Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 28

It will probably help the student to consider, in their correct order, the recorded appearances of our Lord Jesus after His resurrection:

1. To Mary Magdalene, John 20:14; Mark 16:9.
2. To Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, Matthew 28:9.
3. To Peter, Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5.
4. To Cleopas and another disciple at Emmaus, Luke 24:13–35.
5. To the eleven—or more strictly, the ten—Apostles at Jerusalem, Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36; John 20:19.
6. To the eleven Apostles at Jerusalem, John 20:26.
7. To the disciples—five named, and others—by the Sea of Galilee, John 21:1–24.
8. To the Eleven on a mountain in Galilee, Matthew 28:16; Mark 16:15.
9. To the five hundred brethren, possibly identical with (8), 1 Corinthians 15:6.
10. To James, the brother of the Lord, 1 Corinthians 15:7.
11. To the Eleven at Jerusalem before the Ascension, Mark 16:19–20; Luke 24:50; Acts 1:3–12.

In the end of the sabbath — Literally, late on the Sabbath. Mark says, when the Sabbath was over; Luke says, very early in the morning. Matthew’s addition, as it began to dawn, brings his narrative into harmony with Luke’s.

The order of facts appears to have been as follows:

1. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, the mother of James the Little, watched the burial just before the Sabbath began on the evening of the day of the crucifixion.
2. They stayed at home during the twenty-four hours of the Sabbath.
3. On the evening of that day (the Sabbath rest being over), they bought spices for the embalming.
4. At the earliest dawn, around 4 a.m., they set out for the sepulchre and reached it when the sun had risen (Mark 16:2).

The words imply that they did not witness the earthquake, but rather inferred it from what they saw. The form of the angel is described in Mark 16:5 as a young man in white or bright (Luke 24:4) clothing. This was the answer to the question they had been asking as they came: Who shall roll away the stone for us? (Mark 16:3). That task would have been beyond their strength.

Like lightning —The word employed by St. Luke to describe the clothing carries the same weight. The phrase white as snow has its counterpart in the account of the Transfiguration (Mark 9:3) and the vision of the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9).

The keepers shook — The words imply that when the two Marys reached the tomb, they saw the soldiers lying prostrate in panicked terror.

The angel answered and said... — We do not read of any words spoken by the women, but the words they now heard were an answer to their unuttered questions and fears. The bright one on whom they gazed knew their distress and amazement at the sight of the empty sepulchre, and told them that there was no cause for fear.