In an emergency stop system for an elevator, a governor sheave that moves in synchronism with the raising and lowering of a car is wound around a governor sheave. The car is mounted with a safety device for braking the car through displacement of the car, which is connected to the governor rope, with respect to the governor rope. A control device outputs an activation signal upon detecting an abnormality in the speed of the car. A rope catching device is provided in the vicinity of the governor sheave. The rope catching device has an electromagnetic actuator that is activated upon input of the activation signal, and a restraining portion for restraining the governor rope upon the activation of the electromagnetic actuator.