Verses 1-12
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See Matthew 28 and Mark 16 for commentary.
Verses 13-27
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Don't be slow to believe in all that Scripture says.
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But as with the disciples, they needed to have the Scriptures explained—and to see Jesus revealed in all of the Scriptures—before they could understand and believe what they needed to.
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When the Word is explained, belief comes. Seek not only to read the Word, but also to understand it. Understanding will encourage your faith!
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Verses 28-35
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He walked with them and even sat down to eat with them, and it wasn't until He broke bread that they recognized Him.
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God works in our lives in many ways and at all times. The problem is that we don't recognize Him. We can get so focused on what we've lost or what makes us sad, that we cannot see where Christ is at work.
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But when we take moments to slow down, even to sit and break bread in remembrance of Him, it helps to give us eyes to see Him in our lives presently.
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Take moments, often, to slow down and be mindful of Christ. This is important to bring you joy and clarity!
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Verse 32. And their hearts burned when they heard Him speak.
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The disciples did not yet believe in all the Scriptures about Christ, even when Christ Himself was explaining it to them.
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Jeremiah said, in a moment of resistance to God, “His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9).
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When you're hearing the truth of the Word, but you're not believing or acting on it, it affects you, even to feeling like a burn sometimes—a fire of conviction that is meant to move you to believe and obey.
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Don't resist the conviction to believe and obey the Word! As long as you are resistant to believe, it will only get harder and harder to continue as you are, until you yield.
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As Jesus said to Paul, “Why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5).
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Verses 36-43
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This demonstrates that Jesus' resurrection was physical. He physically rose from the dead in a body that could vanish and reappear, and yet He could be touched and handled; and He could even eat regular food.
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The body that Jesus is shown to have here—a glorified and celestial but physical body—is the kind of body that we will receive when Jesus returns (1 John 3:2, Philippians 3:21).
Verses 44-45
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We cannot comprehending the Scriptures on our own. God grants us understanding, so that we can comprehend. Pray for understanding of the Word!
Verses 46-49
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Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, anyone in the world can be given the chance to be saved. Salvation is being granted the ability to stop sinning and the forgiveness of sins committed.
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When you share the gospel, make sure you teach that God both forgives us of sin and calls us to turn away from sin we are committing.
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Notice that Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit in this moment (John 20:22), but there was power from the Spirit that would be given to them ten days later, on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-4).
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Know that the Spirit comes to live in us when we are saved, but additional power from the Spirit can be given also. Walk in obedience to the Word and to the task of reaching others for Christ, and you will have the power from the Spirit that you need (Acts 1:8, 5:32).
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Verses 50-53
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See Acts 1 for commentary.