of the Scriptures (44-49)

Jesus then retold once again all the critical details prophesied concerning Him in the Law and Prophets. He opened their minds so they could finally understand how the Old Testament Scriptures worked. He showed them how He had come to know who He was and what His assignment had been by reading the Old Testament throughout His life (44-45). Jesus quoted the portions of Scripture that described His suffering, death, and third-day Resurrection. Jesus quoted how the prophets had predicted a whole change of mind, and life (“repentance”) would be preached and forgiveness of sins proclaimed in every nation, beginning in Jerusalem (46-47).

Jesus commissioned His disciples to be witnesses of the Scripture and His own life, ministry, death, and Resurrection (48). Jesus promised right then that He would send the Holy Spirit upon them, to clothe them with power to do the witnessing and fulfill the commission He had given (49). 

The Ascension (50-53) 

Some 40 days later, Jesus took them back to the area where He had raised Lazarus from the dead, to Bethany. He lifted up His hands, blessed them, and was carried into Heaven, separating Himself from them (50-51). As He ascended, the disciples worshiped and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, where they made a habit of going to the Temple to worship Jesus (52-53).