Matthew 28 : Easy-to-Read Version
News That Jesus Has Risen from Death (Mk. 16:1-8; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-10)
28 1The day after the Sabbath day* was the first day of the week. At dawn on the first day, Mary Magdalene and the other woman named Mary went to look at the tomb.* 2At that time there was a very strong earthquake. An angel of the Lord came from the sky. The angel went to the tomb* and rolled the stone away from the entrance. Then the angel sat on the stone. 3The angel was shining very bright like lightning. His clothes were white like snow. 4The soldiers guarding the tomb were very afraid of the angel. They shook with fear and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus, the one that was killed on the cross. 6But Jesus is not here. He has risen from death, like he said he would. Come and see the place where his body was. 7And go quickly and tell his followers. Tell them: 'Jesus has risen from death. He is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there.'" Then the angel said, "Now I have told you." 8So the women left the tomb* quickly. They were afraid, but they were also very happy. They ran to tell his followers what happened. 9While the women were running to tell the followers, Jesus was standing there before them. Jesus said, "Hello!" The women went to Jesus. They held him at his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to the women, "Don't be afraid. Go and tell my brothers (followers) to go to Galilee. They will see me there."
Report to the Jewish Leaders
11The women went to tell the followers. At the same time, some of the soldiers that were guarding the tomb* went into the city. They went to tell the leading priests everything that happened. 12Then the priests met with the older Jewish leaders and made a plan. They paid the soldiers much money [to tell a lie]. 13They said to the soldiers, "Tell the people that Jesus' followers came during the night and stole the body while you were sleeping. 14If the governor hears about this, we will satisfy him and save you from trouble." 15So the soldiers kept the money and obeyed the priests. And that story is still spread among the Jews even today.
Jesus Talks to His Followers (Mk. 16:14-18; Lk. 24:36-49; Jn. 20:19-23; Acts 1:6-8)
16The eleven followers went to Galilee. They went to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. 17On the mountain the followers saw Jesus. They worshiped him. But some of the followers did not believe that it was really Jesus. 18So Jesus came to them and said, "All authority (power) in heaven and on earth is given to me. 19So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize* them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.* 20Teach those people to obey everything that I have told you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of the world."
Sabbath day The seventh day of the Jewish week. It was a special religious day for the Jews. tomb A grave dug in a wall of rock. Baptize A Greek word meaning to immerse, dip, or bury a person or thing briefly under water. Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world.