Matthew 28

International Standard Version

Jesus is Raised from the Dead^(A)

28 After the Sabbaths,^[a] around dawn on the first day of the week,^[b] Mary Magdalene^[c] and the other Mary went to take a look at the burial site.^{[d] 2} Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake, because an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, approached the stone, rolled it away, and was sitting on top of it. ³ His appearance was bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ Trembling from fear, even the guards themselves became catatonic.^[e]

⁵ Responding to the women, the angel said, “Stop being frightened! I know you’re looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here. He has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he^[f] was lying. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there. Remember, I have told you!”

⁸ So they quickly left the tomb, terrified but also ecstatic, and ran to tell Jesus’^[g] disciples. ⁹ Suddenly, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They went up to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus told them, “Stop being frightened! Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

The Guards Report to the High Priests

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened. ¹² So they met with the elders and agreed on a plan to give the soldiers a large^[h] amount of money. ¹³ They said, “Say that Jesus’^[i] disciples came at night and stole him while you were sleeping. ¹⁴ If this is reported to the governor, we’ll personally persuade him to keep you out of trouble.”^{[j] 15} So the soldiers^[k] took the money, did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Jesus Commissions His Disciples^(B)

¹⁶ The eleven disciples went into Galilee to the hillside to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshipped him, though some had doubts. ¹⁸ Then Jesus approached them and told them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day^[l] until the end of the age.”^[m]