Where did Jesus tell his disciples to stay after his resurrection? (Matthew 28:10 vs. Luke 24:49)

I. Definition of the Question

Where did Jesus instruct His disciples to remain in the immediate aftermath of His resurrection? At first glance, Matthew 28:10 and Luke 24:49 might seem to point them in two different directions. Matthew 28:10 states, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.” Meanwhile, Luke 24:49 records Jesus telling the disciples, “And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

This entry addresses this apparent discrepancy by exploring the scriptural context, timeline, and harmonization of these instructions.

II. Scriptural Context in Matthew 28:10

Matthew 28:10 occurs shortly after the women discover that Jesus has risen from the tomb. Upon seeing Him, they worship. Jesus comforts them by saying, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”

1. Immediate Setting: The disciples had scattered during the events leading up to and including the crucifixion. Galilee was their home region and a place of relative safety and familiarity. In many Gospel passages (e.g., Mark 14:28), Jesus had already indicated He would meet them in Galilee after His resurrection.

2. Reasons for Galilee: Meeting in Galilee fulfilled His promise and offered a serene backdrop for giving the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20). Galilee was also the place of numerous early miracles (e.g., feeding the five thousand near the Sea of Galilee), making the region symbolic of His ministry’s beginnings and a fitting location for a reaffirmation of His mission.

3. Manuscript Evidence: Ancient Greek manuscripts (e.g., Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus) consistently testify to Matthew’s wording, showing no variation that would alter the meaning about going to Galilee. This uniformity underscores the reliability of the instruction recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.

III. Scriptural Context in Luke 24:49

Luke 24:49 records a different instruction: “But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” In the context of Luke’s Gospel, “the city” refers to Jerusalem.

1. Jerusalem as Center Stage: Biblical accounts place the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1–4). Luke’s focus often centers on the city of Jerusalem, reflecting its theological significance as the place where redemptive events culminate.

2. Promise of the Father: The phrase “the promise of My Father” is widely understood to refer to the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:26, 15:26). The instruction to wait in Jerusalem underscores its role as the historical and spiritual hub from which the message of salvation would ultimately radiate outward through the apostles.

3. Consistent Manuscript Tradition: The earliest known fragments and later manuscripts of Luke’s Gospel (e.g., Papyrus 75, Codex Bezae) strongly support the reading that Jesus commanded His followers to wait for divine empowerment in Jerusalem.

IV. Reconciling the Instructions

Some question whether Jesus’ command to meet in Galilee contradicts His direction to remain in Jerusalem. A holistic reading of the post-resurrection accounts shows there is no contradiction but rather a logical sequence of events:

1. Initial Appearance in Jerusalem: On the day of the resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples in or around Jerusalem (John 20:19). Over the following days, there are multiple appearances in and near the city (e.g., to Thomas, John 20:26–29).

2. Journey to Galilee: According to Matthew 28:16, the disciples do indeed go to Galilee, where Jesus meets them on a mountain and gives them the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20).

3. Return to Jerusalem: After some time in Galilee, they come back to Jerusalem (Luke 24:50–53). Acts 1:3 mentions that Jesus spent forty days appearing to His disciples and teaching about the kingdom of God before the Ascension, which Luke places near Jerusalem (Acts 1:9–12). Jesus then instructs them to stay in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4).

4. Pentecost Fulfillment: In Jerusalem, at the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends (Acts 2:1–4), fulfilling Jesus’ promise and equipping them to carry the Gospel to the nations.

V. Chronological Flow of Events

1. Resurrection Sunday (Jerusalem): Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and then to others in Jerusalem (John 20:11–18; Luke 24:33–36).

2. Subsequent Appearances (Jerusalem and Vicinity): Detailed in John 20:19–29.

3. Instruction to Go to Galilee: The angelic message (Matthew 28:7) and Jesus’ own words (Matthew 28:10) indicate a rendezvous in Galilee.

4. Galilee Commission: The disciples see the resurrected Jesus in Galilee, where He gives the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20).

5. Return to Jerusalem: Ultimately, Jesus leads them to remain in Jerusalem (Luke 24:49) for the coming of the Holy Spirit, which occurs at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4).

This ordered progression explains how the disciples were in Galilee for a time, but also back in Jerusalem prior to Pentecost.

VI. Historical and Geographical Considerations

1. Distance Between Jerusalem and Galilee: The distance is roughly 70–80 miles, a journey that could take several days on foot. It was entirely feasible for the disciples to travel to Galilee for a period and then return to Jerusalem.

2. Archaeological and Documentary Corroboration:

• Archaeological discoveries of first-century fishing boats and synagogue ruins near the Sea of Galilee confirm the bustling nature of Galilean communities in this era.

• Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (1st century AD) writes of Galilee’s prominence and ties to Jewish life. His accounts illuminate the plausible travel patterns in that region.

Such evidence supports the Gospel narrative that the disciples could meet Jesus in Galilee and then be present again in Jerusalem within the same 40-day window.

VII. Broader Theological Implications

1. No Genuine Contradiction: Both directives—to go to Galilee and to remain in Jerusalem—are harmonized by recognizing they apply at different times within the 40-day post-resurrection period.

2. Importance of Witnessing: By meeting Jesus in Galilee, the disciples reconnect with the heartland of His ministry, a setting that reaffirmed their calling to preach. Returning to Jerusalem positions them for a public demonstration of God’s power at Pentecost, inspiring the rapid spread of the Gospel.

3. Divine Scheduling: The instructions illustrate God’s precise plan—Jesus’ appearances happen in multiple locations, ensuring a broad base of eyewitnesses. This includes appearances near Jerusalem (critical to early church formation) and in Galilee (signifying continuity with His earthly ministry).

VIII. Consistency of the Textual Witness

1. Early Church Recognition: Early Christian writers like Papias (late 1st to early 2nd century) and Irenaeus (2nd century) make references that align generally with the sequence of events presented in these Gospel accounts.

2. Dead Sea Scroll Parallels: While the Scrolls themselves date to a period just before the New Testament era, their preservation of Hebrew and Aramaic traditions lends insight into the reliability of ancient scriptural transmission. The consistent copying and serious care of authoritative texts in this era bolster confidence that the New Testament writings were transmitted with similar fidelity.

3. Uniform Message: Variations in some manuscripts (e.g., textual variants that change a word or two) never alter key doctrinal points, including the nature of Christ’s resurrection appearances and the instructions He gave His followers. Modern examinations, such as those by textual scholars studying papyri and codices, confirm that these passages in Matthew and Luke remain intact and coherent across centuries.

IX. Conclusion

The question of where Jesus told His disciples to stay after His resurrection is clarified when we examine the entirety of the Gospel narratives. Jesus first instructed His brethren to go to Galilee, where He met them and formalized His commissioning for them to take His message to the nations. Later, He specifically told them to remain in Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit.

These instructions do not contradict but rather fit together in a cohesive timeline. The disciples needed to be in Galilee at a certain point to witness Jesus’ resurrection, receive His Great Commission, and be strengthened in faith; then they needed to return and remain in Jerusalem to become the Spirit-empowered witnesses of Pentecost. The two commands reflect complementary phases of the same unfolding plan: announcing the Resurrection in Galilee and awaiting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem. This comprehensive view maintains the unity of Scripture and the reliability of Jesus’ teaching.

In every step, the biblical text—supported by manuscript evidence, historical context, and archaeology—emphasizes a consistent message: Jesus rose bodily from the dead and carefully led His followers to be ready for the global proclamation of His redemptive work. By understanding the sequence of events, one sees the harmony in the Gospels and the ultimate culmination of Christ’s promise, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).