Matthew 28

Resurrection Morning

¹After the Sabbath, ^a as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. ²There 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. ^{b 3}His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. ^{c 4}The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.

⁵The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ^{d 6}He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ^{e 7}Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ^f ‘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.” ^g

⁸So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news. ⁹Just then ^h Jesus met them and said, “Greetings! ” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ^{i 10}Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”^j

The Soldiers Bribed to Lie

¹¹As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹²After the priests ^k had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money ¹³and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ ¹⁴If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with ^l him and keep you out of trouble.” ^{m 15}They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day. ⁿ

The Great Commission

¹⁶The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. ^{o 17}When they saw him, they worshiped, ^p but some doubted. ¹⁸Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.^{q 19}Go, therefore, and make disciples^r of^s all nations,^t baptizing^u them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,^v I am with you always,^w to the end of the age.”^x