John Calvin Commentary Matthew 28:4

"and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men." — Matthew 28:4 (ASV)

Through fear the guards trembled. The Lord struck the guards with terror, as if He had engraved their consciences with a hot iron, compelling them reluctantly to feel His divine power. This terror had, at least, the effect of hindering them from treating with careless mockery the report of the resurrection which was to be spread abroad shortly afterward. For though they were not ashamed to prostitute their tongues for hire, they were still compelled, whether they wished to or not, to acknowledge inwardly what they wickedly denied before men. Nor can it be doubted that, when they were free to talk among their acquaintances, they frankly admitted what they dared not openly declare, having been won over by money.

We must pay attention to the distinction between the two kinds of terror, a comparison Matthew draws. The soldiers, accustomed to tumults, were terrified and so completely overwhelmed by alarm that they fell down like men who were almost dead; but no power was exerted to raise them from that condition.

A similar terror seized the women. However, their minds, which had nearly given way, were restored by the consolation that immediately followed, so that they began, at least, to entertain some better hope.

And certainly, it is fitting that the majesty of God should strike both terror and fear indiscriminately into the godly and the reprobate alike, so that all flesh may be silent before His face.

But when the Lord has humbled and subdued His elect, He immediately mitigates their dread, so that they may not sink under its oppressive influence. Not only so, but by the sweetness of His grace, He heals the wound He had inflicted. The reprobate, on the other hand, He either overwhelms with sudden dread or allows to languish in slow torments.

As for the soldiers themselves, they were, no doubt, like dead men, but without any serious impression. Like men in a state of insensibility, they trembled, indeed, for a moment, but soon forgot they had been afraid. This was not because the remembrance of their terror was wholly obliterated, but because that vivid and powerful apprehension of God’s power, to which they were compelled to yield, quickly passed away from them.

But we ought chiefly to pay attention to this point: though they, like the women, were afraid, no remedy was applied to soothe their terror, for it was to the women only that the angel said, Fear not. He held out to them a ground for joy and assurance in the resurrection of Christ. Luke adds a reproof, Why do you seek the living among the dead? as if the angel pulled their ear, so that they might no longer remain in sluggishness and despair.