lowed the day of the preparation, | third day, lest his disciples come the chief priests and Pharisees came by night and steal him away, together unto Pilate,

63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the

Jewish Sabbath. It was called the day of preparation, because on that day all things were prepared or made ready for the proper observance of the paschal Sabbath. The next day, according to the Jewish reckoning, commenced at sunset. At this time, on the evening of the crucifixion, as we compute time, but the beginning of the Sabbath, as the Jews computed, a guard was placed at the tomb. The enemies of Jesus surely would not have waited until the next morning; for they had as much reason to suspect the disciples on the first night, as on the second.

and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

66 So they went and made the

ilar disposition. They feared the disciples would steal the body and proclaim a resurrection; and thus the people be more strongly than before persuaded that Jesus was the Messiah. They desired, having succeeded in destroying his life, to crush his doctrine effectually, at once; and therefore petitioned that the body might be guarded.

65. Ye have a watch. Some understand this to mean, take a watch. But the following suggestion seems more probable: "The Jews had a guard or watch of Roman soldiers, who kept watch in the tower of Antonia, on the 63. We remember. They had prob- north-west of the temple. Pilate either ably heard of what Jesus had said; referred to these, or to the watch that though this is the first intimation given attended the crucifixion; the whole by Matthew, that any one supposed him band had been appointed for that. As to speak of a literal resurrection. It is the torments of crucifixion sometimes evident the disciples did not so under- lasted many days, the band had been stand him; for they were slow to be- probably granted to them during that lieve, when the event had occurred. time, and they were, therefore, still at Mark xvi. 14. ¶ Deceiver. They were the direction of the chief priests."not convinced by the signs which at- Barnes. Hence it was, that the watch tended his death; but continued to made their first report to the priests speak of him as an impostor. that the body was gone. It should not 64. Until the third day. This ex-be overlooked, however, that the crucipression denotes that by three days, or after three days, the Jews did not understand three whole days and three whole nights; but that a part of three days with two whole nights, carrying the time forward to the third day, fully corresponded with the import of the phrase. A like use of the same language occurs in 2 Chron. x. 5, 12. And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days.-So Jeroboam 66. Made the sepulchre sure. and all the people came to Rehoboam exertions of the Jews to prevent a false on the third day, as the king bade, say- report of a resurrection, materially coning, Come again to me on the third firms the truth of an actual resurrection. day." Hence, though our Lord arose It is not to be supposed that they omiton the morning of the third day, he did ted to examine the tomb, and be certain truly, as the phrase was understood by the body was there, before they sealed the Jews, rise after three days. Last the stone. They were not so stupid. error. Rather, deception. They were They proceeded with care; and before so accustomed to deceive, that they nat- they placed the watch, they were cerurally suspected the disciples of a sim-tain there was something there to be

fixion took place on the day preceding the Sabbath, during which day it was not lawful that the bodies should remain on the cross. Hence the service of the soldiers could not have been expected for more than one day. It is sufficient, however, that their service had been granted for the execution, and they were still placed at the disposal of the priests.

The

sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, | dalene, and the other Mary to see and setting a watch. the sepulchre.

IN

CHAPTER XXVIII.

N the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magwatched. Sealing the stone. Probably wax was placed upon the joints where the stone joined the solid rock, and the impression of a seal made upon it; so that the stone could not be removed, without breaking the wax and defacing the impression. T Setting a watch. Composed of as many soldiers as they judged necessary.

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. xx. 1. The light was yet dim, and objects were seen indistinctly. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. That is, Mary, the mother of James the less and of Joses or Joseph. Matt. xxvii. 56-61. To see the sepulchre. They had refrained, it would seem, from visiting the sepulchre on the previous day, because it was the Jewish Sabbath; but very early on the succeeding day, they came, anxious to ascertain whether the body remained undisturbed. They did not anticipate a resurrection, as is manifest from the other purpose for which they visited the sepulchre; namely, to anoint the body with spices. Luke xxiv. 1. Indeed, at this time, none of the disciples believed that the body of Jesus would be raised. Mark xvi. 14. It may seem singular that they should expect to enter the tomb and anoint the body, while a band of Roman soldiers were keeping guard. Perhaps they supposed the guard was withdrawn, as it was now the third day; or, more probably, they thought the soldiers would not refuse permission to a few females to enter the tomb, while they remained around it, to guard against any removal of the body. The sealing of the sepulchre was a circum1-stance of which they might have been ignorant.

Had his enemies endeavored to furnish the strongest possible evidence of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, they could not have been more successful. They had the sole charge of putting him to death, and cannot be suspected of having done their work negligently. They took the utmost precaution to prevent the removal of the body, securing the entrance to the tomb, and placing Roman soldiers, proverbial for vigilance and courage, to watch it. And yet, Jesus came forth, by the power of God, living and immortal, and showed himself to more than five hundred people. 1 Cor. xv. 6. Thus did God take the wise in their own craftiness, and cause them to furnish evidence to their own condemnation.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

1-10. Parallel with Mark xvi. 11; Luke xxiv. 1-11; John xx. 1. 1. In the end of the sabbath. That is, after the Sabbath ended; for the Sabbath ended at sunset, and the event here first recorded occurred about the break of day on the next morning, "when the Sabbath was past." Mark xvi. 1. Began to dawn toward the first day of the week. The Jewish Sabbath was the seventh day of the week, answering to our Saturday. The resurrection of Jesus was on the succeeding day, or first day of the week, which, for that reason, has since been observed as a Sabbath, by almost all Christians. The hour designated was about the time when light began to appear in the east. "Very early in the morning," Mark xvi. 2; Luke xxiv. 1. "Early, when it was yet dark," John

2. There was a great earthquake. "There had been a great earthquake." --Campbell. At what moment the earthquake occurred, we are not informed; but it was evidently previous to the time when the women came to the sepulchre. Probably the earthquake, the rolling away of the stone, and the resurrection of Jesus, were simultaneous. ¶ Sal upon it. It appears that the angel sat upon the stone, when seen by the soldiers, at the first. But from the account of Luke, (and Matthew says nothing inconsistent with it,) it would seem that the women saw no angel until they entered the sepulchre; when there, they saw two angels, standing. Luke xxiv. 2-4. 3. Countenance. This word gen

3 His countenance was like risen, as he said. Come, see the lightning, and his raiment white place where the Lord lay.

4 And for fear of him the keep-disciples, that he is risen from the ers did shake, and became as dead dead, and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

11 Now, when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

disdain to call his disciples brethren. He exhibited the same kindness and condescension towards them after as before his entrance into glory. Luke xxiv. 26. "It is impossible that any one could have fabricated a personage whose tone of sentiment and expression should be in perfect accordance with that wonderful being who had a little while before expired on the cross. No human art could have added another chapter to that life."-Furness. ¶ Go into Galilee. See note on ver. 7.

That

9. Jesus met them. This is the first appearance of our Lord, after his resurrection, mentioned by Matthew. But Mark says, "he appeared first to Mary Magdalene." Mark xvi. 9. By comparing these accounts with John xx. 1-18, it seems probable that Mary Magdalene left the sepulchre immediately after she discovered that the stone was removed, believing that the body had been taken away; and, while the other women remained, and received information from the angels as related by Matthew, she ran to the city and informed Peter and John, who thereupon ran to the sepulchre; Mary also returned. The other women had left, before their arrival, but missed them on the way. While Mary was lamenting, in the garden, Jesus appeared to her; after which, he appeared to the others, while they were yet on their way to the city. There is no contradiction between the different accounts. The most which can be said is, that certain events are inserted in some, which are omitted in others,-a circumstance common to all histories as related by different historians, whether sacred or profane. All hail. A term of cheerful salutation; equivalent to rejoice, or peace be unto you. Luke xxiv. 36. Held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Or, prostrated them-selves. They made their report to the selves before him, as a manifestation of homage and high regard. See note on Matt. ii. 2. It is not probable they took hold of his feet. See John xx. 17. But by falling prostrate before him, they might be said to impede his progress, or to hold his feet.

Б.

10. Be not afraid. See note on ver.

Go, tell my brethren. Though he had been " declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead," Rom. i. 4, yet our Lord did not

11. When they were going. is, while they were yet on their way to the city, to deliver their message to the disciples. It does not distinctly appear whether the event here named was subsequent or previous to the interview with Jesus, in the order of time; but it occurred after the women left the sepulchre, and before they arrived in the city. Some of the watch. That is, some of those who had been stationed at the sepulchre, to guard it; perhaps officers of the guard. Showed unto the chief priests, &c. Informed the priests what had happened, so far as they knew; but their knowledge probably did not extend beyond the earthquake, the appearance of the angel, the opening of the tomb, and the absence of the body. The resurrection or reänimation of Jesus they would be less likely to infer, than the priests them

priests, because they were acting under their immediate direction. See note on Matt. xxvii. 65.

12. Taken counsel. The sanhedrim was again called together, to consult what was to be done in this unexpected emergency. It could not be alleged that Jesus had never been dead; for they had admitted his death, when they requested a guard to be placed around his sepulchre; and moreover the death was witnessed by a multitude, and a denial of it would not be credited. But,