Matthew 28

When the Sabbath ended, at dawn on Sunday morning, Mary from the town of Magdala and the other woman whose name was Mary went to observe Jesus’ tomb.

Then the earth quaked violently! {That happened} because an angel from the Lord descended from heaven. He went to {Jesus’ grave}. He rolled the flat stone away {from the entrance to the grave}. Then, he sat down on the stone. \*

This angel looked as bright as lightning. His garments were pure white.

The soldiers who were protecting {the grave} trembled because they were afraid of the angel. {They were so afraid that} they looked like they had died. \*

The angel told the two women, “I realize that you are looking for Jesus, whom people killed by nailing him to a cross. So, you should stop being afraid!

God made him alive again, which is what he told you {would happen}. So, he is no longer in this place! If you walk with us, we will show you where his body was.

Then, hurry to his apprentices and tell them that God has made Jesus alive again. {Tell them that} they should listen, and that Jesus is going ahead of them to the region of Galilee. {Tell them that} Jesus will meet them there. I have told you {what to say}!” \*

So the two women hurried away from the grave. They were afraid and also very happy. They ran {to where Jesus’ apprentices were} to tell them {what had happened and what the angel had said}.

{As they were running,} Jesus came up to them! He said, “Greetings!” The two women went to him and {bowed down to} hold his feet {to honor him}. Also, they worshiped him.

After that, Jesus told them, “You should stop being afraid! Go to my apprentices and tell them to leave for the region of Galilee. I will meet them there.” \*

Then, the two women went to meet {Jesus’ apprentices}. Meanwhile, some of the soldiers {whom the Jewish leaders had told to make sure that no one opened Jesus’ grave} entered the city of Jerusalem. They told the ruling priests about everything that had happened {at Jesus’ grave}.

So, the ruling priests and the {Jewish} leaders assembled and planned what to do. They paid those soldiers a large number of silver coins {to bribe them}.

They instructed them, “Tell people that his apprentices arrived during the night while you were asleep and stole his body. \*

Suppose that the {Roman} local ruler{, Pilate,} learns what you are telling people. In that case, we will convince {him to refrain from punishing you}. You will not have to worry about anything.”

So, the soldiers accepted the silver coins. They told people what {the ruling priests and Jewish leaders} had instructed them {to say}. In fact, even now Jewish people continue to repeat the story that the soldiers told. \*

Meanwhile, Jesus’ 11 apprentices traveled to the region of Galilee. They went to the hill to which Jesus had told them to go.

When they met him {there}, they worshiped him. However, they were unsure {that it really was Jesus}. \*

Then Jesus came up to them and said, “God my Father has authorized me {to rule} over everything that God has created.

So then, go {from here}. Help all groups of people become my apprentices. Baptize them so that they belong to {God} the Father, me his Son, and the Holy Spirit. \*

Instruct them so that they do everything that I have told you {to do}. Finally, I will be with you at all times, even up to the point when this current time period ends.”