57 & 58. Now when Night drew on, one Jofeph of Arimathea, a Rich Man, who fecretly believed on Jesus and embraced his Doctrine, defiring to preserve the Body of Jesus from the publick Ignominy of being caft out among the executed Malefactors, went to Pilate and begged leave that he might take away the Body and bury it; and Pilate gave him leave. 59 & 60. Then Jofeph took down the Body, and having wound it in a clean Linnen Cloth, he laid it in a new Sepulchre, which was a Cave in a Rock wherein he himself design'd to lie; and stopping it up with a great Stone, he departed. 61. All this was observ'd by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who sat over against the Sepulchre, viewing the Place where Joseph laid the Body of Jesus, that when the Sabbath was over, they might come and embalm it. 62 & 63. The next Day, being the Sabbath in the Passover Week, fome of the Chief-Priests and Pharisees came in a Body to Pilate, and faid; Sir, we remember that this Impostor, when he was alive, said he would rise again from the Dead the third Day; 64. Be pleased therefore, that all further Deceit may be prevented, to ap 57 When the even was come, there rich man of Arimathea, named himself Jofeph, who also disciple: was Jesus 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus: then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Jo seph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great ftone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, fitting over against point a Company of Soldiers to watch fepulchre be made the fepulchre. 62 Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharifees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, that deceiver faid we remember that while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the fare sure until the third day, left his disci ples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse then the first. 65 Pilate faid unto them, Ye have a watch, go your way, make it as secure as you can. 66 So they went and made the sepulchre fure, sealing the ftone, and fetting a watch. CHA P. XXVIII. Chrift's Resurrection, ver. 1. His Appearance to Mary Magdalene, ver. 8. The Report of his Body being stolen, ver. 11. Christ's Appearance and last Instructions to his Difciples, ver. 16. 1IN the end of the fabbath, as it be gan to dawn, to wards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to fee the fepulchre. 1. NOW late in the Night after the Sabbath, * when it began to be light, towards the Morning of the first Day of the Week; Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, having bought Spices and sweet Odours, came to the Sepulchre with an Intention to embalm the Body of Jesus. * About Three or Four a Clock on Sunday Morning. 2. And as they were in the way, they consulted between themselves, which way they should get the great Stone removed, with which they had seen foJeph of Arimathea stop up the Sepulchre. But when they came to the place, they found a great Trembling of the Earth, and Commotion: For an Angel had rolled away the Stone from the Mouth of the Sepulchre, and the Women faw the Angel fitting upon the Stone. 3. The Face of the Angel was like the bright shining of Lightning, and his Garments were white and glittering as the very Snow. 4. The Soldiers also, that were set to watch the Sepulchre, saw the Angel, and were affrighted almost to Death at that wonderful Sight. 5. But the Angel spake to the Women, and faid; Be not ye frighted like these Men: I know that ye are come with a good Intention, to seek for Jesus that was crucified. 6. He is not here, dead as ye expect; but is risen again, according as he foretold to his Disciples: And * with these wards the Angel rose up, and going into the Sepulchre before the Women, (who yet look'd forrowful and doubting,) he stood by the place where Jesus had laid, and faid; Come, see the place, where the Lord lay. 7. And go quickly, and tell his Difciples that he is risen from the Dead. Moreover he himself will go before you into Galilee, and ye shall see him there. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and faid unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye feek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he faid: come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell his Disciples that he is risen from the dead: and behold * This Conjecture, though I have not yet seen it taken notice of by any Commentator, seems to be very agreeable to the Words, Δευτε, ίδετε and plainly reconciles what St. John relates; John xx, 12. This being one of the two Angels there mentioned. he he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him, lo, I have told you. 8 And they de parted quickly from the sepulchre, with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his difciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his dif ciples, behold, Jesus met them, faying, All hail. And they came, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jefus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they fee me. 119 Now when they were going, behold fome of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were affembled, with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large mo ney unto the foldiers. 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we lept, Observe that I have now foretold it you; and when it comes to pass, be not faithless, but believing. 8. Then the Women departing from the Sepulchre, and rejoicing at the News they had heard ; ; yet frighted at the Appearance of the Angel, and scarce believing what they had seen; they ran to give the Disciples notice. 9. And as they were going, Jefus himself met them and faluted them. At first they knew him not; but when he had made himself known to them, they fell down before him, and held him by the Feet, and adored him. 10. Then Jefus bad them, not be afraid; But go, faith he, and bid my Disciples, my Brethren, go into Galilee, and there they shall fee me. 11. Now when the Women were gone from the Sepulchre, some of the Soldiers that watched, went into the City, and gave the Chief-Priefts a par ticular Account, how they were frighted with an Earthquake and an Apparition, and how the Sepulchre was open'd and the Body gone. The Providence of God so ordering Matters, that even the greatest Enemies of Christ, should themselves be forced to bear Testimony to the Truth of his Refurrection. 12 & 13. But the Chief-Priests and Elders being now hardned beyond meafure in their Obstinacy, and having gone on in this Wickedness to far to re treat, called a Council; and instead of being convinced and brought to Repentance by this undeniable Evidence, they on the contrary came to a Refolution to bribe the Soldiers with a the Disciples stole away the Body in the Night. 14. And they promised the Soldiers, that if the Governor should hear of this thing, and call them to an Account for their Negligence and ill Performance of their Duty; they would undertake to pacify him, and engage to bear them harmless. 15. Accordingly the Soldiers, taking the Money, obey'd their Instructions; and the Report of Jesus's Body being stolen by the Difciples, was entertained by the unbelieving Jews, and long continued among them. 16. In the mean time the Eleven Apostles went into Galilee, to a Mountain where Jefus had appointed to meet them. 17. And there they saw him, and knew him, and were fully convinced of the Truth of his Resurrection, and worshipped him: Only some few had still Doubts and Scruples remaining in their Minds. 18. But Jefus afterwards appeared frequently to them, and gave all of them full Satisfaction, and instructed them in many things, relating to the preaching of the Gospel, and the establishing of the Church, and enlarging it through the whole Earth. And he faid; God has now committed unto me full Power and Authority, over all things both in Heaven and Earth. 19. Go ye therefore and preach the Gofpel to all the World; making Difciples out † of every Nation, and baptizing + The Extent of this Commission, as it seems by the History of Cornelius, Acts x. the Apostles did not at first fully understand, till it was explained by the Holy Ghost. |