Matthew 28
The empty tomb
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”
They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
At dawn after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to see the tomb. There is a great earthquake; an angel comes down, rolls back the stone and sits on it, and the guards freeze with fear. The angel tells the women that Jesus has risen, as he said, shows them where he lay, and sends them to tell the disciples that he is going ahead of them to Galilee. They run off with fear and great joy.
What does this mean?
'The first day of the week' is Sunday. 'He is risen' is passive in Greek ('he has been raised'), implying God's action.
Historical context
In this culture women's testimony was often given less weight, particularly in legal settings; many scholars argue this makes it unlikely that early Christians invented women as the first witnesses.
Why does it matter?
The earthquake recalls the one at Jesus' death (27:51). The guards posted to prevent a deception become 'as dead men', while the dead man is risen.
Editorial notes, not scripture.
Told in all four Gospels
Mark 16:1–8
The empty tomb
How Mark tells it
Mark names three women, including Salome, and alone tells of them buying spices and wondering who will move the stone. Mark's messenger is a young man in white sitting inside the tomb, and only Mark has 'his disciples and Peter'. Mark ends with the women fleeing and telling no one, where the other accounts have the disciples told.
Continue reading in Mark →Luke 24:1–12
The empty tomb
How Luke tells it
Luke has "two men" in shining clothes (Mark: a young man; Matthew: an angel; John: two angels). They recall what Jesus said "in Galilee" rather than sending the disciples to Galilee, keeping Luke's story around Jerusalem. Only Luke names Joanna and has the apostles dismiss the women's report. Peter runs alone (John: Peter and the beloved disciple).
Continue reading in Luke →John 20:1–10
The empty tomb
How John tells it
In John, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb alone, though she says "we", and runs to fetch Peter and the beloved disciple; no angel speaks to her at this stage. Luke briefly mentions Peter running to the tomb, but only John describes two disciples racing there, the arrangement of the grave cloths, and the other disciple seeing and believing.
Continue reading in John →How Matthew tells it
Only Matthew describes an earthquake, an angel descending to roll away the stone and sit on it, and terrified guards. The women leave with 'fear and great joy', whereas Mark's account ends with them saying nothing because they were afraid. Luke has two men in dazzling clothes; John has Mary Magdalene, then Peter and another disciple.