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Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

Matthew 28:11-15

While they were on their way, certain of the guard came to the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. When they had met with the ciders, they formed a plan. They gave a considerable amount of money to the soldiers. "Say," they said, "'His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will use our influence, and we will see to it that you have nothing to worry about." They took the money and followed their instructions. And this is the story which is repeated amongst the Jews to this day.

When some of the guard came to the chief priests and told them the story of the empty tomb, the Jewish authorities were desperately worried men. Was it possible that all their planning had come to nothing? So they formed a simple plan; they bribed the members of the guard to say that Jesus' disciples had come while they slept and had stolen his body.

It is interesting to note the means that the Jewish authorities used in their desperate attempts to eliminate Jesus. They used treachery to lay hold on him. They used illegality to try him. They used slander to charge him to Pilate. And now they were using bribery to silence the truth about him. And they failed. Magna est veritas et praevalebit, ran the Roman proverb; great is the truth and it will prevail. It is the fact of history that not all men's evil machinations can in the end stop the truth. The gospel of goodness is greater than the plots of wickedness.

THE GLORY OF THE FINAL PROMISE (Matthew 28:16-20)

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See also Matthew 28:11-15 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    MATTHEW 28:11 avph,ggeilan {B} In view of the weight of evidence, the Committee preferred avph,ggeilan to avnh,ggeilan, a verb that occurs nowhere else in Matthew....

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Matthew 28:11. _SOME OF THE WATCH_] Or _guards_. Probably the rest still remained at the tomb, waiting for orders to depart, and had sent these to intimate to their employers the things that had...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHEN THEY WERE GOING - Or when they had gone from the tomb. SOME OF THE WATCH - Some of the guard that had been set around the tomb to keep it safe. Probably the leaders or officers came to give a tr...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    14. HIS RESURRECTION AND THE GREAT COMMISSION. CHAPTER 28 _ 1. His Resurrection. (Matthew 28:1 .) 2. The Lying Report of the Jews.(Matthew 28:11 .) 3. The Great Commission. (Matthew 28:16 .)_ We ha

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE GUARD AND THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES (Mt. only). The paragraph is the sequel to Matthew 27:62 *. Matthew 28:15. unto this day: the date when the Gospel was written....

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THE WATCH. See note on Mat 27:68, Matthew 27:66. SHEWED. told. See verses: Matthew 28:8; Matthew 28:9; Matthew 28:10. were

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Roman Guards are bribed. This important testimony is given by St Matthew only 12. _large money_ Literally, MANY PIECES OF SILVER, a _largesse_....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΤΙΝῈΣ ΤΗ͂Σ ΚΟΥΣΤΩΔΊΑΣ. An expression that implies more than the traditional number of four guards. The full complement of a κουστωδία appears to have been 60 men. See note, ch. Matthew 27:65....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE ROMAN GUARDS ARE BRIBED This important testimony is given by St Matthew only....

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver 11. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the Chief Priests all the things that were done. 12. And when they were assembled with the elders, and h...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE REJECTING SOLDIERS MATTHEW 28:11-15:_ The guards were placed at the tomb by Caiaphus so that the disciples would not steal the body. These guards saw every thing that happened, and reported it al...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΟΡΕΥΟΜΈΝΩΝ _praes. med. (dep.) part. от_ ΠΟΡΕΎΟΜΑΙ (G4198) идти; _gen. abs._ ΈΛΘΌΝΤΕΣ _aor. act. part. (conymcme.)_ от ΈΡΧΟΜΑΙ (G2064) приходить, ΓΕΝΌΜΕΝΑ _aor. med. (dep.) part. от_ ΓΊΝΟΜΑΙ (G1096)...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    NOW WHEN THEY WERE GOING, &C.— The chief priests, having received the report of the guard, called the whole senate together, and consulted among themselves what they were to do. The deliberations, how...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    SECTION 77 JESUS-' GUARDS TESTIFY TO HIS RESURRECTION TEXT: 28:11-15 11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that w...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. NOW WHEN THEY WERE GOING - while the women were on their way...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    5-8 Compare Mar_16:5-8; Luk_24:3-11. 9-10 Compare Mar_16:9-11. See Joh_20:17 18 This account is principally concerned with the rejection of the kingdom. How fitting that it should close with a previe...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BRIBERY OF THE GUARDS (peculiar to St. Matthew). The report of the soldiers may have had something to do with the conversion of so many priests described in Acts 6:7....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE RESURRECTION For the Resurrection see special article. 1-10. THE RESURRECTION AND APPEARANCE TO THE WOMEN (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). If it be remembered that a considerable number of women...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    CHIEF PRIESTS] These were Sadducees, hostile to any idea of a resurrection....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MATTHEW’S GOOD NEWS MATTHEW’S *GOSPEL _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 28 JESUS BECOMES ALIVE AGAIN 28:1-10 V1 The holy day had finished. Now it was dawn on the first day of the week. So Mary Magdalene a...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SOME OF THE WATCH. — This incident, like that of the appointment of the guard, is reported by St. Matthew only. As writing primarily for the Jews of Palestine, it was natural that he should take speci...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    πορευομένων δὲ α., while the women go on their errand, the guards, crestfallen, play their poor part. Some of them (τινὲς) go into the city and report in their own way to the priests all that has happ...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _The guards and the priests_....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE GREAT COMMISSION, OF THE RISEN LORD Matthew 28:11-20 What absurdity in this mendacious explanation! How could the soldiers know who stole the body, if they were _asleep?_ Skeptics have to believe...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    “He is not here, He is risen!" That, surely, is the sweetest music. How beautifully it crowns the King. His enemies have rejected Him, and have proved their malice by handing Him over to their common,...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (3) Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. (3) The more that the sun shines, the more that the wicked...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Some of the guards came into the city. It is probable they had retired a while to some place to consult what to say, and how to avoid being punished. The chief priests, after consulting upon the matte...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    REPORT OF THE WATCH Matthew 28:11-15. “ _And they going_, _behold_, _certain ones of the watch_, _having come into the city_, _announced to the high priests all the things which have taken place. And...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    "Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. (12) And when they were assembled with the elders, and had tak...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the Lord's final presentation of Himself to Jerusalem, traced, however, from Jericho; that is, from the city which had once been the stronghold of the power of the Canaanite. The Lord...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 28:11._And while they were departing. _It is not only credible, but the fact is manifest, that the soldiers, to whom had been entrusted the charge of the sepulcher, were corrupted by a bribe,...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    I shall examine the details of the resurrection elsewhere Here I only consider its bearing in this Gospel. The sabbath ended (Saturday evening with us chapter 28), the two Marys come to see the sepulc...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    NOW WHEN THEY WERE GOING,.... Or were gone from the sepulchre: that is, the women, Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, and their companions, when they were going, or gone, and before they could come t...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. Ver. 11. _Some of the watch came into the city_] God would hav...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Now when_, or _while they were going_ While these extraordinary things were transacting, and the women were going to tell the disciples what they had heard and seen: _behold, some of the watch_ Some...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THE WATCH; the soldiers who had been appointed to watch the sepulchre, and see that his disciples did not come and steal him away....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The report of the watch:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    NOW WHEN THEY WERE GOING, BEHOLD, SOME OF THE WATCH CAME INTO THE CITY, AND SHOWED UNTO THE CHIEF PRIESTS ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE DONE....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The Sabbath coming to an end, the two Mary's arrive at the grave early in the morning. Some have thought that Mary Magdalene came twice, though this does not seem clear, except that she evidently retu...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    11-15 What wickedness is it which men will not be brought to by the love of money! Here was large money given to the soldiers for advancing that which they knew to be a lie, yet many grudge a little...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "MATTHEW 28:15"....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Gospel of Nicodemus I The Acts of Pilate The soldiers therefore took the money, and said as they were bid. And up to this day this same lying tale is told among the Jews.[121]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Matthew 28:11 Now G1161 they G846 going G4198 (G5740) behold G2400 (G5628) some G5100 guard G2892 came...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FINAL TRIUMPH (28:7-20). Following this remarkable experience of the women, we now come to the climax of the Gospel, the resurrection appearances and the giving of the Great Commission. The subsec...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.' At the same time as the women were going to tell the Apostles a...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CHIEF PRIESTS BRIBE THE GUARDS SO THAT THEY WILL SAY THAT JESUS' BODY WAS STOLEN (28:11-15). This whole Section from Matthew 26:1 onwards commenced with the Chief Priests bribing Judas so that He...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Matthew 28:11. WHILE THEY WERE GOING. The fact that the soldiers did not go first, indicates that all the occurrences at the sepulchre occupied but a short time. SOME OF THE GUARD, etc. They told th...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    The two incidents of this section seem to have been placed together, to mark a contrast Judaism reaches its lowest point, when it must bribe heathen soldiers to lie for it. Matthew would thus lead the...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    TOLD UNTO THE CHIEF PRIESTS (απηγγειλαν τοις αρχιερευσιν). These Roman soldiers had been placed at the disposal of the Sanhedrin. They were probably afraid also to report to Pilate and tell him wha...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Matthew 28:11 The Chief Priests' Story. This tale of the high priests', if it be good for anything, will bear the same cross-examination and analysis as others in the annals of important jurispruden...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 28:1. _In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher._ While the Jewish Sabbath lasted, they pai...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 28:1. _In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake:...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus in Galilee and the great commission. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, 2 Marys, disciples. CONCLUSION: Jesus Christ is declared to be the Son of God with pow...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The history and evidences of our Saviour's resurrection, being of infinite importance, are reserved to the last chapter of St. John. Matthew 28:1. _In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn towar...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    SOME OF THE SOLDIERS. The time at which these men went back to the city is carefully identified. It was while the women continued on to tell the disciples about the Resurrection. These soldiers report...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away._ THE CHIEF PRIESTS’ STORY I. Let us begin with an exact understanding of the whole story at once. II. Coolly and dispassionately it becomes...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 28:1 The Resurrection and Commission of the Messiah. Matthew’s concluding chapter recounts Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. His resurrection confirms his identity and shows t...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 28:11 The SOLDIERS faced possible execution for neglecting their guard duty. In cooperating with the Jewish religious leaders, they at least have a chance to save themselves....

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 28 _In the evening of the Sabbath_ (Vulg.), _as the first day of the week was dawning_, &c. How could it be called evening if day was dawning, or even if, as S. Mark says, the sun were risen?...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 28:13. SAY YE, etc.—In addition to all the judgments of impotency, embarrassment, and rejection, they are now subjected to the judgment of stupidity (_Lange_). Let the critic...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MATTHEW 28:1 _Jesus rises from the dead, and appears to the holy women. _(Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1; John 20

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of t...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Matthew 27:65; Matthew 27:66; Matthew 28:4...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE SEVEN MIRACULOUS EVENTS Matthew 28:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The events centered around the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ were miraculous to say the least. One miracle generally c...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. How the priests and elders endeavour by. notorious lie to hinder the belief of our Lord's resurrection, they soborne and bribe the soldiers to say that his corpse was stolen out of th...

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Old Testament