On my recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the Bible came alive for me as I walked along the paths where Jesus and other Biblical characters traveled in ancient times. I quickly learned that some Bible stories have more than one possible site. This is true for Emmaus, the village where Jesus appeared to his disciples after his crucifixtion and resurrection (Luke 24;13-35).
Emmaus Nicopolis, the archaeological site and oldest identification currently known for Emmaus, is in question due to its distance from Jerusalem. Most manuscripts of the Gospel of Luke state the distance between Emmaus and Jerusalem as 60 stadia (7 miles), whereas, Emmaus Nicopolis is 160 stadia (19 miles) away from Jerusalem.
Arguments for Emmaus Nicopolis include support from several ancient documents that state the distance from Emmaus to Jerusalem as 160 stadia. It is also argued that in order to facilitate understanding, it is possible that the text was changed by ancient copyists of the Bible; however, it should be noted that it is possible for the disciples to have walked this longer distance in one day as recorded in the Bible.
Whether or not this site is accurate or not, my experience at Emmaus could not be surpassed. This was my first morning in Israel and I had the opportunity to pray and break bread together with my sisters, Alice and Carole, and the rest of our Pilgrimage group just as Jesus and the disciples did so many years ago.
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