Matthew 28:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A great earthquake accompanies an angel who descends, rolls back the stone, and sits upon it.
What Does Matthew 28:2 Mean?
Matthew marks the moment with the same trembling earth that shook at the cross. Heaven itself acts: an angel comes down, moves the great sealing stone as if it were nothing, and then sits upon it. The stone was rolled away not to let Jesus out, but to let the witnesses in.
The casual posture of the angel, seated on the very stone meant to keep death locked in, declares the outcome before a word is spoken. What human power sealed and guarded, God overturns with ease. The barrier that stood between the living and the grave has become a resting place for a messenger of joy. Nothing the world sets against the purposes of God can finally hold.
Matthew 28:2 in the Original Language
seismos (σεισμός), 'earthquake' -- a shaking or commotion, the same word used when the earth quaked at Jesus' death.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 28:2
What does Matthew 28:2 mean?
A great earthquake accompanies an angel who descends, rolls back the stone, and sits upon it.