Cleopas (the Emmaus traveler)
The Emmaus traveler who met the risen one
Also known as: Cleopas, Kleopas, Clopas
Cleopas was one of two disciples who met the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus on Easter Sunday. He is known for his conversation with Jesus, whom he did not recognize until Jesus broke bread. His testimony confirms the reality of the resurrection and shows how Jesus opened the Scriptures to his followers.
Key events
The Journey to Emmaus
Cleopas and another disciple walked to the village of Emmaus, about 11 kilometers from Jerusalem, and talked together about everything that had happened to Jesus.
13Now that same day two of them were walking to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
Καὶ ἰδοὺ δύο ἐξ αὐτῶν ⸂ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἦσαν πορευόμενοι⸃ εἰς κώμην ἀπέχουσαν σταδίους ἑξήκοντα ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλήμ, ᾗ ὄνομα Ἐμμαοῦς,
14and they were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
καὶ αὐτοὶ ὡμίλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους περὶ πάντων τῶν συμβεβηκότων τούτων.
15As they talked and discussed it, Jesus himself came near and walked along with them,
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὁμιλεῖν αὐτοὺς καὶ συζητεῖν καὶ ⸀αὐτὸς Ἰησοῦς ἐγγίσας συνεπορεύετο αὐτοῖς,
Meeting the Unknown Traveler
Jesus himself came and joined them, but they were prevented from recognizing him. Cleopas told him about the crucifixion and the reports of the empty tomb.
16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτῶν ἐκρατοῦντο τοῦ μὴ ἐπιγνῶναι αὐτόν.
17He said to them, "What is this you are debating with each other as you walk along?" They stopped, their faces downcast.
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς· Τίνες οἱ λόγοι οὗτοι οὓς ἀντιβάλλετε πρὸς ἀλλήλους περιπατοῦντες; καὶ ⸀ἐστάθησαν σκυθρωποί.
18One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know what has happened there in these days?"
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ⸂εἷς ὀνόματι⸃ Κλεοπᾶς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· Σὺ μόνος παροικεῖς Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ οὐκ ἔγνως τὰ γενόμενα ἐν αὐτῇ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις;
19"What things?" he asked. They said to him: "About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ποῖα; οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· Τὰ περὶ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ ⸀Ναζαρηνοῦ, ὃς ἐγένετο ἀνὴρ προφήτης δυνατὸς ἐν ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ,
20and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and crucified him.
ὅπως τε παρέδωκαν αὐτὸν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες ἡμῶν εἰς κρίμα θανάτου καὶ ἐσταύρωσαν αὐτόν.
21But we had hoped that he was the one who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
ἡμεῖς δὲ ἠλπίζομεν ὅτι αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ μέλλων λυτροῦσθαι τὸν Ἰσραήλ· ἀλλά γε ⸀καὶ σὺν πᾶσιν τούτοις τρίτην ταύτην ἡμέραν ⸀ἄγει ἀφʼ οὗ ταῦτα ἐγένετο.
22What is more, some of our women astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,
ἀλλὰ καὶ γυναῖκές τινες ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐξέστησαν ἡμᾶς, γενόμεναι ⸀ὀρθριναὶ ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον
23and when they did not find his body, they came back saying they had even seen a vision of angels who said he was alive.
καὶ μὴ εὑροῦσαι τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ἦλθον λέγουσαι καὶ ὀπτασίαν ἀγγέλων ἑωρακέναι, οἳ λέγουσιν αὐτὸν ζῆν.
24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
καὶ ἀπῆλθόν τινες τῶν σὺν ἡμῖν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ εὗρον οὕτως καθὼς ⸀καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες εἶπον, αὐτὸν δὲ οὐκ εἶδον.
Jesus Opens the Scriptures
Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief and explained to them everything written about him in the Scriptures, from Moses and all the prophets.
25He said to them: "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
καὶ αὐτὸς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Ὦ ἀνόητοι καὶ βραδεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ τοῦ πιστεύειν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν οἷς ἐλάλησαν οἱ προφῆται·
26Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"
οὐχὶ ταῦτα ἔδει παθεῖν τὸν χριστὸν καὶ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ;
27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures.
καὶ ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ Μωϋσέως καὶ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν προφητῶν ⸀διερμήνευσεν αὐτοῖς ἐν πάσαις ταῖς γραφαῖς τὰ περὶ ⸀ἑαυτοῦ.
Recognition at the Breaking of Bread
When Jesus broke the bread at the meal in Emmaus, their eyes were opened and they recognized him. At that same moment he became invisible to them.
28As they came near the village where they were going, he acted as if he were going farther.
Καὶ ἤγγισαν εἰς τὴν κώμην οὗ ἐπορεύοντο, καὶ αὐτὸς ⸀προσεποιήσατο ⸀πορρώτερον πορεύεσθαι.
29But they urged him strongly: "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
καὶ παρεβιάσαντο αὐτὸν λέγοντες· Μεῖνον μεθʼ ἡμῶν, ὅτι πρὸς ἑσπέραν ἐστὶν καὶ κέκλικεν ⸀ἤδη ἡ ἡμέρα. καὶ εἰσῆλθεν τοῦ μεῖναι σὺν αὐτοῖς.
30When he was at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and began to give it to them.
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ κατακλιθῆναι αὐτὸν μετʼ αὐτῶν λαβὼν τὸν ἄρτον εὐλόγησεν καὶ κλάσας ἐπεδίδου αὐτοῖς·
31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him—and he vanished from their sight.
αὐτῶν δὲ διηνοίχθησαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ καὶ ἐπέγνωσαν αὐτόν· καὶ αὐτὸς ἄφαντος ἐγένετο ἀπʼ αὐτῶν.
The Testimony of the Apostles
Cleopas and his companion hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the eleven and the others that the Lord had truly risen.
32They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Οὐχὶ ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν καιομένη ἦν ⸂ἐν ἡμῖν⸃ ὡς ἐλάλει ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, ⸀ὡς διήνοιγεν ἡμῖν τὰς γραφάς;
33They got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, where they found the Eleven and those with them gathered together,
καὶ ἀναστάντες αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ, καὶ εὗρον ⸀ἠθροισμένους τοὺς ἕνδεκα καὶ τοὺς σὺν αὐτοῖς,
34saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon."
λέγοντας ὅτι ⸂ὄντως ἠγέρθη ὁ κύριος⸃ καὶ ὤφθη Σίμωνι.
35Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐξηγοῦντο τὰ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ καὶ ὡς ἐγνώσθη αὐτοῖς ἐν τῇ κλάσει τοῦ ἄρτου.