In {1} the {a} end of the sabbath, as it {b} began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

(1) Christ, having routed death in the tomb, rises by his own power, as the angel immediately witnesses.

(a) At the going out of the sabbath, that is, about daybreak after the Roman manner of telling time, which considers the natural day to be from the rising of the sun to the next sunrise: and not as the Hebrews, which count from evening to evening.

(b) When the morning of the first day after the sabbath began to dawn: and that first day is the same as that which we now call Sunday, or the Lord's day.

People's New Testament

28:1 The Resurrection

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 28:

The Women at the Sepulcher. The Message of the Angel. The Risen Lord. The Report of the Guard. The Charge of the Priests. Christ Appears to the Eleven. The Meeting in Galilee. The Great Commission.

In the end of the sabbath. After the Sabbath in which Jesus had lain in the tomb.

As it began to dawn. All the gospels mark the precious moment when the great news first became known. Mark says they arrived at sunrise (Mr 16:2). Compare Mr 16:1-8 Lu 24:1-11 Joh 20:1-21 1Co 15:1-20.

The first day of the week. The Lord's day, or Sunday.

Came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Mary, the mother of James and Joses (Mr 15:47). Also Salome (Mr 16:1). Late on Friday evening they had watched the sepulcher (Mt 27:56). Now, after the Sabbath, they came with spices in the hope that they could anoint the body (Mr 16:1). These disciples would not break the Sabbath, even to preserve the body of their beloved Lord. The Sabbath ended at sunset, so that Jesus had been dead and buried Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning, beginning at the previous sunset, three days according to Jewish reckoning. See 1Sa 30:12-13 2Ch 10:5,12.

Wesley's Notes

28:1 Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] In the end of the Sabbath

The order of events, combining the four narratives, is as follows: Three women, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and Salome, start for the sepulchre, followed by other women bearing spices. The three find the stone rolled away, and Mary Magdalene goes to tell the disciples. Lk 23:55-24:9 Jn 20:1,2. Mary, the mother of James and Joses, draws nearer the tomb and sees the angel of the Lord Mt 28:2. She goes back to meet the other women following with the spices. Meanwhile Peter and John, warned by Mary Magdalene, arrive, look in, and go away Jn 20:3-10. Mary Magdalene returns weeping, sees the two angels and then Jesus Jn 20:11-18 and goes as He bade her to tell the disciples. Mary (mother of James and Joses), meanwhile, has met the women with the spices and, returning with them, they see the two angels. Lk 24:4,5 Mk 16:5. They also receive the angelic message, and, going to seek the disciples, are met by Jesus. Mt 28:8-10.

Margin end of

Lit. end of the sabbaths. The sabbaths end, the first day comes. See Scofield Note: "Mt 12:1". Also see, Jn 20:19 Acts 20:7 1Cor 16:2 Rev 1:10.

Margin other Mary

Supposed to be Mary the mother of James and Joses.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 28

Mt 28:1-15. Glorious Angelic Announcement on the First Day of the Week, that Christ Is Risen-His Appearance to the Women-The Guards Bribed to Give a False Account of the Resurrection. ( = Mr 16:1-8; Lu 24:1-8; Joh 20:1).

The Resurrection Announced to the Women (Mt 28:1-8).

1. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn-after the Sabbath, as it grew toward daylight.

toward the first day of the week-Luke (Lu 24:1) has it, "very early in the morning"-properly, "at the first appearance of daybreak"; and corresponding with this, John (Joh 20:1) says, "when it was yet dark." See on [1384]Mr 16:2. Not an hour, it would seem, was lost by those dear lovers of the Lord Jesus.

came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary-"the mother of James and Joses" (see on [1385]Mt 27:56; [1386]Mt 27:61).

to see the sepulchre-with a view to the anointing of the body, for which they had made all their preparations. (See on [1387]Mr 16:1, 2).

And, behold, there was-that is, there had been, before the arrival of the women.

a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, &c.-And this was the state of things when the women drew near. Some judicious critics think all this was transacted while the women were approaching; but the view we have given, which is the prevalent one, seems the more natural. All this august preparation-recorded by Matthew alone-bespoke the grandeur of the exit which was to follow. The angel sat upon the huge stone, to overawe, with the lightning-luster that darted from him, the Roman guard, and do honor to his rising Lord.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

28:1-8 Christ rose the third day after his death; that was the time he had often spoken of. On the first day of the first week God commanded the light to shine out of darkness. On this day did He who is the Light of the world, shine out of the darkness of the grave; and this day is from henceforward often mentioned in the New Testament, as the day which Christians religiously observed in solemn assemblies, to the honour of Christ. Our Lord Jesus could have rolled back the stone by his own power, but he chose to have it done by an angel. The resurrection of Christ, as it is the joy of his friends, so it is the terror and confusion of his enemies. The angel encouraged the women against their fears. Let the sinners in Zion be afraid. Fear not ye, for his resurrection will be your consolation. Our communion with him must be spiritual, by faith in his word. When we are ready to make this world our home, and to say, It is good to be here, then let us remember our Lord Jesus is not here, he is risen; therefore let our hearts rise, and seek the things that are above. He is risen, as he said. Let us never think that strange which the word of Christ has told us to expect; whether the sufferings of this present time, or the glory that is to be revealed. It may have a good effect upon us, by faith to view the place where the Lord lay. Go quickly. It was good to be there, but the servants of God have other work appointed. Public usefulness must be chosen before the pleasure of secret communion with God. Tell the disciples, that they may be comforted under their present sorrows. Christ knows where his disciples dwell, and will visit them. Even to those at a distance from the plenty of the means of grace, he will graciously manifest himself. The fear and the joy together quickened their pace. The disciples of Christ should be forward to make known to each other their experiences of communion with their Lord; and should tell others what God has done for their souls.