Matthew 28:2-4 NKJV,NLT

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:1-10

Jesus rises from the dead, and appears to the holy women. ( Mark 16:1-8 ; Luke 24:1-12 ; John 20:1-10 .) It is to be noted that there are great and important variations in the four (or, with St. Paul's, 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 ., the five) accounts of the events of the Resurrection, which have given welcome occasion to the sceptic to cast doubts upon the whole transaction. The divergences in the narratives are plainly to be ascribed to the facts that the writers did not depend upon... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:1-10

The Resurrection. I. THE ANGEL AT THE SEPULCHRE . 1 . The holy women. The great sabbath was over. It had been a busy day in the temple; all had been done as usual. The priests little thought, while performing their elaborate ritual, that the one great Sacrifice, Oblation, and Satisfaction for the sins of the whole world, the Sacrifice of which all their sacrifices were but figures, had been offered up on Calvary. Yet the great darkness and the portents which had marked the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:1-10

Lessons of the Resurrection. The four evangelists concur in setting forth the three successive steps in the evidence by which our Lord's incredulous followers were at length persuaded of the reality of his resurrection. These are: 1 . The fact of the sepulchre being found empty. 2 . The testimony of the angels who were seen in it. 3 . The appearances of our Lord himself. On these points we shall not now particularly dwell, but direct attention to certain side lights which the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:2

And, behold. A wonderful sight met their eyes. The following event took place before their arrival; they saw only the result. No mortal eye beheld, and no pen has recorded, the actual issuing of the Lord from the closed tomb. There was a great earthquake. St. Matthew does not attempt to give the exact sequence of events. Probably the shock, caused by the sudden advent and action of the angel, befell as the women were approaching the cemetery. Christ had risen before this occurrence,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:2

Angel ministries. Concerning the nature or the location of angels we do know, probably we can know, nothing. When they have come into the earthly spheres they have always appeared to be men like ourselves; their peculiarity has not been their wings, but their purity and radiancy. But one thing does come out quite clearly and impressively from every case of angel visitation. They are always ministers, engaged in some form of ministering. Whatever dignity we may think to belong to the angels,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:3

His countenance ( ἰδε ì α , appearance ) was like lightning. The angel's aspect was as bright and startling as the flash of lightning (comp. Ezekiel 1:14 ; Daniel 10:6 ). His raiment white as snow. Pure and glistening, like the effect of the Transfiguration on the Lord ( Matthew 18:2 ; comp. Acts 1:10 ; Revelation 10:1 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:4

And for fear of him; but from the fear of him. From the fear inspired by this awful angel. It would seem, from this expression, that the soldiers were sensible, not only of the earthquake and the movement of the stone, but also of the presence of the heavenly messenger, in this respect differing from the companions of Daniel and St. Paul, who were only partially conscious of the visions beheld by the two saints (see Daniel 10:7 ; Acts 22:9 ). Did shake. The verb is cognate with the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 28:2

There was a great earthquake - Rather there “had been.” It does not mean that this was while they were there, or while they were going, but that there “had been” so violent a commotion as to remove the stone. The word rendered here as “earthquake” does not of necessity mean that the convulsion extended to the earth, but only that there had been such a concussion as to remove the stone.And sat upon it - Sat upon it when the keepers saw him, Matthew 28:4. It is not said that he was sitting when... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 28:3

His countenance - In our language the word “countenance” refers to the “face only;” in the original it refers to his “whole person.” His “general aspect, or the appearance of the angel himself,” was, etc.Like lightning - Peculiarly bright and shining.His raiment white as snow - Celestial beings are usually represented as clothed in white, Acts 1:10; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 3:4-5; Revelation 4:4; Revelation 7:13-14. White, among the Jews, was the symbol of “purity or innocence.” read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 28:4

The keepers did shake - It was night. The appearance was sudden and unexpected, and to them terrific. The stone was probably suddenly removed. At the noise, the light, the suddenness of the appearance, they were affrighted.And became as dead men - Probably by terror they fainted, or were thrown into a swoon. At this time it is probable that the Lord Jesus arose, and hence he was not seen by them when he came forth. At what precise time of the night this was we are not certainly informed. The... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 28:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 28:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 28:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 28:4

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