The resurrection of Christ. The high priests give the soldiers a large sum of money to say that Christ was stolen out of his grave. Christ appears to his disciples, and sends them forth to preach and to baptize.

28 At the close of the Sabbath day, which is in the dawn of the morrow after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulchre. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake. For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. ³ His countenance was like lightening and his raiment white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him, the guards were overwhelmed and became as dead men.

⁵ The angel spoke and said to the women, Fear not: I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here. He is risen, as he said. Come and see the place where the Lord was put. ⁷ And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from death. And behold, he will go before you into Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you.

⁸ And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word. ⁹ And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All Hail! And they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him. ¹⁰ Then said Jesus to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren to go into Galilee, and there they will see me.

¹¹ When they had gone, some of the guards went into the city and told to the high priests all the things that had happened. ¹² And they gathered them together with the elders and took counsel, and gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, ¹³ saying, Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while you slept. ¹⁴ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and keep you out of trouble.

¹⁵ And the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is circulated among the Jews to this day.

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to a mountain where Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him. But some of them doubted.

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world.

Here ends the gospel
of St. Matthew.