perplexed thereabout, behold two men stood by them in shining garments. From this account indeed it is generally inferred, that the angels appeared to the women on their first entering into the sepulchre. But the conclusion is by no means certain; for the evangelist does not tell us where the angels appeared, whether in the sepulchre or out of it. In his account therefore of the matter, there is nothing forbidding us to suppose that the women, after missing the body, came out and searched for it up and down the garden, then went in a second time, and discovered the angels as they entered; for they were still in perplexity when the heavenly messengers spoke to them, which is all that Luke affirms. And as there is nothing in Luke's narration forbidding us to make the supposition just now mentioned, so the circumstance taken notice of by John, that Magdalene told the apostles they had taken away the Lord's body, obliges us to make it; for if, when she entered into the sepulchre with her companions, the angel had appeared to them and told them that Jesus was risen, she could not have spoken in this manner to the apostles. Luke indeed joins the appearance of the two angels with the account which he gives of the womens perplexity occasioned by their not finding the body, because he did not judge it worth while to distinguish the appearance of the one angel, while the women were on the top of the stair, from the appearance of both the angels after they were come down, as they happened in close succession. Matthew and Mark have supplied this defect by informing us, that immediately upon their entering, the woman saw an angel who told them Jesus was risen, and desired them to come down and see the place where the Lord lay. Because the women were exceedingly afraid when the first angel appeared, he spake to them with much mildness, Matt. xxviii. 5. But now that VOL. II. Ꮞ Ꭰ their

επα

Luke 4. Stood by them.] The original word #715nov does not imply that the angels, at their first appearance, were close by the women. prove this from Gen xviii. 2. LXX. where, though it be said that "Abraham lift up his eyes, and looked, and lo three men (stav szava avle) stood by him," it is added, that "when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent-door:" which shews that they were at so ne distance from him. Wherefore, misnoav avlos, in Luke, answering to tnx«σav Eπα¥W av]wn, signifies simply they appeared unto them. If so, we may suppose that both the angels were in a sitting posture when they shewed themselves to the women; because Mark affirms it expressly of the one whom he mentions, verse 5. and because they shewed themselves in this posture afterwards to Mary Magdalene, John xx. 12. However, if the reader is not satisfied with this solution, the evangelists may easily be reconciled by supposing that the angel of whom Mark speaks arose when the women went down into the sepulchre. This manner of the angels shewing themselves was agreeable to the benignity of their nature, and the graciousness of the erraud on which they were come. For had they not appeared till the women were got down into the sepulchre, the light issuing from their garments and countenances, together with the unexpectedness and terror of the vision, must have made the timorous women to faint away.

their terror was a little abated, and they were come down into the sepulchre, he chid them gently for seeking the living among the dead by which we are not to understand their coming down in obedience to his invitation, but their having brought spices to the sepulchre, with an intention to do their Master an office that belonged only unto the dead; for that was a clear proof of their not entertaining the least thought of his resurrection; accordingly he found fault with them also for not believing the things which Jesus had spoken to them in Galilee, concerning his rising from the dead on the third day; or rather, for not remembering them so as to have had some hopes of his reviving again. Luke xxiv. 5. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6. He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7. Saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. This evangelist having no intention to tell which of the angels spake, attributes to them both words which, in the nature of the thing, could be spoken only by one of them, perhaps the one mentioned by Matthew and Mark. See on Matt. xxvii. 44. § 144. Farther, as it is the custom of the sacred historians to mention one person or thing only, even in cases where more were concerned, the difficulty arising from Luke's speaking of two angels, and the rest but of one, would have been nothing, because we might have supposed that all the women went into the sepulchre together, as Luke tells us, and that when they did not find the body, they dispatched Mary Magdalene immediately into the city, with an account of the matter; and that when she was gone, the angels appeared unto the rest, while they were yet in the sepulchre. But as Luke affirms that they had searched the sepulchre, and were in perplexity on account of the body's being away, before the angels appeared; and Matthew intimates that they were out of the sepulchre when they saw the vision he speaks of, chap. xxviii. 6. we are obliged to make the suppositions mentioned above. When the women had satisfied their curiosity by looking at the place where the Lord had lain, and where nothing was to be found but the linen clothes in which he had been swathed, the angel who first appeared to them bade them go and tell his disciples, particularly Peter, the glad news of his resurrection from the dead; that he was going before them to Galilee; and that they should have the pleasure of seeing him there. Matt. xxviii. 7. And go quickly, and tell his disciples (Mark, and Peter), that he is risen from the dead; and behold he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him, (Mark, as he said unto you *) lo, I have told you.

Mark 7. There shall ye see him, as he said unto you.] Our Lord's pro

This message, as well as that from Jesus himself, Matt. xxviii. 9, 10. was sent to all the disciples, and not to the apostles in particular. The reason may have been this: our Lord intending to visit his apostles that very evening, there was no occasion to order them into Galilee to see him. But as most of his disciples were now in Jerusalem celebrating the passover, it may easily be imagined, that on receiving the news of their Master's resurrection, many of them would resolve to tarry in expectation of meeting with him; a thing which must have been very inconvenient for them at that time of the year, when the harvest was about to begin, the sheaf of first-fruits being always offered on the second day of the passover week. Wherefore, to prevent their being so long from home, the messages mentioned were sent, directing them to return into Galilee, well assured that they should have the pleasure of seeing their Lord there, and, by that means, be happily relieved from the suspicion of his being an impostor, which no doubt had arisen in their minds when they saw him expire upon the cross. Accordingly he appeared, as we shall see by and by, to more than five hundred of them at once, who in consequence of this appointment gathered together to see him. The women, highly elated with the news of their Lord's resurrection, and of his intending to shew himself publicly in Galilee, went out of the sepulchre immediately, and ran to bring the disciples word. Luke xxiv. 8. And they remembered his words. Matt. xxviii. 8. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre, with fear and great joy, (Mark, They avent out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled and were amazed) and did run to bring his disciples word. Mark xvi. 8. Neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Luke xxiv. 9. And returned from the sepulshre, and told all these things unto the eleven. The eleven were not all present when the women came, for Peter and John were gone to the sepulchre. Yet as it was not Luke's intention to mention every circumstance minutely, he speaks of their informing the eleven in general; though from Matthew it appears that the women did not tell these things to Peter and John till afterwards. And to all the rest, namely, at different times. 10. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. When the women came to the apostles this first time, Mary Magdalene was at the sepulchre with Peter and John. But her report, though made separately, is fitly joined by Luke with that of her companions,

for

mise of appearing to the disciples in Galilee, here referred to, was given to the twelve apostles, Matt. xxvi. 32. yet the angels speak of it as made to the women and to all the disciples. Hence we learn, that every promise made to the apostles, which had not an immediate relation to their office and character, was really made to all the disciples, and was intended to be made known to them.

for various reasons. See § 152. Luke xxiv. 11. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Their Master's crucifixion gave such a severe blow to their faith, that they laid aside all the thoughts which they had entertained of his being the Messiah. And therefore they had not the least expectation of his resurrection, notwithstanding he had often predicted it to them: nay, they looked upon the story which the women told them about it, as a mere chimera, the delusion of a disordered imagination."

It may seem strange, that in the accounts which the evangelists have given of our Lord's resurrection, there is not the least mention made of the disciples meeting one another by the way, although they went several times backwards and forwards in separate companies, between their lodging in the city and the sepulchre. On the contrary, the circumstances of the history oblige us to suppose that they did not meet one another. But there is nothing improbable in this at all. For as Jerusalem was a great city, the apostles lodging might be at the distance of a mile or two from that extremity of it which was nearest to the sepulchre. And, therefore, from their lodging to the sepulchre there might be several different ways through the city, all equally convenient. Farther, Calvary, where our Lord was crucified, is said to have been nigh to the city, John xix. 20. But it would be nigh, though it was at the distance of half a mile. Suppose it, however, to have been only a little more than a quarter of a mile. In this place, or nigh to it, ( TO) was the garden where our Lord was buried, John xix. 41. Yet the garden might be on the side of Calvary that was farthest from Jerusalem. Wherefore, as it was a spacious garden, the sepulchre could not well be nearer to the city than half a mile. It may, however, have been at the distance of a whole mile consistently enough with the description which John has given of its situation. On either supposition, there may have been different roads from Joseph's villa and garden to the city. Besides, as Jerusalem was walled round, the apostles lodging might be so situated, that persons going from thence to Joseph's garden, could come out of the city by two different gates. To conclude, the garden where the sepulchre was, might have more doors than one, and several shady walks in it leading to the sepulchre. On these suppositions it is easy to imagine, that the disciples and the women who went to and from the sepulchre, may have missed each other, by taking their route through different streets of the city, or different roads in the field; or they may have been hid from one another by the shady walks of the garden in which the sepulchre stood *.

Mr West seems to lay some stress on the following argument for proving the chief article of his scheme, I mean that the women went to the pulchre in separate companies, and had different visions of angels. His

argument

argument is this: on supposition that the women went in different companies, our Lord's resurrection will have additional evidence. Yet, if I mistake not, the evidence will be equally strong on supposition that the women were all in one company when the angels appeared to them. For the more persons were together when the vision was seen, the less liable were they to be deceived. Had only one person seen the angels, it might have been called an illusion of fancy. For two to have precisely the same illusion was not so easy. But that the very same train of ideas should have risen in the imaginations of such a number of persons, at one instant of time, was altogether improbable; especially as it consisted of many particulars, and was directly opposite to all the notions which they were then impressed with. Wherefore, since the vision was thus of more length, and had a greater variety of circumstances in it, and the witnesses were more in number, the evidence of Christ's resurrection seems to be even stronger, on the supposition that the women were all in one company when the angels appeared unto them. According to the most obvious meaning of the evangelist's words, first one angel appeared, and was distinctly heard, by all the women, to say, (Matt.) Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified; he is not here, for be is risen, as he said: Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Then going down to the bottom of the sepulchre, in consequence of his invitation, they all saw another angel, and heard the one or the other pronounce the following words, (Luke) Why seek ye the living among the dead? he is not here, but is risen; remember how he spake unto you avhen he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Then the angel continuing his discourse, said, in the hearing of them all, (Matt.) And go quickly, and tell his disciples (Mark, and Peter) that he is risen from the dead: and behold he goeth before you into Galilee. (Mark) There shall ye see him, as he said unto you. (Matt.) Lo, I have to'd you. A vision of this length and variety of circumstances, seen, not by one or two, but six or more persons, could not possibly be an illusion or dream, and for any one to say so is ridiculous. To conclude; on the supposition that the women were not divided into two companies. the appearance likewise of Jesus himself to them, will, for the reasons alledged, be attended with the fullest evidence.

§ CLI. Peter and John visit the sepulchre. Mary Magdalene follows them thither, where, after they are gone, she sees first a vision of angels, and next Jesus himself; then runs a second time into the city, to inform the rest. Mark xvi. 9.

4,-12.

John xx.

"WHILE the women were running into the city to impart the glad tidings of the Lord's resurrection, which they had received from the angels, Peter and John were on the road to the sepulchre, having set out to examine the truth of what Mary Magdalene had told them. But happening to go by a different street, or perhaps entering the garden of the sepulchre by a different door from that through which the company of women had des parted, they did not meet with them. The two disciples made all the haste they could, for they were anxious to have their doubts cleared up; but John, being the younger man, out-ran Peter, and got to the sepulchre first. He did not however go in; he only stooped down, and saw the rollers which had been about

the