復活的清晨

28 過了安息日,在一週的頭一天[a],黎明的時候,茉大拉瑪麗亞和另一個瑪麗亞來看墳墓。 忽然發生了強烈的地震,主的一位天使從天上降下來,上前把那石頭[b]滾開,坐在上面。 他的容貌像閃電,衣服潔白如雪。 看守的衛兵們因怕天使就渾身發抖,變得像死人那樣。

天使對婦女們說:「你們不要怕!我知道你們是在尋找被釘十字架的耶穌。 他不在這裡,因為他已經復活[c]了,正如他所說過的。你們來看安放他[d]的地方。 趕快去告訴他的門徒們:『他從死人中復活了。看哪,他要在你們之前到加利利去。在那裡,你們將見到他。』看哪,我已經告訴你們了!」

她們立即離開墓穴,又懼怕,又大大歡喜,跑去告訴耶穌的門徒們。 這時候[e],忽然耶穌迎面而來,說:「願你們歡喜!」她們就上前來抱住他的腳拜他。 10 耶穌對她們說:「不要怕!去告訴我的弟兄們,要他們到加利利去。在那裡,他們將見到我。」

士兵受賄造謠

11 她們離去的時候,正好有一些衛兵進了城,把所發生的事都報告給祭司長們。 12 祭司長們就與長老們一起聚集商議,給了士兵們許多銀錢, 13 說:「你們要說:『他的門徒們夜裡來,趁我們睡著的時候,把他偷走了。』 14 如果這事被總督聽見了,我們會說服他,保證你們無事。」 15 士兵們收了銀錢,就照所指示的去做。於是這說法就流傳在猶太人當中,直到今天。

大使命

16 十一個門徒往加利利去,到了耶穌給他們指定的那座山上。 17 他們看見耶穌,就拜他,不過還有人疑惑。 18 耶穌前來,對他們說:「天上和地上所有的權柄都賜給我了。 19 所以你們要去,使萬民成為我的門徒;奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗[f][g] 20 凡我所吩咐你們的,都教導他們遵守。看哪,我就天天都與你們同在,直到這世代的終結。」

Footnotes

  1. 馬太福音 28:1 一週的頭一天——指「星期日」。
  2. 馬太福音 28:2 有古抄本附「從門口」。
  3. 馬太福音 28:6 復活——原文直譯「被復活」;指「神使耶穌復活」。
  4. 馬太福音 28:6 他——有古抄本作「主」。
  5. 馬太福音 28:9 這時候——有古抄本作「正當她們要去告訴門徒們的時候」。
  6. 馬太福音 28:19 奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗——或譯作「給他們施洗歸入父、子、聖靈的名」。
  7. 馬太福音 28:19 施洗——或譯作「施浸」。

28 After the Sabbath, as the light of the next day, the first day of the week, crept over Palestine, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb to keep vigil. Earlier there had been an earthquake. A messenger of the Lord had come down from heaven and had gone to the grave. He rolled away the stone and sat down on top of it. He veritably glowed. He was vibrating with light. His clothes were light, white like transfiguration, like fresh snow. The soldiers guarding the tomb were terrified. They froze like stone.

The messenger spoke to the women, to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.

Messenger of the Lord: Don’t be afraid. I know you are here keeping watch for Jesus who was crucified. But Jesus is not here. He was raised, just as He said He would be. Come over to the grave, and see for yourself. And then go straight to His disciples, and tell them He’s been raised from the dead and has gone on to Galilee. You’ll find Him there. Listen carefully to what I am telling you.

The women were both terrified and thrilled, and they quickly left the tomb and went to find the disciples and give them this outstandingly good news. But while they were on their way, they saw Jesus Himself.

Jesus (greeting the women): Rejoice.

The women fell down before Him, kissing His feet and worshiping Him.

Jesus: 10 Don’t be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. Tell them I will meet them there.

11 As the women were making their way to the disciples, some of the soldiers who had been standing guard by Jesus’ tomb recovered themselves, went to the city, and told the chief priests everything that had happened—the earthquake just after dawn, the heavenly messenger, and his commission to the Marys. 12 The chief priests gathered together all the elders, an emergency conference of sorts. They needed a plan. They decided the simplest course was bribery: they would pay off the guards 13 and order them to say that the disciples had come in the middle of the night and had stolen Jesus’ corpse while they slept. 14 The chief priests promised the soldiers they would run interference with the governor so that the soldiers wouldn’t be punished for falling asleep when they were supposed to be keeping watch. 15 The guards took the bribe and spread the story around town—and indeed, you can still find people today who will tell you that Jesus did not really rise from the dead, that it was a trick, some sort of sleight of hand.

16 The eleven disciples, having spoken to the Marys, headed to Galilee, to the mountain where they were to meet Jesus. 17 When the disciples saw Jesus there, many of them fell down and worshiped, as Mary and the other Mary had done. But a few hung back. They were not sure (and who can blame them?). 18 Jesus came forward and addressed His beloved disciples.

The disciples don’t know what to think or how to act. Nothing like this has ever happened before.

Jesus: I am here speaking with all the authority of God, who has commanded Me to give you this commission: 19 Go out and make disciples in all the nations. Ceremonially wash them through baptism in the name of the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then disciple them. Form them in the practices and postures that I have taught you, and show them how to follow the commands I have laid down for you. And I will be with you, day after day, to the end of the age.

Jesus Has Risen(A)

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene(B) and the other Mary(C) went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake,(D) for an angel(E) of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone(F) and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.(G) The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,(H) for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.(I) Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.(J) There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them.(K) “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers(L) to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards(M) went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away(N) while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor,(O) we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.(P) 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(Q) 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,(R) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,(S) 20 and teaching(T) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you(U) always, to the very end of the age.”(V)