Matthew 28

Resurrection Morning

¹After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.²³There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.⁴⁵His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.⁶⁷The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.⁸

⁹The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.¹⁰¹¹He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.¹²¹³Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”¹⁴

¹⁵So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.¹⁶¹⁷Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.¹⁸¹⁹Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”²⁰

The Soldiers Bribed to Lie

²¹As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.²²²³After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money²⁴²⁵and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’²⁶²⁷If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.”²⁸²⁹They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.³⁰

The Great Commission

³¹The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.³²³³When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted.³⁴³⁵Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.³⁶³⁷Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,³⁸³⁹teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”⁴⁰