Cleopas

the one on the road to Emmaus

Who was Cleopas?

He was one of the two disciples going to Emmaus on the day of the Resurrection. Luke 24:13, 18
Jesus walked with them, and they did not recognize him until he broke the bread. Luke 24:15-16, 30-31
They returned at once to Jerusalem to tell the Eleven what had happened to them. Luke 24:33-35

Feast day: September 25: Saint Cleopas

What the Bible says

Luke 24:13, 18

¹³And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. ¹⁸And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to him: Art thou only a stranger to Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days?

Luke 24:15-16, 30-31

¹⁵And it came to pass, that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also drawing near, went with them. ¹⁶But their eyes were held, that they should not know him. ³⁰And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread, and blessed, and brake, and gave to them. ³¹And their eyes were opened, and they knew him: and he vanished out of their sight.

Luke 24:33-35

³³And rising up, the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem: and they found the eleven gathered together, and those that were staying with them, ³⁴Saying: The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. ³⁵And they told what things were done in the way; and how they knew him in the breaking of the bread.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Cleopas

Before Jesus. On the day of the Resurrection, he was walking with another disciple to a village called Emmaus. Luke 24:13
Before Jesus. They were talking about everything that had happened in Jerusalem. Luke 24:14
With Jesus. Jesus came near and walked with them, but they did not recognize him. Luke 24:15-16
With Jesus. Cleopas asked him if he was the only visitor to Jerusalem who did not know what had happened. Luke 24:18
With Jesus. They told him they had hoped Jesus would be the one to set Israel free. Luke 24:21
With Jesus. Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, Jesus explained to them what the Scriptures said about him. Luke 24:27
With Jesus. They urged him to stay. At table, Jesus broke the bread, and they recognized him. Luke 24:29-31
Afterward. They went straight back to Jerusalem. The Eleven told them the Lord had appeared to Simon. Luke 24:33-34

Words of Cleopas

“Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days?” Luke 24:18

When Jesus, still unrecognized, asked them what they were talking about.

“Stay with us, because it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent.” Luke 24:29

With the other disciple, when they reached Emmaus and Jesus acted as if he were going on.

“Was not our heart burning within us, whilst he spoke in the way, and opened to us the scriptures?” Luke 24:32

The two of them, to each other, after they recognized Jesus.

What they were like

He walked along the road, sad. Luke 24:17
He had hoped Jesus would be the one to set Israel free. Luke 24:21
With his companion, he urged the traveler to stay with them. Luke 24:29

The greatest thing they did

When he recognized Jesus, he went straight back to Jerusalem to tell the others. Luke 24:33-35
His heart burned while Jesus explained the Scriptures to him. Luke 24:32

Not to be confused with

John names “Mary the wife of Clopas” by the cross. In Greek the two names are spelled differently, and we do not know if they are the same man. John 19:25; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Cleophas”

In the Church today

Feast day: September 25, Saint Cleopas (commemoration). Roman Martyrology, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Cleophas”

What people ask

Who was the other disciple?

The Bible does not say. Luke 24:13, 18

Where was Emmaus?

Sixty stadia from Jerusalem, about seven miles. The exact place is debated. Luke 24:13; NAB note on Lc 24, 13

Why didn't they recognize Jesus?

Luke says their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. They were opened when Jesus broke the bread. Luke 24:16, 31

Was Cleopas a relative of Jesus?

The Bible does not say. Hegesippus, an early writer, says a man named Clopas was a brother of Saint Joseph. We do not know if it is the same man. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History III, 11; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Mary of Cleophas”

What does Emmaus have to do with the Mass?

Jesus made himself known in the breaking of the bread. The Catechism says this is what the first Christians called the Eucharist. Luke 24:35; Catechism 1329

His sadness Some women had told them Jesus was alive, and still they went away sad. Luke 24:17, 22-23 Jesus scolded the two of them for being slow of heart…

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Who Cleopas is connected to

Jesus · recognized him in the breaking of the bread
Peter · “he has appeared to Simon”
Mary, wife of Clopas · her husband?

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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