When Jesus‘ empty tomb was discovered, the gospels all agree that an angelic message was delivered to a woman named Mary. Exactly what the angel’s words were, however, differs between the gospels. Is this a contradiction? Let’s take a look:
- Matthew 28:6-7, “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
- Mark 16:6-7, “And he said to them, ‘Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He said to you.’’”
- Luke 24:5-7, “and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”
- John 20:13, “And they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’”
The different gospel writers recalled or were told, that which was said. Just like real witnesses who all view the same event, each says a slightly different version of the same thing. If each sentence were identical, then the charge of collusion would be raised. But the fact that each writer records the words of the angels in a slightly different manner suggests that they really did witness these events, or heard of them, and recorded them. The slight differences are proof that there were different people seeing the event. In other words, it really happened and each person recalled a slightly different, but noncontradictory, account of the angel’s words.
The following is a suggested arrangement of words that might help to harmonize the words of the angels.
| Event | Matthew 28:6-7 | Mark 16:6-7 | Luke 24:5-7 | John 20:13 |
| women were afraid | “and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, | |||
| Two angels spoke | “And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” | |||
| One or two angels spoke | “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? | |||
| One angel spoke | “And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; | |||
| “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. | He is not here; | 6 “He is not here, but He has risen. | ||
| Come, see the place where He was lying. | behold, here is the place where they laid Him. | |||
| Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” | ||||
| 7 “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He said to you.’” | ||||
| 7 “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” |
