CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 28:13 and instructed them: "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/28-13.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/40_Mat_28_13.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 28:13 - The Report of the Guards" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="and instructed them: You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/matthew/28-13.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/matthew/28-13.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/matthew/">Matthew</a> > <a href="/matthew/28.htm">Chapter 28</a> > Verse 13</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad13.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/matthew/28-12.htm" title="Matthew 28:12">◄</a> Matthew 28:13 <a href="/matthew/28-14.htm" title="Matthew 28:14">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/28.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/28.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />telling them, &#8220You are to say, &#8216His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/28.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/28.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/28.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/28.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />saying, "Say that His disciples, having come by night, stole Him--we being asleep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/28.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him <i>away</i> while we slept.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/28.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him <i>away</i> while we slept.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/28.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were asleep.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/28.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />and said, &#8220You are to say, &#8216His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/28.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/28.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/28.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />and said, “You say this, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/28.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/28.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and told them, &#8220Say this, &#8216His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/28.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/28.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />They said to the soldiers, "Tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/28.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/28.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />and told them to say that Jesus' disciples had come at night and had stolen his body while they were sleeping.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/28.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />and said, "You are to say that his disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/28.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />They said, "Say that Jesus' disciples came at night and stole him while you were sleeping. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/28.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />and instructed them: ?You are to say, ?His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/28.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came at night and stole his body while we were asleep.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/28.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />saying, "Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/28.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/28.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />telling them to say, "His disciples came during the night and stole his body while we were asleep."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/28.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/28.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />saying, “Say that His disciples having come by night, stole Him—we being asleep;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/28.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />saying, "Say that His disciples, having come by night, stole Him--we being asleep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/28.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> saying, 'Say ye, that his disciples having come by night, stole him -- we being asleep;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/28.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Saying, Say ye, That his disciples having come by night, stole him, we being asleep.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/28.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Saying: Say you, His disciples came by night, and stole him away when we were asleep. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/28.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />saying: “Say that his disciples arrived at night and stole him away, while we were sleeping.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/28.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/28.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/28.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Telling them, Say that his disciples came by night and stole him while we were sleeping.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/28.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />And they were saying to them, “Say, 'His disciples came and stole it in the night, while we slept'.”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/28.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />saying: Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away, while we were asleep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/28.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />saying, You tell, that His disciples, having come by night, stole Him away while we slept.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/28.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />saying, Report, that his disciples coming by night stole him away, while you were asleep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/28.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />do you say "his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/28.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />telling them to say, "His disciples came during the night and stole his body while we were asleep."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/28.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />saying, "Say ye that His disciples, coming by night, stole Him, while we were sleeping.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/28.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />saying, Do you say, that his disciples came by night, and stole Him <i>away,</i> while we were asleep.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/28-13.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=9188" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/28.htm">The Report of the Guards</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">12</span>And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money <span class="reftext">13</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legontes (V-PPA-NMP) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">and instructed them:</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: Eipate (V-AMA-2P) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">“You are to say,</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because."></a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">‘His</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3101.htm" title="3101: mathētai (N-NMP) -- A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.">disciples</a> <a href="/greek/2064.htm" title="2064: elthontes (V-APA-NMP) -- To come, go. ">came</a> <a href="/greek/3571.htm" title="3571: nyktos (N-GFS) -- The night, night-time. A primary word; night.">by night</a> <a href="/greek/2813.htm" title="2813: eklepsan (V-AIA-3P) -- To steal. A primary verb; to filch.">and stole</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Him away</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmōn (PPro-G1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">while we</a> <a href="/greek/2837.htm" title="2837: koimōmenōn (V-PPM/P-GMP) -- From keimai; to put to sleep, i.e. to slumber; figuratively, to decease.">were asleep.’</a> </span> <span class="reftext">14</span>If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-64.htm">Matthew 27:64</a></span><br />So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-62.htm">Matthew 27:62-63</a></span><br />The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate. / “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/4-15.htm">Acts 4:15-17</a></span><br />So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. / “What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it. / But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/5-28.htm">Acts 5:28</a></span><br />“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/5-40.htm">Acts 5:40</a></span><br />At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/11-47.htm">John 11:47-48</a></span><br />Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. / If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/12-10.htm">John 12:10-11</a></span><br />So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, / for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/14-55.htm">Mark 14:55-59</a></span><br />Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any. / For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent. / Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him: ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/23-2.htm">Luke 23:2</a></span><br />And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/24-11.htm">Luke 24:11</a></span><br />But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/20-2.htm">John 20:2</a></span><br />So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she said, “and we do not know where they have put Him!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/23-12.htm">Acts 23:12-15</a></span><br />When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/24-5.htm">Acts 24:5-9</a></span><br />We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, / and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. / but Lysias the commander came with great force and took him out of our hands, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/25-7.htm">Acts 25:7</a></span><br />When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/21-8.htm">1 Kings 21:8-10</a></span><br />Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. / In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. / But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Saying, Say you, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.</p><p class="hdg">stole.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/26-64.htm">Matthew 26:64</a></b></br> Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/27-52.htm">Asleep</a> <a href="/matthew/28-1.htm">Body</a> <a href="/matthew/28-9.htm">Disciples</a> <a href="/psalms/103-21.htm">His</a> <a href="/matthew/27-64.htm">Night</a> <a href="/matthew/10-27.htm">Secretly</a> <a href="/matthew/27-52.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/matthew/27-52.htm">Slept</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/22-11.htm">Stole</a> <a href="/matthew/26-68.htm">Telling</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/mark/4-27.htm">Asleep</a> <a href="/mark/5-29.htm">Body</a> <a href="/matthew/28-16.htm">Disciples</a> <a href="/acts/1-20.htm">His</a> <a href="/mark/4-27.htm">Night</a> <a href="/luke/12-3.htm">Secretly</a> <a href="/mark/4-38.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-20.htm">Slept</a> <a href="/galatians/2-4.htm">Stole</a> <a href="/mark/9-31.htm">Telling</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 28</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/28-1.htm">Christ's resurrection is declared by an angel to the women.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/28-9.htm">He himself appears unto them.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/28-11.htm">The chief priests pay the soldiers to say that he was stolen out of his tomb.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/28-16.htm">Christ appears to his disciples,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/28-18.htm">and sends them to baptize and teach all nations.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/28.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/28.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>and instructed them:</b><br>The chief priests and elders devised a plan to counteract the resurrection of Jesus. This instruction was given to the Roman guards who were responsible for watching the tomb. The religious leaders were concerned about maintaining their authority and preventing the spread of Jesus' teachings. This reflects the ongoing conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities, as seen throughout the Gospels.<p><b>“You are to say,</b><br>The religious leaders were orchestrating a false narrative. This phrase indicates a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation. It highlights the lengths to which the authorities would go to suppress the truth of the resurrection. This act of deception is reminiscent of other instances in the Bible where truth is opposed by falsehood, such as the lies of the serpent in <a href="/genesis/3.htm">Genesis 3</a>.<p><b>‘His disciples came by night</b><br>The claim that the disciples stole Jesus' body was intended to explain the empty tomb without acknowledging the resurrection. The mention of "by night" suggests secrecy and deceit, playing into the narrative that the disciples were acting unlawfully. This accusation is ironic, given that the religious leaders themselves were engaging in deceit.<p><b>and stole Him away</b><br>The idea of the disciples stealing Jesus' body was implausible, considering the Roman guard and the sealed tomb. This phrase underscores the desperation of the religious leaders to provide an alternative explanation for the resurrection. The notion of theft contrasts with the truth of Jesus' victory over death, as prophesied in scriptures like <a href="/psalms/16-10.htm">Psalm 16:10</a> and <a href="/isaiah/53-10.htm">Isaiah 53:10-12</a>.<p><b>while we were asleep.’</b><br>This part of the instruction is particularly problematic, as it implies negligence on the part of the guards, which would have been punishable by death under Roman law. The absurdity of the claim is evident, as sleeping guards would not have been able to witness the alleged theft. This highlights the implausibility of the story and serves to further authenticate the resurrection account by demonstrating the lengths to which the authorities would go to deny it.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/c/chief_priests_and_elders.htm">Chief Priests and Elders</a></b><br>Religious leaders in Jerusalem who were responsible for maintaining Jewish law and order. They were instrumental in orchestrating the plot to cover up the resurrection of Jesus.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/r/roman_guards.htm">Roman Guards</a></b><br>Soldiers assigned to guard Jesus' tomb to prevent His body from being stolen, as the chief priests and Pharisees feared.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/disciples_of_jesus.htm">Disciples of Jesus</a></b><br>Followers of Jesus who were accused of stealing His body to fabricate the resurrection account.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where these events took place, significant as the center of Jewish religious life and the location of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_tomb.htm">The Tomb</a></b><br>The burial place of Jesus, which was found empty on the third day, leading to the claim of His resurrection.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_truth_over_deception.htm">The Power of Truth Over Deception</a></b><br>Despite the efforts to suppress the truth of the resurrection, the message of Jesus' victory over death spread rapidly. Truth, empowered by God, cannot be permanently hidden by human schemes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_cost_of_discipleship.htm">The Cost of Discipleship</a></b><br>The disciples were falsely accused of stealing Jesus' body, highlighting the potential for misunderstanding and persecution when following Christ. Believers should be prepared to face opposition for the sake of the Gospel.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_witness.htm">The Importance of Witness</a></b><br>The empty tomb and the resurrection appearances serve as a powerful witness to the truth of the Gospel. Believers are called to be witnesses of Christ's resurrection in their lives and testimonies.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_fear_and_control_in_opposition_to_god.htm">The Role of Fear and Control in Opposition to God</a></b><br>The religious leaders' actions were driven by fear of losing control and power. This serves as a warning against allowing fear to lead us away from God's truth.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_28.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 28</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_jesus'_resurrection_in_john_20.htm">What historical or archeological evidence supports the supernatural claim of Jesus’ resurrection in John 20? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_god_a_human-made_explanation.htm">Isn’t God just a human invention to explain the unknown?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_believe_in_jesus's_resurrection.htm">What reasons support belief in Jesus Christ's resurrection?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_jesus'_bodily_resurrection.htm">What is the bodily resurrection of Jesus?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/28.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(13) <span class= "bld">His disciples came by night.</span>--The story was on the face of it self-contradictory. How could they tell, if they had been asleep, who had stolen the body? All that they could know was that they had fallen asleep, and that when they awoke the sepulchre was open and empty.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/28.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Say ye,</span> etc. They put the lie into the soldiers' mouth, directing them to answer inquiries in this way. The last resource of an infatuated obstinacy! If they were asleep, how could they know that the disciples stole the body? St. Chrysostom comments well on the infamous transaction, "How did they steal him? O most foolish of all men! For because of the clearness and conspicuousness of the truth, they are not even able to make up a falsehood. For indeed, what they said was highly incredible, and the falsehood had not even speciousness. For how, I ask, did the disciples steal him, men poor and unlearned, and not venturing so much as to show themselves? What? was not a seal put upon it? What? were there not many watchmen and soldiers and Jews stationed round it? What? did not those men suspect this very thing, and take thought, and break their rest, and are in anxiety about it? And wherefore, moreover, did they steal it? That they might feign the doctrine of the resurrection? And how should it enter their minds to feign such a thing - men who were well content to be hidden and to live? And how could they remove the stone that was made sure? How could they have escaped the observation of so many? Nay, though they had despised death, they would not have attempted without purpose and fruitlessly to venture in defiance of so many who were on the watch. And that moreover they were timorous, what they had done before showed clearly: at least, when they saw him seized, all rushed away from him. If, then, at that time they did not dare so much as to stand their ground when they saw him alive, how when he was dead could they but have feared such a number of soldiers?" ('Hem.,' 90.). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/28-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">[and] instructed them:</span><br /><span class="grk">λέγοντες</span> <span class="translit">(legontes)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">“You are to say,</span><br /><span class="grk">Εἴπατε</span> <span class="translit">(Eipate)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> </span><span class="str2">Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘His</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(autou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">disciples</span><br /><span class="grk">μαθηταὶ</span> <span class="translit">(mathētai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3101.htm">Strong's 3101: </a> </span><span class="str2">A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐλθόντες</span> <span class="translit">(elthontes)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2064.htm">Strong's 2064: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come, go. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">by night</span><br /><span class="grk">νυκτὸς</span> <span class="translit">(nyktos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3571.htm">Strong's 3571: </a> </span><span class="str2">The night, night-time. A primary word; 'night'.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and] stole</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔκλεψαν</span> <span class="translit">(eklepsan)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2813.htm">Strong's 2813: </a> </span><span class="str2">To steal. A primary verb; to filch.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">His [body]</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτὸν</span> <span class="translit">(auton)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">{while} we</span><br /><span class="grk">ἡμῶν</span> <span class="translit">(hēmōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> </span><span class="str2">I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were asleep.’</span><br /><span class="grk">κοιμωμένων</span> <span class="translit">(koimōmenōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2837.htm">Strong's 2837: </a> </span><span class="str2">From keimai; to put to sleep, i.e. to slumber; figuratively, to decease.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/28-13.htm">Matthew 28:13 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/28-13.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 28:13 Saying Say that his disciples came (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/28-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 28:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 28:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/28-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 28:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 28:14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>