Matthew

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to visit the tomb.

Suddenly, there was a violent earthquake: an angel of the Lord descending from heaven, came to the stone, rolled it away from the entrance of the tomb, and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning, and his garment was white as snow.

When they saw the angel, the guards were filled with terror.

The angel said to the women:

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him;

then go immediately and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. This is my message to you.

In fear yet with great joy, the women left the tomb and ran to tell the news to his disciples.

He Appears to the Women

Suddenly, Jesus met them on the road and said:

Rejoice!”

The women approached him, bowed down at his feet, and worshiped him.

Then Jesus said to them:

Do not be afraid! Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Report of the Guards

As the women continued on their way, some of the guards entered the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had taken place.

The chief priests gathered with the elders and decided to pay the soldiers a large sum of money

with this instruction:

“Say that his disciples came by night while you were asleep and stole the body of Jesus.

If Pilate finds out about this, we will explain the situation and keep you out of trouble.”

The soldiers took the money and did as they were told. This story has circulated among the Jews to this day.

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus instructed them to meet.

When they saw Jesus, they bowed before him, although some doubted.

Then Jesus approached and said to them:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, until the end of the age.