Matthew 28

¹After the Sabbath, as it was dawning toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ²And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came forward, rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴The guards shook in terror of him and became like dead men.

⁵But the angel spoke to the women: "You need not fear—I know you are looking for Jesus, the crucified one. ⁶He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come, see the place where he was lying. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has been raised from the dead, and look—he is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him.' I have told you."

⁸And they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to bring the message to his disciples. ⁹And suddenly Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came forward, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go, tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

¹¹While they were on their way, some of the guard went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹²After assembling with the elders and deliberating together, they gave the soldiers a considerable sum of silver, ¹³telling them, "Say this: 'His disciples came at night and stole him while we were sleeping.' ¹⁴And if this reaches the governor's ears, we will persuade him and keep you out of trouble." ¹⁵So they took the silver and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among the Judeans to this day.

¹⁶Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him—though some hesitated. ¹⁸And Jesus came forward and spoke to them: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And look—I am with you all the days until the completion of the age."