Gospel according to Matthew 28

¹ After the sabbath, and towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to visit the sepulchre.

² And all at once there was a violent earthquake, for the angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled away the stone and sat on it.

³ His face was like lightning, his robe white as snow.

⁴ The guards were so shaken, so frightened of him, that they were like dead men.

⁵ But the angel spoke; and he said to the women, ‘There is no need for you to be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said he would. Come and see the place where he lay,

⁷ then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has risen from the dead and now he is going before you to Galilee; it is there you will see him”. Now I have told you.’

⁸ Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples.

⁹ And there, coming to meet them, was Jesus. ‘Greetings’ he said. And the women came up to him and, falling down before him, clasped his feet.

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there’.

¹¹ While they were on their way, some of the guard went off into the city to tell the chief priests all that had happened.

¹² These held a meeting with the elders and, after some discussion, handed a considerable sum of money to the soldiers

¹³ with these instructions, ‘This is what you must say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep”.

¹⁴ And should the governor come to hear of this, we undertake to put things right with him ourselves and to see that you do not get into trouble.’

¹⁵ The soldiers took the money and carried out their instructions, and to this day that is the story among the Jews.

¹⁶ Meanwhile the eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them.

¹⁷ When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated.

¹⁸ Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

¹⁹ Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,[*a]

²⁰ and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’