John Gill

who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was waiting for the kingdom of God.

“The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them,.... Though he was with the Jews, the chief priests, Scribes, and elders, in the high priest's palace, being one of that great council; yet he did not agree with them; nor was it…”

He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

“This man went unto Pilate,.... Mark says, he went "boldly" to him; See Gill on Mar 15:43. and begged the body of Jesus; knowing he was dead; that he might bury it, as the Ethiopic version adds, and prevent its being inferred with the two…”

Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid.

“And he took it down,.... From the cross, with the help of others, having obtained leave of Pilate so to do; and wrapped it in linen; as was the custom of the Jews in burying their dead; See Gill on Mat 27:59.”

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed.

“And the women also which came with him from Galilee,.... See Gill on Luk 23:49. followed after; Joseph; and those that were with him, when they carried the body of Jesus, in order to inter it: and beheld, the sepulchre; took notice of it, what…”

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

“And they found the stone rolled away the sepulchre. Which Joseph had laid there, security of the body, and in the sight of these women; and which gave them a concern, as they went along, seeing they were all women, who should roll away the…”

but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

“And they entered in,.... To the sepulchre, being invited, encouraged, and led on by the angel that sat upon the stone; for the Jews' sepulchres were built large enough for persons to go into; See Gill on Mar 16:5.”

While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them.

“And it came to pass as they were much perplexed thereabout,.... About the body of Christ, and its being gone, what should become of it, whither it was removed, and by what means, and by whom; whether by a friend, or foe, for they had…”

But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

“And their words seemed to them as idle tales,.... As fabulous things, as mere whims, and the fancies of their brains: "as a dream", according to the Persic version; or, "as a jest", as the Arabic version renders it.”

One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?”

“And one of them, whose name was Cleophas,.... Or Alphaeus, for it is the same name; he was one of the seventy disciples, and father of the Apostles James and Jude, and brother to Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Christ, as before…”

Our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and they crucified Him.

“And how the chief priests and our rulers,.... Civil and ecclesiastic: delivered him; to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor: to be condemned to death; the death of the cross, by the said governor, having first seized him and examined him before their sanhedrim, and pronounced…”

but they did not find His body. They came and told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive.

“And when they found not his body,.... In the sepulchre, as they expected, and so could not do what they intended: they came; they returned from the sepulchre with great haste, and in a very great fright, and came to the disciples, where they were…”

But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.

“But they constrained him,.... The Arabic version renders it, "they held him by force": but the meaning is not, that they laid hands on him, and held him in a forcible manner against his will; but they were very urgent and importunate with him, that…”

While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.

“And it came to pass as he sat at meat with them,.... When they were sat down at table with the provisions before them: he took bread and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them; as if he was the master of the house…”

Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

“Behold my hands, and my feet,.... The Evangelist John adds, "and side"; that is, the prints of the nails and spear, in his hands, and feet, and side; and the wounds they made there, and the scars they left behind; by which they might be…”

So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish,

“And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish,.... Which was left by them at supper, of which they had been eating; for being fishermen, most of them, this was agreeable food to them: and of an honeycomb; not to eat with the fish…”

and He took it and ate it in front of them.

“And he took it, and did eat before them. That is, he took both the fish, and the honeycomb, and ate of them before them, they looking on all the while; and which was a proof of his being truly risen from the dead, and…”

and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

“And that repentance and remission of sins,.... Which are the sum of the Gospel ministry; see Act 20:21 the doctrine of "repentance" is not of the law, which neither requires, nor admits of it, but of the Gospel.”

When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

“And he led them out as far as Bethany,.... Not the town of Bethany; could that be thought, it might be supposed that he led his disciples thither, to pay a visit to his dear friends there, Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, before his ascension; but…”