57&58. Now when Night drew on, one fofeph of Arimathea, a Rich Man, who fecretly believed on Jefus and embraced his Doctrine, defiring to preferve the Body of Jefus 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 defign'd to lie; and ftopping it up with a great Stone, he departed. 61. All this was obferv'd by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who fat over against the Sepulchre, viewing the Place where Jofeph laid the Body of Jefus, that when the Sabbath was over, they might come and embalm it. 6263. The next Day, being the Sabbath in the Paffover Week, fome of the Chief-Priefts and Pharifees came in a Body to Pilate, and faid; Sir, we remember that this Impoftor, when he was alive, faid he would rife again from the Dead the third Day; 64. Be pleafed therefore, that all further Deceit may be prevented, to appoint a Company of Soldiers to watch 57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Jofeph, who alfo himself difciple: was Jefus 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus: then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Jo feph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, his own new tomb, 60 And laid it in which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the fepulchre, and departéd. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary; fitting over against 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, we remember that that deceiver faid while he was yet alive, After three days I will rife again. 64 Command therefore that the fepulchre be made fare Chrift's Refurrection, ver. 1. His Appearance to Mary Magdalene, ver. 8. The Report of his Body being stolen, ver. 11. Chrift's Appearance and laft Inftructions to his Difciples, ver. 16. 1JN the end of the fabbath, as it began to dawn, towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to fee the fepulchre. 2 I. NOW late in the Night after the Sabbath, when it began to be light, towards the Morning of the firft Day of the Week; Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, having bought Spices and fweet Odours, came to the Sepulchre with an Intention to embalm the Body of Jefus. About Three or Four a Clock on Sunday Morning. 2. And as they were in the way, they confulted between themselves, which way they should get the great Stone removed, with which they had feen foJeph of Arimathea ftop 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 fhining of Lightning, and his Garments were white and glittering as the very Snow. 4. The Soldiers alfo, that were set to watch the Sepulchre, faw the Angel, and were affrighted almost to Death at that wonderful Sight. 5. But the Angel fpake to the Women, and faid; Be not ye frighted like thefe Men: I know that ye are come with a good Intention, to feek for Jefus that was crucified. 6. He is not here, dead as ye expect ; but is rifen again, according as he foretold to his Difciples: And with thefe words the Angel rose up, and going into the Sepulchre before the Women, (who yet look'd forrowful and doubting,) he food by the place where Jefus had laid, and faid; Come, fee the place, where the Lord lay. 7. And go quickly, and tell his Difciples that he is rifen from the Dead. Moreover he himself will go before you into Galilee, and ye fhall fee him there. This Conjecture, though I have not yet feen it taken notice of by any Commentator, feems to be very agreeable to the Words, AUTE, drs and plainly reconciles what St. John relates; John xx, 12. This being one of the two Angels there mentioned. he there he goeth before you fee me. Obferve that I have now foretold it you; and when it comes to pass, be not faithlefs, 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 fcarce believing what they had feen; they ran to give the Difciples notice. 9. And as they were going, Jefus himfelf 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 Difciples, my Brethren, go into Galilee, and there they shall fee me. 11. Now when the Women were gone from the Sepulchre, fome 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 fo ordering Matters, that even the greatest Enemies of Chrift, should themselves be forced to bear Teftimony to the Truth of his Refurrection. 12 & 13. But the Chief-Priefts and Elders being now hardned beyond meafure in their Obftinacy, and having gone on in this Wickedness to far to retreat, called a Council; and inftead of being convinced and brought to Re pentance by this undeniable Evidence, they on the contrary came to a Refolution to bribe the Soldiers with a large Sum of Money; to report it about, that while they were afleep, the Difciples the Disciples ftole away the Body in the Night. 14. And they promised the Soldiers, that if the Governor fhould 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 Inftructions; and the Report of Jefus's Body being ftolen 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 faw him, and knew him, and were fully convinced of the Truth of his Refurrection, and worshipped him: Only fome few had ftill Doubts and Scruples remaining in their Minds. 18. But Jefus afterwards appeared frequently to them, and gave all of them full Satisfaction, and inftructed them in many things, relating to the preaching of the Gofpel, and the eftablishing 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 Commiffion, as it seems by the History of Cornelius, Acts x. the Apoftles did not at first fully understand, till it was explained by the Holy Ghost. |