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Matthew 28

1After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2And look, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, approached, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4The guards shook with fear of him and became like dead men.

5But the angel said to the women, “Do not fear, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and look, he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Look, I have told you.”

8They left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to his disciples. 9And look, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They approached, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not fear. Go and report to my brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

11While they were going, look, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12After gathering with the elders and taking counsel, they gave a considerable amount of silver to the soldiers, 13saying, “Say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ 14And if this is heard before the governor, we will persuade him and keep you free from worry.” 15They took the silver and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jews to this day.

16The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to keep everything I have commanded you. And look, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age.”

Translation notes 5

28:1 — After the Sabbath. The Greek time expression can be understood as late on the Sabbath or after it. The reference to the first day dawning favors the latter here.

28:10 — Brothers. “Brothers” refers here to Jesus's disciples, who are to meet him in Galilee.

28:14–15 — To this day. The leaders promise to deal with the governor if the matter reaches him. “To this day” is the narrator's time, and the statement concerns the circulation of this story.

28:17 — Doubted. Alternatively, “but they doubted,” or “but they hesitated.” The wording can identify some of the eleven or describe the group. It does not place their doubt before this encounter or state precisely what they doubted.

28:19–20 — Into the name. “Into the name” expresses a baptismal relationship; the customary “in the name” is also defensible and can emphasize authority. The preposition alone does not settle the full meaning of baptism. “Name” is singular. Baptizing and teaching describe the making of disciples; “keep” includes doing what Jesus commanded. “Completion of the age” is the phrase used in 13:39–40, 49 and 24:3, rather than a supplied date or description of the world's destruction.