² There was a violent earthquake,^(A) for an angel^(B) of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone^(C) and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.^{(D) 4} The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The Guards’ Report

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards^(A) 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^(B) while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor,^(C) 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.