according to Eusebius and Epiphanius, was brother of Joseph,
both being sons of Jacob. He was the father of Simeon, of James the
Less, of Jude, and Joseph or Joses. Cleopas married Mary, sister to the
blessed virgin. He was therefore uncle to Jesus Christ, and his sons
were first cousins to him. Cleopas, his wife, and sons, were disciples
of Christ. Having beheld our Saviour expire upon the cross, he, like the
other disciples, appears to have lost all hopes of seeing the kingdom of
God established by him on earth. The third day after our Saviour’s
death, on the day of his resurrection, Cleopas, with another disciple,
departed from Jerusalem to Emmaus; and in the way discoursed on what had
lately happened. Our Saviour joined them, appearing as a traveller; and,
taking up their discourse, he reasoned with them, convincing them out of
the Scriptures, that it was necessary the Messiah should suffer death,
previously to his being glorified. At Emmaus, Jesus seemed as if
inclined to go farther; but Cleopas and his companion detained him, and
made him sup with them. While they were at table, Jesus took bread,
blessed it, brake, and gave it to them, and by this action their eyes
were opened, and they knew him. Upon his disappearing they instantly
returned to Jerusalem, to announce the fact to the Apostles, who in
their turn declared that “the Lord was risen indeed and had appeared to
Peter.” In our translation of Luke xxiv, 31, it is said that Jesus
“vanished out of their sight;” but the original is more properly
rendered, “He suddenly went away from them,” the word being often
applied by the Greek writers to those who in any way, but especially
suddenly and abruptly, withdraw from any one’s company. No other actions
of Cleopas are known. It is the opinion of Jerom, that his residence was
at Emmaus, and that he invited our Saviour into his own house. Supposing
Cleopas to have been the brother of Joseph, and father of James, &c,
Calmet thinks it more probable that as he was a Galilean, he dwelt in
some city of Galilee.
both being sons of Jacob. He was the father of Simeon, of James the
Less, of Jude, and Joseph or Joses. Cleopas married Mary, sister to the
blessed virgin. He was therefore uncle to Jesus Christ, and his sons
were first cousins to him. Cleopas, his wife, and sons, were disciples
of Christ. Having beheld our Saviour expire upon the cross, he, like the
other disciples, appears to have lost all hopes of seeing the kingdom of
God established by him on earth. The third day after our Saviour’s
death, on the day of his resurrection, Cleopas, with another disciple,
departed from Jerusalem to Emmaus; and in the way discoursed on what had
lately happened. Our Saviour joined them, appearing as a traveller; and,
taking up their discourse, he reasoned with them, convincing them out of
the Scriptures, that it was necessary the Messiah should suffer death,
previously to his being glorified. At Emmaus, Jesus seemed as if
inclined to go farther; but Cleopas and his companion detained him, and
made him sup with them. While they were at table, Jesus took bread,
blessed it, brake, and gave it to them, and by this action their eyes
were opened, and they knew him. Upon his disappearing they instantly
returned to Jerusalem, to announce the fact to the Apostles, who in
their turn declared that “the Lord was risen indeed and had appeared to
Peter.” In our translation of Luke xxiv, 31, it is said that Jesus
“vanished out of their sight;” but the original is more properly
rendered, “He suddenly went away from them,” the word being often
applied by the Greek writers to those who in any way, but especially
suddenly and abruptly, withdraw from any one’s company. No other actions
of Cleopas are known. It is the opinion of Jerom, that his residence was
at Emmaus, and that he invited our Saviour into his own house. Supposing
Cleopas to have been the brother of Joseph, and father of James, &c,
Calmet thinks it more probable that as he was a Galilean, he dwelt in
some city of Galilee.