King James Version · Under Rome
Matthew 28
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In the end of the , as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came and the other to see the . And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for descended from , and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as men. And answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek , which was . He is not here: for he is , as he said. Come, see the place where lay. And go quickly, and tell his that he is from ; and, behold, he goeth before you into ; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his word. And as they went to tell his , behold, met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and him. Then said unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into , and there shall they see me. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the , and had taken , they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the until this day. Then the eleven went away into , into a mountain where had appointed them. And when they saw him, they him: but some doubted. And came and spake unto them, saying, All is given unto me in and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, them in the name of , and of the Son, and of the Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. .
The 1611 translation, public domain. Its original printing included the Apocrypha, which is why the deuterocanonical books can be read here. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
Christians read this chapter differently
- How does the Trinity work? · Matthew 28:19
Every view at its strongest, with who holds it and what it has to answer for.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.