13
Chapter 13
Christ's Resurrection and Ascension
Ineffectual Cautions
On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, Matthew 27:62
Saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, `After three days I will rise.'" - -63
Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, `He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first.
- -64
Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." - -65
So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
- -66
Intention to Anoint
And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Mark 16:1
Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. - -2
Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. Luke 23:56
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. Luke 24:1
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. John 20:1
The Stone miraculously removed
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the LORD descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. Matthew 28:2
And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" Mark 16:3
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away - for it was very large. - -4
But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Luke 24:2
Premeditated (Deception) Falsehood
Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. Matthew 28:11
When they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, - -12
Saying, "Tell them, `His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.'" - -13
"And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." - -14
So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. - -15
Prophecy of His Resurrection
I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. - -9
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. - -10
Application
For David says concerning Him: `I foresaw the LORD always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken; Acts 2:25
Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh will also rest in hope, - -26
Because You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. - -27
You will make known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.' - -28
Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. - -29
Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that GOD had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, - -30
He, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. - -31
The Grave Found Empty
Then they went in and did not find the body of the LORD Jesus. Luke 24:3
And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see. - -24
Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. John 20:8
Grave-Clothes Orderly Disposed
But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened. Luke 24:12
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. John 20:3
So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. - -4
And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. - -5
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there. - -6
And the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. - -7
Angels Appear
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Matthew 28:1
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.
John 20:11
And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
John 20:12
Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my LORD, and I do not know where they have laid Him." - -13
Angels Declare Him Risen
But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified." Matthew 28:5
"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said, Come, see the place where the LORD lay." - -6
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. Mark 16:5
But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him." - -6
And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Luke 24:4
Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" - -5
He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee. - -6
Saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." - -7
And they remembered His words. - -8
When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. - -23
Commission
And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you. Matthew 28:7
But go and tell His disciples - and Peter - that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. Mark 16:7
Christ's Appearance to Mary
Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. Mark 16:9
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
John 20:14
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." - -15
Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). - -16
Commission
Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, `I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My GOD and your
GOD.'" John 20:17
Christ's Appearance to other Women
And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" And they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Matthew 28:9
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
- -10
Tidings Carried
So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. Matthew 28:8
And they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Mark 16:8
She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.
- -10
Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Luke 24:9
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. - -10
Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. - -22
Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciples, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the LORD out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." John 20:2
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that He had spoken these things to her.
- -18
Christ's Appearance to Two Disciples
After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. Mark 16:12
So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. Luke 24:15
But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. - -16
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. - -30
Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. - -31
And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" - -32
Tidings Thereof
So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, Luke 24:33
Saying, "The LORD is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" - -34
And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. - -35
Christ's Appearance to the Eleven - Thomas Absent
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."
Luke 24:36
But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
- -37
And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? - -38
"Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." - -39
When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. - -40
But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" - -41
So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. - -42
And He took it and ate in their presence. - -43
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." John 20:19
Now when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the LORD. - -20
Christ's Appearance again to the Eleven - Thomas Present
Afterward He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who
had seen Him after He had risen.
Mark 16:14
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" John 20:26
Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." - -27
Christ's Appearance at the Sea of Tiberias
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: John 21:1
Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. - -2
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. - -3
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. - -4
Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" - knowing that it was the LORD. - -12
Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
- -13
This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. - -14
Christ's Appearance on a Mountain in Galilee
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. Matthew 28:16
And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. - -17
Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." - -18
Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day." Luke 24:46
Christ's Appearance to Paul
Then he said, "The GOD of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. Acts 22:14
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our LORD? Are you not my work in the LORD?
1 Corinthians 9:1
Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. - 15:8
Recapitulation and Additions
To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of GOD. Acts 1:3
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me." - -4
Him GOD raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, - 10:40
Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by GOD, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. - -41
He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. - 13:31
And that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:5
After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. - -6
After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. - -7
Raised by the Power of GOD
This Jesus GOD has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Acts 2:32
And killed the Prince of life, whom GOD raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. - 3:15
The GOD of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. - 5:30
But GOD raised Him from the dead.
- 13:30
But He whom GOD raised up saw no corruption. - -37
For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of GOD. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of GOD toward you. 2 Corinthians 13:4
Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and GOD the Father who raised Him from the dead). Galatians 1:1
Why His Resurrection could not be hindered
Whom GOD raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. Acts 2:24
To you first, GOD, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities. - 3:26
That the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles. - 26:23
Scripture Fulfilled
For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. John 20:9
And we declare to you glad tidings - that promise which was made to the fathers. Acts 13:32
GOD has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: `You are My Son, today I have begotten You.' - -33
Explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." - 17:3
And that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:4
Inferences
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the LORD Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33
But had some questions against him about their own religion and about one, Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. - 25:19
And declared to be the Son of GOD with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:4
But the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. - 8:11
And GOD both raised up the LORD and will also raise us up by His power.
1 Corinthians 6:14
Knowing that He who raised up the LORD Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
2 Corinthians 4:14
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, Philippians 3:10
Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 2 Timothy 2:8
Prophesy of Christ's Ascension
You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD GOD might dwell there. Psalm 68:18
Application
Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" Luke 24:25
"Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" Luke 24:26
Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." Ephesians 4:8
(Now this, "He ascended" - what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? - -9
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) - -10
Prophecy Fulfilled
So then, after the LORD had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of GOD. Mark 16:19
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Luke 24:50
Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. - -51
The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Acts 1:1
Until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, - -2
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. - -9
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, - -10
Who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. - -11
Christ Immortal
And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: `I will give you the sure mercies of David.' Acts 13:34
Therefore He also says in another Psalm: `You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.' - -35
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, Romans 6:8
Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. - -9
For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to GOD. - -10
Christ in Heaven
Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which GOD has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:21
But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of GOD, and Jesus standing at the right hand of GOD, - 7:55
And said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of GOD!" - -56
Which He worked in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:20
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of GOD, Hebrews 10:12
From that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. Hebrews 10:13
Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of GOD, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. 1 Peter 3:22
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, `These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:'" Revelation 2:8
And she bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to GOD and to His throne. - 12:5
Inferences
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of GOD, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear, Acts 2:33
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: `The LORD said to my LORD, "Sit at My right hand,
- -34
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."' - -35
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that GOD has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both LORD and Christ. - -36
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 2 Corinthians 5:16
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of GOD. Colossians 3:1
Who through Him believe in GOD, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in GOD. 1 Peter 1:21
Disciples Incredulity
And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. Mark 16:11
And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. - -13
And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. Luke 24:11
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. - -21
But Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. John 20:24
The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the LORD." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." - -25
|