51 At that moment the curtain of the temple(A) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split(B) 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[a] went into the holy city(C) and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding(D) Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”(E)

55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.(F) 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[b] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.(G)

The Burial of Jesus(H)

57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb(I) that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’(J) 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body(K) and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take a guard,”(L) Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal(M) on the stone(N) and posting the guard.(O)

Jesus Has Risen(P)

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene(Q) and the other Mary(R) went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake,(S) for an angel(T) of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone(U) and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.(V) The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,(W) for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.(X) Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.(Y) There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them.(Z) “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers(AA) to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards(AB) went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away(AC) while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor,(AD) we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.(AE) 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(AF) 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,(AG) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,(AH) 20 and teaching(AI) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you(AJ) always, to the very end of the age.”(AK)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 27:53 Or tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they
  2. Matthew 27:56 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph

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