Chapter 28: Resurrection - Authority in heaven and on earth - Commission to the end of this age

Concluding chapter of the GospMatthew (28: 1 - 20) in the

Common Bible Translation, published 2011

After the Sabbath, at dawn on

the first day of the week, Mary

Magdalene and the other Mary came

to look at the tomb.  Look, there

was a great earthquake, for an

angel from the Lord came down

from heaven.  Coming to the stone,

he rolled it away and sat on it.

Now his face was like lightning

and his clothes as white as snow.

The guards were terrified of him

that they shook with fear and 

became like dead men.  But the

angel said to the women, "Don't

be afraid.  I know that you are

looking for Jesus who was

crucified.  He isn't here,

because he's been raised from 

the dead, just as he said.

Come, see the place where they

laid him.  Now hurry, go and

tell his disciples, 'He's been

raised from the dead.  He's

going ahead of you to Galilee.

You will see him there.'

I've given the message to you."

With great fear and excitement,

they hurried away from the tomb

and ran to tell his disciples.

But Jesus met them and greeted

them.  They came and grabbed

his feet and worshipped him.

Then Jesus said to them, "Don't

be afraid.  Go and tell my

brothers that I am going to

Galilee.  They will see me there."

Now as the women were on their way,

some of the guards came into the

city and told the chief priests

everything that had happened.

They met with the elders and

decided to give a large sum of 

money to the soldiers.  They

told them, "Say that Jesus'

disciples came at night and

stole his body while you were

sleeping.  And if the governor

hears about this, we will take

care of it with him so you will

have nothing to worry about."

So the soldiers took the money

and did as they were told.  And

this report has spread through-

out all Judea to this very day.

Now the eleven disciples went

to Galilee to the mountain

where Jesus told them to go.

When they saw him, they

worshipped him, but some

doubted.  Jesus came near

and spoke to them,

"I've received all authority

in heaven and on earth.

Therefore, go and make

disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name

of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to obey

everything that I've

commanded you.  Look,

I myself will be with you

every day until the end of

this present age!"