⁶⁶ They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.^(A)

Resurrection Morning

28 After the Sabbath,^(A) as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. ² There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.^{(B) 3} His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.^{(C) 4} The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.

⁵ The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.^{(D) 6} He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.^{(E) 7} Then go quickly and tell his disciples,^(F) ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”^(G)

⁸ So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news. ⁹ Just then^[a] Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.^{(H) 10} Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”^(I)

The Soldiers Bribed to Lie

¹¹ As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² After the priests^[b] had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money ¹³ and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ ¹⁴ If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with^[c] him and keep you out of trouble.”^{(J) 15} They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.^(K)