The appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem constitutes Jesus’ third resurrection appearance. Of the first two only one is actually narrated (the appearance to the two on the road to Emmaus, vv. 13–28), while the other is merely reported (the appearance to Simon Peter, v. 34). The appearance to the Eleven disciples will be Luke’s second narrated appearance of the risen Christ and it, like the first one, will culminate in an explanation of the relevance of Scripture for understanding the person and ministry of Jesus. These two appearances are also similar in that both times Jesus eats and both times the unbelief and incomprehension on the part of the disciples give way to belief and understanding.

24:36–43 The second narrated appearance follows right on the heels of the first. While the t…