Emmaus Nicopolis

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Location

 

1. Emmaus is about 10 miles (14 km.) west of the outskirts of Jerusalem on Hwy. 1. 

 

2. Emmaus is also known as Emmaus Nicopolis and is in Ayalon Canada Park.

 

3. It's believed to be the site of the village of Emmaus, which is referred to in Luke 24, where Jesus met two of His followers on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection.

 

4. The ruins of the old city are scattered over a vast area inside the park and on its west side.

 

Historical Background

 

1. Emmaus was a large city that existed from the Hellenistic period through the Byzantine period. 

 

2. It's strategically located on the main road that links Joppa and the coastal cities to Jerusalem.

 

3. It has served as an administrative, military, and economic center.

 

4. Eusebius (260–340 AD) mentioned Nicopolis as biblical Emmaus in his writings. 

 

5. Jerome (347–420 AD) spoke of a church in Nicopolis, built in the house of Cleopas, where Jesus broke bread with His disciples. 

 

6. From the 4th century on, the site has been widely identified as the biblical Emmaus.

 

7. A Byzantine church was built here in the 5th century.

 

8. Another Byzantine church was built beside the 5th-century church in around the 7th century.

 

9. Later, the Crusaders built a basilica over the 7th-century Byzantine church in the 12th century.

 

Places of Interest

 

1. 5th Century Church

 

2. 7th Century Church

 

3. 12th Century Church

 

4. Byzantine Inscription

 

5. Byzantine Baptistry Chapel

 

6. 5th-century Bishop’s House

 

7. Ancient Tombs

 

8. Roman Bathhouse - Located several hundred yards (m.) north of the church.

 

Emmaus in the Bible

 

1. After Christ’s resurrection, two of His followers were walking to Emmaus.
Luke 24:13–14: And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles [60 stadia, Greek and Roman measurement that varied somewhat in length] from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.

 

2. Jesus talked to the disciples and enlightened them, but He didn’t let them know who He was.
Luke 24:15–27: While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

 

3. Jesus made Himself known to the disciples.
Luke 24:28–32: And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”

 

4. The two men returned to Jerusalem and told the rest of the disciples that they had seen the risen Christ.
Luke 24:33–35: And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

 

Faith Lesson from Emmaus

 

1. There are hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament that verify Christ as the Messiah. Do we believe Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, and have we received Him as our Lord and Savior?

 

2. The New Testament is built upon the Old Testament as the Old Testament is quoted 855 times in the New Testament. Do we read and teach out of the Old Testament, or do we neglect it?

 

3. Being God, Christ knew every detail of the Bible and handled it with precision and clarity. Do we know God’s Word in detail, and do we handle it with precision (2 Tim. 2:15)?

 

4. Christ taught the Scriptures in such a way that they reached the very depths of a person’s heart. Are we master teachers or mediocre teachers?

 

5. Christ appeared to many after His resurrection, and to over 500 at one time. Do we believe the resurrection of Christ was a real historical event?
1 Corinthians 15:3-8: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas [Peter], then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

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