Matthew 28:2-4 NKJV,NLT

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 28:1-10

For the proof of Christ's resurrection, we have here the testimony of the angel, and of Christ himself, concerning his resurrection. Now we may think that it would have been better, if the matter had been so ordered, that a competent number of witnesses should have been present, and have seen the stone rolled away by the angel, and the dead body reviving, as people saw Lazarus come out of the grave, and then the matter had been past dispute; but let us not prescribe to Infinite Wisdom, which... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 28:1-10

28:1-10 Late on the Sabbath, when the first day of the week was beginning to dawn, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And, look you, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his garment was as white as snow. Those who were watching were shaken with fear, and became as dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 28:2

And behold there was a great earthquake ,.... Or "there had been one"; which, how far it reached, and whether further than the spot of ground in which the sepulchre was, is not certain: it was an emblem of the shaking of the earth by the preaching of the Gospel, the sound of which was now to go after Christ's resurrection to the ends of the world; and a prelude of the general resurrection, when the earth shall be shaken, and the graves opened, and the dead come forth; and was a symbol and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 28:3

His countenance was like lightning ,.... There was such a lustre and brightness in his face, that it glittered like lightning: such a description is in Daniel 10:6 , and his raiment white as snow : the word "white" is left out in the Vulgate Latin, and in Munster's Hebrew Gospel: the angel appeared clad in white, as a token of the purity and innocence of his nature; and because of the victory and triumph of Christ over death and the grave; and that he might be known and taken by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 28:4

And for fear of him the keepers did shake ,.... Though they were soldiers, Roman soldiers and veterans, who had been used to terrible sights in the field of battle; were men of courage, and fearless of danger; and yet were seized with a panic, and every limb of them shook and trembled at the sight of the angel, for fear he was come as an executioner of divine vengeance upon them; who had been concerned in the crucifixion of Christ, had watched him as he hung upon the cross, and now his body... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:2

A great earthquake - Σεισμος , a shaking or commotion of any kind: probably the word means no more than the confusion caused among the guards by the angel's appearance. All this had taken place before the women reached the sepulchre. The angel of the Lord descended from heaven - Matthew is very particular in this, to show that the word angel is not to be taken in the sense of an ordinary messenger, who might have come from Joseph of Arimathea, or from any other; but in the sense of an... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:3

His countenance - His appearance, ἡ ιδεα αυτου ; or, his face, for so the word is used in some of the best Greek writers. It seems, from Mark 16:5 , that this angel had assumed the appearance of a young man. Like lightning - Coruscations of glory continually flaming from his face. This might produce the confusion mentioned Matthew 28:2 . His raiment white as snow - He was clothed in garments emblematical of the glad tidings which he came to announce. It would have been... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:4

The keepers - became as dead men - God can, by one and the same means, comfort his servants, and terrify his enemies. The resurrection of Christ is a subject of terror to the servants of sin, and a subject of consolation to the sons of God; because it is a proof of the resurrection of both, the one to shame and everlasting contempt - the other to eternal glory and joy. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:2

Verse 2 Matthew 28:2.And, lo, a great earthquake. By many signs the Lord showed the presence of his glory, that he might more fully prepare the hearts of the holy women to reverence the mystery. (304) For since it was not a matter of little consequence to know that the Son of God had obtained a victory over death, (on which the principal point of our salvation is founded,) it was necessary to remove all doubts, that the divine majesty might be openly and manifestly presented to the eyes of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:4

Verse 4 4.Through fear the guards trembled. The Lord struck the guards with terror, as if he had engraved their consciences with a hot iron, so as to constrain them reluctantly to feel his divine power. The terror had, at least, the effect of hindering them from treating with careless mockery the report of the resurrection which was to be spread abroad shortly afterwards. For though they were not ashamed of prostituting their tongues for him, still they were compelled, whether they would or... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 28:1-10

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 28:1-10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 28:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 28:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 28:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 28:4

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