Luke 24:4

‘And it came to about that while they were perplexed about it, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel,'

And it was while they were still perplexed, a state which would certainly have continued for some time had they not met the angels, that they became aware of two men standing by them in ‘dazzling clothing'. Both Mark and Matthew only mention one. Mark describes one who was sitting in a particular place who spoke to them. This does not discount the presence of a second, but emphasises who the main player was. Mark always concentrates on the particular one who is most important in the story, and ignores any other. In contrast Matthew elsewhere (but not in this case), and sometimes Luke, advert to more of the detail so that Matthew in a number of cases, and Luke in this case, regularly speak of twos where Mark has only one, possibly in the case of Matthew because having been there he actually remembered more of the detail. For two angels compare also John 20:12; Acts 1:10. See also Genesis 19:1 ff.

The dazzling clothing is clearly intended to indicate supernatural visitants, even though they are called ‘men'. For such an idea compare Daniel 10:5; Ezekiel 8:2; Acts 12:7, and see Luke 2:9. These were men ‘of the light', or ‘angels of light' (for the idea compare 2 Corinthians 11:14). The message they brought was therefore light and not darkness (Acts 26:18).