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Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

Matthew 28:3

His countenance - In our language the word “countenance” refers to the “face only;” in the original it refers to his “whole person.” His “general aspect, or the appearance of the angel himself,” was, etc.

Like lightning - Peculiarly bright and shining.

His raiment white as snow - Celestial beings are usually represented as clothed in white, Acts 1:10; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 3:4; Revelation 4:4; Revelation 7:13. White, among the Jews, was the symbol of “purity or innocence.”

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See also Matthew 28:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Matthew 28:3. _HIS COUNTENANCE_] _His appearance_, η ιδεα αυτου; or, _his face_, for so the word is used in some of the best Greek writers. It seems, from Mark 16:5, that this angel had assumed...

  • 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 EMPTY TOMB (Mark 16:1 *, Luke 24:1). Mt. is here not so close to Mk., except in Matthew 28:5. The note of time in Matthew 28:1 is not clear; the Sab ba

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Late on the Sabbath, when the first day of the week was beginning to dawn, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And, look you, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE GREAT DISCOVERY (Matthew 28:1-10)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    COUNTENANCE. general appearance. Greek. _idea._ Occurs only here. LIKE LIGHTNING: in effulgence....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Matthew 28:1-8. The Resurrection Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18 The discrepancies are slight, and may be accounted for by

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΕἸΔΈΑ. Here only in N.T., not ‘countenance,’ but ‘appearance,’ ‘species sub oculos cadens,’ not the thing itself but the thing as beholden, ‘ἰδέα τοῦ προσώπου, ‘the look of the countenance.’ (Trench,...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Matthew 28:1-8. THE RESURRECTION Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18 The discrepancies are slight, and may be accounted for by th

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver 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 sepulchre. 2. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for t...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE RISEN LORD MATTHEW 28:1-8:_ Near dawn on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary became the first to know that Jesus had been resurrected. When they came to the tomb the seal...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΕΊΔΈΑ (G2397) внешность, ΑΣΤΡΑΠΉ (G796) свечение, ΧΙΏΝ (G5510) снег....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE— While the women were going to the sepulchre, there was a great earthquake, namely, that which preceded the most memorable event that ever happened among men,—...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    SECTION 76 JESUS AROSE! (Parallels: Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18) TEXT: 28:1-10 1 Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first _day_ of the week, came Mary Magdalene...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: HIS COUNTENANCE, [ idea (G2397)] - or, 'appearance,' WAS LIKE LIGHTNING, AND HIS RAIMENT WHITE AS SNOW - the one expressing the g...

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

    54-61 Compare Mar_15:39-47; Luk_23:47-56 Joh_19:38-42. 54 The kingdom proclamation closed with the acknowledgment of Peter that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mat_16:16). His priestly m...

  • 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...

  • 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

    LIKE LIGHTNING. — The word employed by St. Luke to describe the “raiment has the same force. The “white as snow” has its counterpart in the record of the Transfiguration (Mark 9:3) and the vision of t...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 20 The Third Day- Matthew 27:57 - Matthew 28:1 Now that the atoning work of Christ is finished, the story proceeds with rapidity to its close. It was the work of the Evangelist to give the h...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἰδέα (here only in N. T.; in Sept [160], Daniel 1:13; Daniel 1:15), the appearance, aspect (of the countenance of the angel). _Vide_ Trench, _Syn._, p. 262, on μορφή, σχῆμα, ἰδέα. ὡς ἀστραπὴ (Matthew...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    _The open grave_ (Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-11)....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE OPEN AND EMPTY TOMB Matthew 28:1-10 Ere the sun had risen and while the glory of the dawn was faint in the Eastern sky, the women were well on their way. But He whom they sought had gone. How oft...

  • 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

    His (c) countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: (c) The beams of his eyes, and by the figure of speech called synecdoche, this is understood as the countenance....

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHAPTER 29 THE RESURRECTION Mark 16:1. “ _And the Sabbath passing away_, _Mary Magdalene_, _and Mary the mother of James_, _and Salome_, _purchased aromatics_, _in order that_, _having come_, _they m...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    "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 sepulchre. (2) And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the an...

  • 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 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

    HIS COUNTENANCE WAS LIKE LIGHTNING,.... There was such a lustre and brightness in his face, that it glittered like lightning: such a description is in Daniel 10:6, AND HIS RAIMENT WHITE AS SNOW: the...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: Ver. 3. _His countenance was like lightning_] So that though he appeared in a human shape, yet it might easily appear that he was mo...

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

    _His countenance was like lightning_ Coruscations of light darting from his face; _and his raiment white as snow_ Glittering with an extraordinary lustre, beyond what any human eyes could bear; _and f...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    HIS COUNTENANCE WAS LIKE LIGHTNING AND HIS RAIMENT WHITE AS SNOW;...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. The open grave:...

  • 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

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "MATTHEW 28:4"....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Matthew 28:3 G1161 His G846 countenance G2397 was G2258 (G5713) like G5613 lightning G796 and G2532 his...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE WOMEN DISCIPLES COME TO THE TOMB AND FIND IT EMPTY APART FROM AN ANGEL. THEY LEARN THAT JESUS HAS RISEN (28:1-6). Late on the same day as the Chief Priests sealed the tomb, two of the women discip...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow, and for fear of him the watchers quaked, and became as dead men.' The appearance of the angel was as lightning in its splendour, and hi...

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

    Matthew 28:3. HIS APPEARANCE _,_ rather than his form. AS LIGHTNING _._ In its exceeding brightness. Comp. the other descriptions of the angels within the sepulchre (Mark 15:5; Luke 24:4;...

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

    GENERAL REMARKS. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is distinctly asserted, by four evangelists whose testimony nowhere shows greater independence of each other; in the Acts of the Apostles; it is preac...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    APPEARANCE (ειδεα). Here only in the N.T. Compare μορφη and σχημα....

  • 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

    HIS APPEARANCE. Brightness, brilliance! [Compare Exodus 34:29; Matthew 17:2; Revelation 1:14.] Jesus' clothes became white as light at the Transfiguration; and the Redeemed wear white robes in Revelat...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And behold, there was a great earthquake._ THE EARTHQUAKE TRUMPET An earthquake was a royal trumpet to proclaim this victory, the greatest that ever was obtained against an enemy. The deep murmur a...

  • 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 28:3 FEAR OF HIM. The guards are probably battle-hardened soldiers, but they have never witnessed anything like this. ⇐

  • The Gospels Compared

    Jesus rises from the dead Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18;...

  • 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 28:1. IN THE END OF THE SABBATH.—_Late on the Sabbath day_ (R.V.).—We must assume, with Meyer, Lange, and Alford, that Matthew here follows the natural division of the day fro...

  • 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

    Acts 1:10; Daniel 10:5; Daniel 10:6; Ezekiel 1:4; Mark 16:5;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Countenance [ε ι δ ε α]. Rev., more correctly, appearance. The word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It does not refer to the face alone, but to the general aspect. Wyc., looking. As lightnin...

  • 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...

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