Matthew 28:2

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

And {G2532}, behold {G2400}, there was {G1096} a great {G3173} earthquake {G4578}: for {G1063} the angel {G32} of the Lord {G2962} descended {G2597} from {G1537} heaven {G3772}, and came {G4334} and rolled back {G617} the stone {G3037} from {G575} the door {G2374}, and {G2532} sat {G2521} upon {G1883} it {G846}.

Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of ADONAI came down from heaven, rolled away the stone and sat on it.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.

Commentary

Matthew 28:2 vividly describes a pivotal moment in the biblical account of Jesus' resurrection, highlighting divine intervention and power. This verse sets the stage for the revelation of the empty tomb and the triumphant message of Christ's victory over death.

Context

This verse immediately follows the arrival of Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" at the tomb on the first day of the week, early in the morning. The tomb had been sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers at the insistence of the chief priests and Pharisees, who feared Jesus' disciples would steal His body and claim He had risen (see Matthew 27:66). The massive stone placed at the entrance of the sepulchre was meant to ensure no one could access it.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention and Power: The "great earthquake" and the descent of the "angel of the Lord" are unmistakable signs of God's direct involvement. This was not a human act but a supernatural display of power, demonstrating that God was orchestrating these events. Earthquakes in the Bible often signify God's presence or a momentous divine action.
  • Validation of the Resurrection: The stone was not rolled away for Jesus to exit the tomb, as He had already risen. Instead, it was removed to grant access and provide undeniable proof to the women and subsequently the disciples that the tomb was indeed empty. The angel's act served to clear the way for witnesses to confirm the reality of the resurrection.
  • Triumph and Authority: The angel's action of rolling back the stone and then "sat upon it" conveys a powerful message of triumph and authority. It symbolized the complete and utter defeat of death's power and the futility of human attempts to contain God's plan. The angel's posture is one of calm assurance and victory.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "earthquake" is seismos (ฯƒฮตฮนฯƒฮผฯŒฯ‚), which can refer to any shaking or commotion, including a literal earthquake. Its use here underscores the dramatic and supernatural nature of the event. The "angel of the Lord" (แผ„ฮณฮณฮตฮปฮฟฯ‚ ฮšฯ…ฯฮฏฮฟฯ… - angelos Kyriou) is a common biblical designation for a divine messenger, often appearing with significant power and authority, acting directly on God's behalf.

Practical Application

Matthew 28:2 reminds believers that God's power is supreme and capable of overcoming any obstacle, no matter how formidable. Just as the stone could not hold back the revelation of the empty tomb, so too can God remove barriers in our lives. This verse offers comfort and assurance that God is actively involved in His creation and His plan, and that His truth will always be revealed. It reinforces the foundation of Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 24:2

    And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

  • Luke 24:5

    And as they were afraid, and bowed down [their] faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

  • John 20:12

    And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

  • John 20:13

    And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

  • Acts 16:26

    And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

  • Mark 16:3

    And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

  • Mark 16:5

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