Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 28:8

"And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word." — Matthew 28:8 (ASV)

And they departed quickly. Joyful at the news, and wishing to impart it to all, they fled to find the disciples and tell them that the Lord was risen.

With fear and great joy. Their fear stemmed from:

1. the wonderful scenes they had witnessed—the stone rolled away and the presence of an angel;
2. a confused state of mind, apprehensive, perhaps, that it might not after all be true.

The news was too good to be credited at once. Yet they had sufficient belief in it to fill them with great and unexpected joy. Perhaps no language could better express their state of mind—the mingled awe and rejoicing—than the language used here.

And did run. They ran to announce what they had seen to the disciples. The city where the disciples were was half a mile or more from the place.