Matthew 28:11

KJV

¶ Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} when they {G846} were going {G4198}, behold {G2400}, some {G5100} of the watch {G2892} came {G2064} into {G1519} the city {G4172}, and shewed {G518} unto the chief priests {G749} all the things {G537} that were done {G1096}.

Complete Jewish Bible

As they were going, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the head cohanim everything that had happened.

Berean Standard Bible

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.

American Standard Version

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 28:11 details the immediate aftermath of the resurrection, focusing on the Roman guards who had been stationed at Jesus' tomb. Having witnessed the cataclysmic events of the resurrection morning—the earthquake, the angelic appearance, and the empty tomb—some of these guards returned to Jerusalem. They reported their astonishing and undeniable eyewitness account of "all the things that were done" directly to the chief priests, the very religious leaders who had insisted on their deployment to prevent any claims of resurrection. This verse sets the stage for the religious authorities' desperate attempt to suppress the truth by fabricating a lie.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the climactic resurrection narrative in [Matthew 28:1-10](/matthew/28-1-10 "Matthew 28:1-10 - The Resurrection Morning"). Mary Magdalene and the other Mary have just encountered the angel at the empty tomb, received the news of Jesus' resurrection, and then met the risen Christ Himself. Their joy and mission to tell the disciples are contrasted sharply with the reaction of the Roman guards. The narrative then shifts from the faithful witnesses to the unwilling ones, setting up the subsequent confrontation between the undeniable truth of the resurrection and the determined suppression of it by the Jewish religious elite, as detailed in [Matthew 28:12-15](/matthew/28-12-15 "Matthew 28:12-15 - The Guards' Report and the Bribe"). This juxtaposition highlights the stark difference in response to the same divine event.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "watch" refers to the Roman *koustodia*, a detachment of Roman soldiers assigned to guard the tomb at the insistence of the chief priests and Pharisees (cf. [Matthew 27:62-66](/matthew/27-62-66 "Matthew 27:62-66 - The Guard at the Tomb")). These soldiers were highly disciplined and faced severe penalties, even death, for dereliction of duty, especially for losing a prisoner. Their report to the chief priests was not a casual conversation but a formal account of extraordinary events that directly impacted their professional standing and safety. The chief priests, representing the powerful Sanhedrin, held significant authority within Jewish society, albeit under Roman oversight. Their immediate response to the guards' report, as seen in the subsequent verses, underscores their deep-seated opposition to Jesus and their fear of His messianic claims, which they perceived as a threat to their power and status.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 28:11 contributes to several key themes. Firstly, it underscores the **uncontainable truth of the resurrection**. Despite all human efforts to secure the tomb—a large stone, a Roman seal, and a professional guard—God's power could not be thwarted. The empty tomb and the angelic appearance were undeniable, even to those tasked with preventing such an outcome. Secondly, it highlights **eyewitness testimony from unexpected sources**. The guards, pagan Roman soldiers with no vested interest in promoting Jesus' cause, become unwilling but powerful witnesses to the supernatural events. Their testimony, given under duress and at risk to their own lives, lends significant credibility to the resurrection narrative. Thirdly, it foreshadows the **desperation and moral bankruptcy of the religious leaders**, who, confronted with irrefutable evidence from their own appointed guards, choose not to repent or believe, but instead to conspire and spread a fabricated lie (cf. [Matthew 28:12-15](/matthew/28-12-15 "Matthew 28:12-15 - The Bribe and the Lie")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Now (Greek, _dé'_):** This particle serves as a crucial transition, indicating a shift in narrative focus. While often translated simply as "now," it can carry an adversative or continuative sense, here marking a pivotal moment where the focus moves from the disciples' encounter with the risen Christ to the reaction of those who sought to suppress the truth. It signals a new development in the unfolding resurrection drama.
* **watch (Greek, _koustōdía'_):** Derived from Latin, this term specifically refers to a Roman military guard or sentry. Its use emphasizes the official, professional, and disciplined nature of the soldiers stationed at the tomb. This was not a casual group of men but a detachment of trained personnel, whose testimony would carry significant weight, especially given the severe penalties for failing their assigned duty. Their presence underscores the human efforts to prevent the resurrection, making their report all the more compelling.
* **done (Greek, _gínomai'_):** This verb means "to come into being," "to happen," or "to occur." In this context, "all the things that were done" refers to the entirety of the supernatural events witnessed by the guards: the great earthquake, the angel's descent, his terrifying appearance, the rolling away of the stone, and the subsequent emptiness of the tomb. The use of this verb emphasizes the objective reality and factual occurrence of these events, leaving no room for the guards to dismiss them as mere illusions or fabrications.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now when they were going":** This phrase marks a narrative transition, shifting from the women's encounter with Jesus to the guards' actions. "They" refers to the Roman guards who had been stationed at the tomb. Their "going" implies a departure from the tomb site after the astonishing events of the resurrection.
* **"behold, some of the watch came into the city":** The interjection "behold" (Greek: _idoú_) draws immediate attention to a significant and surprising event. It highlights the unexpected action of the guards, who, instead of maintaining their post or fleeing in disarray, actively sought out the authorities. "Some of the watch" suggests that not all the guards may have gone, perhaps due to fear or the need to maintain some semblance of order, but enough went to deliver a credible report. Their entry "into the city" (Jerusalem) signifies their direct approach to the centers of power.
* **"and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done":** This is the crux of the verse. The guards "shewed" (reported, announced) their account directly to the "chief priests," the very individuals who had orchestrated Jesus' crucifixion and insisted on the tomb's security. The phrase "all the things that were done" is crucial, indicating a comprehensive and detailed eyewitness testimony of the earthquake, the angel's appearance, the stone being rolled away, and the empty tomb. This report was not a rumor but a direct, official account from the very personnel entrusted with preventing the resurrection.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 28:11 employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as the very guards appointed by the chief priests to *prevent* any claim of resurrection become the unwilling, yet undeniable, witnesses to its reality. Their report, intended to secure their own safety, inadvertently serves as powerful evidence against the chief priests' narrative. The use of **Eyewitness Testimony** from an unexpected and hostile source lends significant credibility to the resurrection account; the guards had no motive to lie in favor of Jesus, and indeed, their lives were at risk for failing to secure the tomb. The interjection **"behold"** (Greek: _idoú_) acts as a dramatic marker, drawing the reader's attention to the sudden and significant shift in the narrative's focus, emphasizing the profound impact of the events on even the most hardened observers. This verse also functions as **Foreshadowing**, setting the stage for the religious leaders' desperate and morally corrupt attempt to suppress the truth in the subsequent verses.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 28:11 profoundly underscores the unassailable truth of the resurrection, demonstrating that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human opposition or security measures. The testimony of the Roman guards, pagan soldiers with no allegiance to Christ, serves as powerful, objective evidence that the events at the tomb were real and supernatural. Their report to the chief priests, who had every reason to deny the resurrection, highlights the pervasive nature of this truth, reaching even into the heart of the opposition. This verse reveals the human tendency to reject overwhelming evidence when it conflicts with deeply entrenched beliefs or self-interest, a theme that resonates throughout biblical history and human experience. It sets the stage for the stark contrast between those who embrace the truth of Christ's victory and those who actively suppress it.

* [Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Him Up"): "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."
* [John 3:19](/john/3-19 "John 3:19 - Men Loved Darkness Rather Than Light"): "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
* [Romans 1:20](/romans/1-20 "Romans 1:20 - God's Invisible Attributes Clearly Seen"): "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 28:11 offers a powerful reminder that the truth of Jesus' resurrection is not a mere theological doctrine but a historical event, attested to by even the most unlikely witnesses. For believers, this provides immense assurance in the foundational truth of our faith: Christ has indeed conquered death. This verse challenges us to consider our own responses to truth, especially when it is inconvenient or demands a change in our perspective or lifestyle. Just as the chief priests chose to suppress the truth, we too can be tempted to ignore or rationalize away evidence that challenges our comfort zones or preconceived notions. The unwavering reality of the empty tomb, even in the face of human attempts to conceal it, should inspire us to live with bold confidence in God's power and sovereignty. It also serves as a poignant reminder that while God provides ample evidence, faith ultimately involves a choice to believe and respond.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the testimony of the Roman guards, who were hostile to Jesus, strengthen your faith in the historical reality of the resurrection?**
* **In what ways might we, like the chief priests, be tempted to suppress or ignore truths that challenge our comfort or worldview?**
* **What does the uncontainable nature of the resurrection truth in this verse teach us about God's ultimate sovereignty over human plans and opposition?**
* **How can the certainty of the resurrection empower us to live more courageously and share our faith more boldly in a world that often doubts or denies spiritual realities?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Roman guards report to the chief priests instead of their own Roman superiors?**

Answer: The chief priests and Pharisees were directly responsible for requesting and funding the Roman guard at the tomb (cf. [Matthew 27:62-66](/matthew/27-62-66 "Matthew 27:62-66 - The Guard at the Tomb")). They had approached Pilate, expressing their fear that Jesus' disciples would steal the body and claim resurrection. Therefore, the guards' primary accountability for the tomb's security was effectively to these Jewish leaders. Reporting to the chief priests was a logical step for soldiers who had witnessed an inexplicable event and failed in their assigned duty, seeking to explain themselves to those who had commissioned them, rather than immediately facing the severe disciplinary actions of their Roman commanders without a clear explanation.

**What was the significance of "all the things that were done" that the guards reported?**

Answer: The phrase "all the things that were done" (Greek: _hápas gínomai_) indicates a comprehensive and detailed account of the supernatural events the guards had just witnessed. This would have included the violent earthquake, the terrifying appearance of the angel of the Lord descending from heaven, the angel rolling back the stone from the tomb's entrance, and the subsequent discovery that the tomb was empty. These were not minor occurrences but cataclysmic and undeniable phenomena that directly contradicted their mission to secure the tomb. Their detailed report underscores the objective reality of the resurrection events, making their testimony all the more compelling, even to the hostile chief priests.

**How does this verse highlight the contrast between belief and unbelief?**

Answer: This verse starkly highlights the contrast between belief and unbelief by showing how undeniable evidence can be met with hardened hearts. The Roman guards, though pagan and indifferent to Jesus' message, were confronted with irrefutable, supernatural proof of the resurrection. Their report presented the chief priests with the very evidence they sought to suppress. However, instead of leading to repentance or belief, this evidence fueled their determination to reject Jesus, leading them to conspire and fabricate a lie in [Matthew 28:12-15](/matthew/28-12-15 "Matthew 28:12-15 - The Bribe and the Lie"). This demonstrates that unbelief is often not a lack of evidence, but a willful rejection of truth that challenges one's power, comfort, or worldview, fulfilling what Jesus himself said in [John 3:19-20](/john/3-19-20 "John 3:19-20 - Men Loved Darkness Rather Than Light").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 28:11, though seemingly a minor detail, powerfully underscores the unassailable reality of Christ's resurrection, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith. The fact that the Roman guards, tasked with preventing any claim of resurrection, became unwilling witnesses to the very event they were meant to suppress, highlights the absolute triumph of Christ over death and all human opposition. Their report to the chief priests, the very architects of Jesus' crucifixion, demonstrates that the truth of His victory could not be contained or concealed, even by those with the most vested interest in its suppression. This uncontainable truth foreshadows the global spread of the Gospel, empowered by the resurrected Christ. The empty tomb, attested to by these hostile witnesses, is the ultimate proof that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, who has conquered sin and death, fulfilling the prophecies of His resurrection (e.g., [Psalm 16:10](/psalm/16-10 "Psalm 16:10 - You Will Not Abandon My Soul to Sheol")). His resurrection validates His authority and power, which He immediately asserts in the subsequent verses of Matthew 28, commissioning His disciples to make disciples of all nations, knowing that "all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus")). Thus, the guards' unwilling testimony serves as an early, unexpected confirmation of the very truth that would transform the world through Christ's ongoing mission.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 27:65

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make [it] as sure as ye can.

Matthew 27:66

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 28:4

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead [men].