Luke 24:16

16 but something kept them from recognizing him.

Luke 24:16 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 24:16

But their eyes were holden,
&c] The Ethiopic version adds, "and were covered"; and the Arabic version renders it, "now he had veiled their eyes", ascribing it to Christ; and the Persic version renders it, "and the eyes of the disciples were shut": to me it seems, that their eyes: were held downwards; or they kept looking upon the ground as they walked, which was a posture suitable to their melancholy spirits; and there might be a peculiar influence of divine power and providence, so disposing them, that they did not look up to Christ their new fellow traveller, who walked on with them: and this was so ordered, that they should not know him; that so they might not be surprised at once, as they would have been, had they looked at him, and discerned who he was; and that they might converse the more freely with him; and that he might convince them of their stupidity and unbelief, by proper arguments.

Luke 24:16 In-Context

14 and they were talking with each other about all the things that had happened.

15 As they talked and discussed, Yeshua himself came up and walked along with them,

16 but something kept them from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, "What are you talking about with each other as you walk along?" They stopped short, their faces downcast;

18 and one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only person staying in Yerushalayim that doesn't know the things that have been going on there the last few days?"