24:41a

While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement: This clause tells how the disciples reacted when they heard what Jesus said and looked at his wounds (24:38–40). They were exceedingly joyful and amazed that they were seeing Jesus alive again. They were starting to believe, but it seemed too good to be true.

Describe these feelings in a natural way in your language. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

The disciples were so glad and amazed that they could not believe it. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
The disciples were overcome with joy and amazement because this seemed too good to be true. (God’s Word)
-or-
They still could not believe it because they were so joyful and amazed.

they were…in disbelief: In this context the phrase in disbelief refers to believing that Jesus was really alive and they were seeing him. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

They could scarcely believe that it was really He
-or-
they could not believe that it was actually true
-or-
they struggled to believe that he was really alive

For more information on translating this sense of “believe,” see believe, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

still: In this context the word still refers to the time immediately after the disciples saw Jesus’ wounds in 24:40. Even after they saw his wounds, they still did not completely believe that he was alive. Languages have different ways to imply the meaning still, and some languages indicate it by a verb form. In some languages it is not necessary to translate it as a separate word, since it is implied by the context. Do what is natural in your language.

joy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as joy refers to great gladness and happiness. Some languages have an idiomatic way to express this meaning. Use a natural way in your language to express great, overwhelming joy. Some other ways to translate it in English are:

very glad
-or-
their hearts were dancing
-or-
they were full of joy

amazement: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as amazement is more literally “being-amazed.” It refers to feeling extremely surprised by something that is too wonderful to understand. Some languages have an idiomatic way to express this meaning. In this context the cause of the amazement is very good and joyful. Use a natural way in your language to express this type of amazement. Some other ways to express it in English are:

filled with…wonder (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
exceedingly amazed

24:41b

He asked them: The clause He asked them introduces the question that Jesus asked his disciples. In some languages it may be natural to make explicit the connection between this question and the disciples’ feelings in 24:41a. For example:

Then he asked them (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
so he asked them (Good News Translation)

Connect 24:41a and 24:41b in a way that is natural in your language.

Do you have anything here to eat?: Jesus asked this question because he wanted to show his disciples that he was really alive by eating something. He wanted to prove to them that he had a real body and could eat food. He was not a ghost. In some languages it may be more natural to use a polite request or command in this context. Some other ways to translate the question are:

Please bring/give me something to eat.
-or-
Is there food here?
-or-
Could you bring me something to eat?

Translate it in a way that implies the right meaning in your language.

here: The word here refers to the room or house where the disciples were gathered.

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