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.
Ver. 2. And behold, &c.] The Holy Ghost here calls for as great attention as if we had been present and seen it. Remember (saith St Paul) "that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to my gospel," 2 Timothy 2:8. All the four evangelists have therefore punctually recorded it, that we may remember and ruminate it, as amain remarkable.
There was a great earthquake] Pythagoras said the reason of earthquakes was, the meeting of the dead: an odd conceit, a But the true reason of this earthquake was our Saviour's rising from the dead, in despite of infernal spirits, who therefore quaked as much as the earth did, as Hilary hath it. b The earth shook both at Christ's passion and at his resurrection; Then, to show that it could not bear his suffering; now, to show that it could not hinder his rising.
Rolled back the stone] As an officer sent to let Christ out of prison, without the keeper's consent.
And sat upon it] In contempt of all their weapons, which fell out of their hands for woe, at the sight of the angel. And as a mighty man when he sits down shakes the bench under him, so do these the earth.
a Nullam aliam causam dicebat terrae motus quam conventum mortuorum. Aelian.
b Resurgente virtutum coelestium domino infernorum trepi. datio commovetur.