THE JEWS ASK THAT THE CRUCIFIED ONES MAY BE KILLED. JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA BURIES JESUS. THE JEWS SET A WATCH AT THE SEPULCHRE. THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ROLLS AWAY THE STONE FROM THE DOOR, AND JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD. HE APPEARS AT DIFFERENT TIMES TO HIS APOSTLES, AND ASCENDS UP TO HEAVEN.
NOW the Jews who were in the city, did not know that Jesus was dead, and because the next day was the Sabbath, and they were unwilling to let the bodies hang on the cross during the Sabbath day, they begged Pilate to send and kill Jesus and the two thieves who were crucified with him, so that they could be taken down and buried before the Sabbath began. Then Pilate commanded the soldiers, and they went and broke the legs of the two thieves to kill them, but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and there came out from it blood and water.
At the place where Jesus was crucified was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre in which no one had ever been buried. It was a cave cut out of a rock, and belonged to a rich man named Joseph, who lived in the city of Arimathea. Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, though he had never before let it be known, because he was afraid of the Jews. But now, after Jesus was dead, he went boldly to Pilate and begged for his body. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be given him. And Joseph took it down from the cross, and wrapped it in new, fine linen that he had bought, and laid it in the sepulchre, and rolled a great stone to the door and left it there. And Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, the apostle, were sitting near the sepulchre and saw where Jesus was laid. And they went away to rest during the Sabbath, and then to come back with spices and ointments to put upon his body, because the Jews, when they buried their dead, used to prepare the bodies in that way.
After Jesus was buried, the chief priests and the Pharisees came to Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was yet alive, he said, After three days I will rise again. We pray thee therefore that the sepulchre may be watched and made safe, until the third day, lest his disciples should come in the night and steal him away, and then go and tell the people that he had risen from the dead. Pilate answered, You shall have soldiers to guard the sepulchre, go and make it as sure as you can. So they went and made the sepulchre sure, setting soldiers to watch it, and sealing the stone that was rolled to the door.
But that night the angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His face was bright like lightning, and his garments were as white as snow; the soldiers trembled for fear of him, and were weak and helpless as dead men. And they left the sepulchre and went into the city again.
But very early in the morning, as soon as it began to be light, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and Salome, came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had made ready. As they were coming, they said to one another, Who shall roll away the stone for us from the door of the sepulchre? for it was very great. But when they came near, they found the stone was rolled away. And going into the sepulchre they saw an angel clothed in a long white garment, and they were affrighted. He said to them, Be not affrighted: You seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, he is risen. See the place where they laid him. But go tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead, and that he will go before you into Galilee; there shall you see him.
And they went out quickly and fled from the sepulchre with fear, and yet with great gladness, and ran to bring his disciples word. As they went, Jesus met them and spoke to them, saying, Rejoice. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. He said to them, Be not afraid; but tell my brethren that they go into Galilee; there shall they see me.
And the women came and told all these things to the eleven apostles, and to the disciples who were with them. And Peter and John, when they heard what the women said, came in haste to the sepulchre. They ran both of them together, but John did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre; and stooping clown and looking in at the door, he saw the linen clothes which Jesus had worn, lying there, yet he did not go in. But Peter, when he came, went into the sepulchre and saw the linen clothes, and the napkin which had been wrapt about the head of Jesus, not lying with the linen clothes, but folded together in a place by itself. Then John went in also, and he saw and believed that Jesus was risen. For before that time they did not understand the words which he had spoken to them, while he was yet alive, saying that after three days he would rise from the dead. And the apostles went away to their own homes.
Now after Jesus was risen, some of the soldiers who had guarded the sepulchre went to the chief priests, and told them of all that had happened. Then the chief priests and elders gave them a large sum of money, and said to them, Do you go and tell the people that his disciples came at night and stole him away while you slept. If the governor should hear of it and want to punish you for sleeping, (because the Roman soldiers were put to death if they slept while on guard) we will persuade him to pardon you. So the soldiers took the money and did as the chief priests told them; therefore the Jews, since that time, have always said that the disciples of Jesus came and stole him away in the night, while the soldiers were asleep.
On the first day of the week, when Jesus was risen from the dead, two of his disciples were walking together to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked with one another of all the things that had been done. And it was so, that, while they were talking, Jesus came near and went with them. But he was changed so that they did not know him. And he said to them, What is it that you are saying to one another as you walk, and are sad? One of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said to him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, that thou hast not heard of the things which have happened there in these days? He said, What things? They answered him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, and did great miracles before all the people; how the chief priests and the rulers have taken him and crucified him. But we hoped that he was the one who would set the children of Israel free from the Romans; and, beside all this, to-day is the third day since he was put to death. Yes, and some of the women who belong to our company, and who went early to the sepulchre, have made us astonished by saying that his body was not there, and that they saw a vision of angels who told them he was alive. And some of the men also, who were with us, went afterward to the sepulchre, and found it was as the women had said; but him they saw not.
Then Jesus answered the two disciples and told them, that the things which had happened in Jerusalem seemed strange to them, because they, did not understand what the prophets had written. For was it not to be expected, Jesus asked, from what the prophets had said about Christ, that he should be put to death, and afterward should rise from the dead and go up to heaven? Then he began and explained to them what was written about himself in all the Scriptures. But still the two disciples did not know him.
And as they came near the village to which they were going, he walked on, as though he would leave them and go further. But they, supposing him to be some traveller, said to him, Come and stay with us to-night, for it is near evening and the day has almost gone. Then he went with them into the house. And while they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and after he had thanked God for it, he broke it and gave it to them. As he did this they knew him; and suddenly he was gone out of their sight.
Then they said to one another, Were not our hearts interested while he talked with us by the way, and explained to us what the prophets have written? And they rose up that same hour and went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven apostles gathered together there, and others with them. And the two disciples told them how they had seen Jesus and talked with him, and how they had known him as he was breaking the bread. While they were speaking, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said, Peace be unto you. But they were frightened, for they thought it was a spirit. And he said to them, Why are you troubled? and why does fear come into your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; touch me, and see that it is I, myself, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see me have. When he had spoken these words, he showed them his hands and his feet, with the marks of the nails in them. And while they could, hardly believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, Have you here any food? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish and of an honey-comb, and he took it and did eat before them.
And he said to them, I told you while I was yet with you, that all those things must be fulfilled which are written in the Scriptures about me. Then he made the apostles understand those parts of the Scriptures which said that he should die for the people, and rise again from the dead. For although they had read those parts before, they had never till now, been able to understand them.
And Jesus said to them, Thus it was written about me, and therefore it was needful for me to suffer death, and to rise up from the dead on the third day, so that the people of all nations might be told that I have died for them; and that if they will repent and believe on me, they shall have their sins forgiven. And you, my apostles, are the ones who know of these things; on that account I send you forth to tell the nations about them. Go you, therefore, into all the world, and tell this good news to every creature. Whoever believes in me and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not, shall be lost.
But Thomas, one of the apostles, was not with the others when Jesus came. They therefore told him afterward, that they had seen the Lord. But Thomas answered, Except I shall see in his hands the marks of the nails, and thrust my hand into the wound that the spear made in his side, I will not believe it was he.
And after eight days the apostles were again gathered together, Thomas also being with them, and the doors of the room were shut.. Then came Jesus and stood in the midst of them, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger and touch my hands, and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believe that I have risen again. When Thomas heard his voice, and knew that it was Jesus, he said, My Lord and my God. Jesus said to him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast believed; but I say unto thee, blessed are those who are willing to believe even though they have not seen me.
After these things Jesus showed himself again to his disciples at the sea of Galilee. There were together Peter, and Thomas, Nathaniel, and James, and John, and two other of his disciples. Peter said to them, I am going a-fishing. They answered, We will go with thee. They went, therefore, into a boat and sailed out on the sea, and that night caught nothing. When the morning had come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. And he spoke to them, and said, Have you any food? They answered, No. He said, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you shall find some. Then they did as he commanded, and were not able to draw up the net, because of the multitude of fishes that were caught in it. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved, said to Peter, It is the Lord. When Peter heard it was the Lord, he fastened his fisherman's coat around him and jumped into the sea, that he might hasten to the shore. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net with fishes. As soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire burning there, and fishes laid upon it, and bread. Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have caught. Then Peter went and drew the net up on the land, and it was full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three; yet, although there were so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, Come and eat. And none of the disciples dared ask him, Who art thou? for they knew that it was the Lord. This was the third time he had shown himself to them since he had risen from the dead.
At another time he met them on a mountain in Galilee, where he had told them to go that they might see him, and when they saw him they worshipped him. And he spoke to them, saying, God has given me all power, both in heaven and in earth. Go, you, therefore, and preach the gospel to the people of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to do all those things that I have commanded you.
And not only to his apostles did Jesus show himself, but he was seen also by more than five hundred of those who believed on him, at one time.
And when forty days were past, after he had risen from the dead, he met his apostles again at Jerusalem. And when he had talked with them, and commanded them to wait there until the Holy Spirit should be sent upon them, he led them out as far as Bethany. And he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it was so, that while he blessed them, he was taken from them and carried up into heaven; and he went into a cloud out of their sight. And while they looked toward heaven as he went up, behold, two angels stood by them, in white garments, who said, Ye men of Galilee, Why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall come down again, in the clouds, as you have seen him go up into heaven.