Bible Commentaries

And when they ^a looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

(a) When they cast their eyes toward the sepulchre.

And entering into the ^b sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

(b) Into the cave out of which the sepulchre was cut.

¹ Now when [Jesus] was risen early the first [day] of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

(1) Christ himself appears to Mary Magdalene to reprove the disciple's incredulity.

² After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

(2) Christ appears to two other disciples and at length to the eleven.

^c Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

(c) The evangelist did not consider the chronological sequence of events, but rather what took place, which he divided into three parts: The first shows how he appeared to the women, the second to his disciples, the third to his apostles, and therefore he says "finally".

³ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to ^d every creature.

(3) The apostles are appointed, and their office is limited to them, which is to preach that which they heard from him, and to minister the sacraments which Christ has instituted, having in addition to this the power to do miracles.

(d) Not to the Jews only, nor in Judea only, but to all men and everywhere: and so must all the apostles do.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with ^e new tongues;

(e) Strange tongues, ones which they did not know before.

⁴ So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

(4) Christ, having accomplished his office on earth, ascends into heaven, from where (the doctrine of his apostles being confirmed with signs) he will govern his Church, until the world's end.

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming ^f the word with signs following. Amen.

(f) That is, the doctrine: therefore doctrine must go before and signs must follow after.