Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 28:11

"Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass." — Matthew 28:11 (ASV)

Some of the guards — This incident, like the appointment of the guard, is reported only by Matthew. As he was writing primarily for the Jews of Palestine, it was natural for him to take special notice of the rumor that prevented many of them from accepting the fact of the Resurrection, and to trace it to its corrupt source.

The soldiers' objective was, of course, to escape the penalty they were likely to incur for their apparent negligence, but their initial statement to the priests was truthful. They told them all the things that were done—the earthquake, the opened and empty sepulchre, and perhaps also about the figure in bright clothing that had filled them with speechless terror.