Jesus is Raised from the Dead(A)
28 After the Sabbaths,[a] around dawn on the first day of the week,[b] Mary Magdalene[c] and the other Mary went to take a look at the burial site.[d] 2 Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake, because an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, approached the stone, rolled it away, and was sitting on top of it. 3 His appearance was bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 Trembling from fear, even the guards themselves became catatonic.[e]
5 Responding to the women, the angel said, “Stop being frightened! I know you’re looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here. He has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he[f] was lying. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there. Remember, I have told you!”
8 So they quickly left the tomb, terrified but also ecstatic, and ran to tell Jesus’[g] disciples. 9 Suddenly, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They went up to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus told them, “Stop being frightened! Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
The Guards Report to the High Priests
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened. 12 So they met with the elders and agreed on a plan to give the soldiers a large[h] amount of money. 13 They said, “Say that Jesus’[i] disciples came at night and stole him while you were sleeping. 14 If this is reported to the governor, we’ll personally persuade him to keep you out of trouble.”[j] 15 So the soldiers[k] took the money, did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
Jesus Commissions His Disciples(B)
16 The eleven disciples went into Galilee to the hillside to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him, though some had doubts. 18 Then Jesus approached them and told them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day[l] until the end of the age.”[m]
Footnotes
- Matthew 28:1 I.e., the Passover and Saturday
- Matthew 28:1 Lit. first of the Sabbaths
- Matthew 28:1 Or Mary of Magdala
- Matthew 28:1 Or the tomb
- Matthew 28:4 Lit. became like the dead
- Matthew 28:6 Other mss. read the Lord
- Matthew 28:8 Lit. his
- Matthew 28:12 Or a sufficient
- Matthew 28:13 Lit. his
- Matthew 28:14 Lit. from worry
- Matthew 28:15 Lit. they
- Matthew 28:20 Lit. you all the days
- Matthew 28:20 Other mss. read age. Amen