Matthew 28:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

NIV: So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

NASB: And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to report to His disciples.

CSB: So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.

NLT: The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.

KJV: And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

NKJV: So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

This is verse includes one of the details that cause the Bible to "ring true" in human experience. These women (Matthew 28:1) have just had an encounter with an angelic being. These creatures are terrifying enough that they almost always have to assure any humans they encounter (Luke 1:11–13; 2:9–10; Acts 10:3–4). This angel appeared in such a fearsome form that a detachment of Roman soldiers fainted at the sight of him. This angel then rolled the large stone from in front of Jesus' tomb.

The angel revealed to the women that Jesus is risen from the dead. The tomb is empty. He has given them a message to pass on to the disciples, and he has told them to do it quickly.

Matthew reports they did leave quickly with feelings of both fear and great joy. That's exactly what you would expect to feel in this moment: fear about the angel and Jesus' missing body, but great joy at the news that He is alive, raised from the dead. The women ran to report all of this to the disciples. They won't arrive, though, before their joy is made whole.

Matthew 28:1–10 describes how two of Jesus' women followers learn of Jesus' resurrection. Before they arrive at the tomb on Sunday morning, an angel from heaven descends and rolls back the large stone. This is accompanied by an earthquake. The Roman soldiers faint. The angel tells the women Jesus is risen from the dead. Jesus meets the women, and they worship Him. He sends them to tell His brothers He has been resurrected from the dead and that they should go to Galilee. They will see Him there.

An angel of the Lord descends from heaven and rolls the stone from Jesus' tomb. The guards faint. The angel sits on top of the stone and waits. Two women, followers of Jesus, arrive and are told that Jesus is risen from the dead. Jesus then meets them and tells them to give the news to His brothers. The chief priests bribe the guards to say Jesus' followers stole His body. Jesus meets the disciples on a mountain in Galilee and commissions them to make disciples of people from all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus' commands. Jesus promises to be with them always.

Matthew 28 follows the dark events of the crucifixion in the previous chapter and brings Matthew's story of Jesus to a close. An angel descends from heaven and rolls back the stone. The guards faint. The angel tells two women Jesus is risen and then Jesus meets them. The Jewish religious leaders bribe the guards to lie and distribute a story that His followers took the body. Jesus meets His disciples in Galilee and commissions them to make disciples of people from all nations on earth, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all of Jesus' commands.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 5/6/2024 5:15:23 PM