Topic: Concordance in the Bible

Date originally posted: April 3, 2002

Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question

Moderator who originally posted this source: P. Leach

Question: What were the names of the two men Jesus was talking to on the road to Emmaus?  Were they disciples?  If so, they were not members of the original twelve, correct?  Thanks.

Answer: 

Greetings, Steve, 

Thanks for your question.   

Before I answer it, let me introduce you to a nifty tool that will help you answer questions like this in the future.  There is a reference book which most every library in the United States has called a "concordance."  The various versions of the Bible, such as the Revised New American Bible, the New Revised Standard Version, the King James, and all the others each have a "concordance" that should be used with that particular version of the Bible.  A concordance is usually arranged alaphabetically.  "Key words" from the Bible are there and are followed by the verses in which you can find that word.  You just take your Bible and look at all the referenced verses until you find the one you're looking for.  In the case of your particular question, you would look up "Emmaus" to find where that word appears in the Scripture.  Read the verses indicated, and then you can answer your own question!  Voila!  For a longer description of what a concordance is check out the following link: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04195a.htm 

An online variant of the concordance can be found at the following links and will probably prove useful to lots of people who are trying to find particular references in Scripture: 

• http://www.stg.brown.edu/webs/bible_browser/pbeasy.shtml

• http://www.unboundbible.org/   

• http://aggreen.net/bible/biblsrch.html

So, now on to your question, Steve.  Read Luke chapter 24 and you can find all the biblical information.   

Only one of the men is named in the Bible; he is "Cleopas" in verse 18.  The other man with whom the Lord walks is never named.  And certainly they were disciples in that all women and men who believed in Jesus and followed Him were disciiples.  For that matter, Steve, you (if you believe in Jesus!) and I are disciples.  However, Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus do not seem to appear in any of the biblical or traditional naming of the original Twelve.  

(Lists of the Twelve in the Bible don't always include the same names.  Some of the 'major' names are the same, for instance, Peter, James, John, Andrew, but other names are not the same in all the lists.) 

So, hope this bit of information helps. 

Blessings,

Father Phillip