Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

“This is said to be "prepared for the devil and his angels," because they were "first in transgression." But both have one doom, because one unholy character. but the righteous into life eternal--that is, "life everlasting."”

When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.

“A short time before, the promise of this sordid pelf was temptation enough to his covetous heart to outweigh the most overwhelming obligations of duty and love; now, the possession of it so lashes him that he cannot use it, cannot even keep it!”

So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

“How is this to be explained? Perhaps he flung the money in after them. But thus were fulfilled the words of the prophet--"I cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord" (Zec 11:13).”

The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”

“And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury--"the Corban," or chest containing the money dedicated to sacred purposes (see on Mt 15:5). because it is the price of blood--How scrupulous now!”

Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel,

“Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying-- (Zec 11:12, 13). Never was a complicated prophecy, otherwise hopelessly dark, more marvellously fulfilled.”

At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.

“Into this holiest of all none might enter, not even the high priest, save once a year, on the great day of atonement, and then only with the blood of atonement in his hands, which he sprinkled "upon and before the mercy seat seven times"…”

The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.

“Thus, while it was not deemed fitting that He Himself should appear again in Jerusalem, save to the disciples, provision was made that the fact of His resurrection should be left in no doubt.”

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of…

“The meaning, then, clearly is that He must have been what He professed to be; in other words, that He was no impostor. There was no medium between those two. See, on the similar testimony of the penitent thief--"This man hath done nothing amiss"--Luke 23.”

Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

“Among which was Mary Magdalene--(See on Lu 8:2). and Mary the mother of James and Joses--the wife of Cleophas, or rather Clopas, and sister of the Virgin (Joh 19:25). See on Mt 13:55,56. and the mother of Zebedee's children--that is, Salome: compare Mr 15:40.”

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate.

“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation--that is, after six o'clock of our Saturday evening.”

So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

“So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone--which Mark (Mr 16:4) says was "very great." and setting a watch--to guard it.”

The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.

“And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men--Is the sepulchre "sure" now, O ye chief priests? He that sitteth in the heavens doth laugh at you.”

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

“"Let those puny creatures, sent to keep the Living One among the dead, for fear of Me shake and become as dead men (Mt 28:4); but ye that have come hither on another errand, fear not ye."”

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.

“How could ye imagine that such a tale as ye had to tell would not at once commend itself to your scared employers?”

And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money

“And when they were assembled with the elders--But Joseph at least was absent: Gamaliel probably also; and perhaps others.”

If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

“The meaning then is, "If this come before the governor--as it likely will--we shall see to it that," &c.”

So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.

“So they took the money, and did as they were taught--thus consenting to brand themselves with infamy. and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day--to the date of the publication of this Gospel.”

Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated.

“Nothing can account for such a number as five hundred assembling at one spot but the expectation of some promised manifestation of their risen Lord: and the promise before His resurrection, twice repeated after it, best explains this immense gathering.”

When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.

“And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted--certainly none of "the Eleven," after what took place at previous interviews in Jerusalem.”

and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

“Set the seal of visible discipleship upon the converts, by "baptizing them into the name," that is, into the whole fulness of the grace "of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," as belonging to them who believe.”