The Guard at the Tomb

62  The next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate 63  and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64  So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65  Pilate said to them, “Take a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can.” 66  So they went with the soldiers of the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

28  Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2  Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4  The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 5  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6  He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. 7  Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” 8  So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9  But Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 10  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”