Matthew 28

1 After the Sabbath [at the end of the seventh day, late on the sabbath day], at dawn [as it began to dawn, when the first light appears] on the first day [one, the initial day] of the week, Mary Magdalene [from Magdala, a follower of Jesus] and the other [different, another] Mary went to see [to experience, to discern] the tomb [grave, sepulchre, place of burial]. word study 2 Suddenly [all of a sudden, at once] there was a great [tremendous, intense] earthquake [shaking of the ground], for an angel [messenger of the Lord, heavenly being] of the Lord [God, Master] descended [came down, fell down] from heaven [the sky, God’s home], rolled away [moved out of the way] the stone [rock, barrier], and sat [was seated, remained] on it [the stone, in a position of authority]. word study 3 His appearance [like shining light, as bright as] was like lightning [a brilliant flash of light], and his clothes [garments, robes] were white [pure, clean] as snow [frozen crystals]. word study 4 The guards [watchers, keepers] trembled [shook, quaked] in fear [alarm, terror] of him and became [were struck with fear, fell down] like [as, about] dead [lifeless, without motion] men. word study 5 But the angel [messenger of God] said to the women, “Do not be afraid [fear not, have no fear], for I know [perceive, am aware] that you are looking for [seek, searching for] Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation], who was [having been] crucified [put to death on the cross, impaled]. word study 6 He is not [completely absent, nowhere to be found] here; He has risen [come to life again, been resurrected], just as [in the same way, according to His promise] He said [spoken, declared]! Come [draw near, approach], see [behold, perceive] the place [location, spot] where [in which spot, at which location] He lay [was laid, rested]. word study 7 Then go quickly [without delay] and tell His disciples [the learners, followers of Jesus], ‘He has risen [been raised, come back to life] from the dead [the state of being lifeless, spiritually or physically] and is going ahead of you [leading the way, preceding] into Galilee [the region, district]. There [in that place, location] you will see [perceive, experience] Him.’ See [behold, take notice], I have told [spoken, informed] you [directly, personally].” word study 8 So they hurried [quickly, with urgency] away from the tomb [grave, sepulchre] in fear [terror, alarm] and great [intense, profound] joy [deep and lasting happiness], and ran [with haste, swiftly] to tell [announce, declare] His disciples [learners, followers]. word study 9 Suddenly Jesus [the Savior, God’s salvation] met them and said [greeting them with], “Greetings [rejoice, be glad]!” They came to Him, grasped [seized, took hold of] His feet, and worshiped [paid homage, showed reverence to] Him. word study 10 “Do not [be terrified, have no fear] be afraid,” said Jesus [the Savior, God’s salvation]. “Go [depart, leave this place] and tell My brothers [fellow believers, disciples] to go [travel, journey] to Galilee [the region, the area]. There [in that place, at that location] they will see [perceive, behold] Me [the Messiah, the Christ].” word study 11 While the women [on their way, going] were on their way, some [certain, a group] of the guards [Roman sentry] went into the city [town] and reported [told, announced] to the chief priests [high-priests] all [everything, every event] that had happened [occurred, came to pass]. word study 12 And after the chief priests [met together, assembled] had met with the elders [respected leaders, community authorities] and formed a plan [taken counsel, made a decision], they gave the soldiers [common warriors, spiritual fighters] a large sum [sufficient amount, substantial] of money [silver coins, financial resources] word study 13 and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples [followers, learners] came by [during the darkness of] night [the time of darkness] and stole [took secretly, without permission] Him away while we were [in a state of] asleep [resting or unconscious].’ word study 14 If this [specific, particular] report [news, information] reaches [comes to the attention of, is heard by] the governor [ruler, high-ranking official], we [ourselves, personally] will satisfy [persuade, convince] him [the governor, the authority] and keep [secure, free from trouble] you [yourselves, personally] out of [free from, untroubled by] trouble [anxiety, worry, care].” word study 15 So the guards [soldiers, those who were tasked to watch] took the money [silver coins, a piece of silver] and did as they were instructed [taught, given orders to follow]. And this account [saying, message] has been circulated [spread abroad, published] among the Jews [people of Jewish descent] to this very day [until today, in the present time]. word study 16 Meanwhile [at that time, then], the eleven [a specific number, a group of] disciples [learners, followers of Jesus] went to Galilee [a region in Palestine], to the mountain [a high elevation, a place of encounter] Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] had designated [appointed, assigned a meeting place]. word study 17 When they saw [perceived, attended to] Him, they worshiped [bowed down to, showed respect] Him, but [and yet, however] some doubted [were in doubt, wavered]. word study 18 Then Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] came to them and said, “All [every, complete] authority [power, freedom to act] in heaven [the sky and God’s home] and on earth [the soil, a region, or the entire globe] has been given [bestowed, granted] to Me [as the Son of God, with all power and dominion]. word study 19 Therefore go [as My representatives, having My authority] and make disciples [pupils, followers, learners] of all [every, entire] nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people, ethnic groups], baptizing [immersing, submerging] them in the name [character, authority] of the Father [Creator, heavenly Parent], and of the Son [Messiah, Redeemer], and of the Holy [set apart, sacred] Spirit [breath, divine presence], word study 20 and teaching them [to instruct, to guide] to obey [to follow, to observe] all that I have commanded [ordered, instructed] you. And surely [certainly, truly] I am [exist, present] with you [among you, accompanying you] always [at all times, continually], even to the end [the completion, the consummation] of the age [a long period of time, eternity].” word study