Matthew 28:3-13

3 Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white.

4 The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn't move.

5 The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross.

6 He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.

7 "Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' That's the message."

8 The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples.

9 Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. "Good morning!" he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him.

10 Jesus said, "You're holding on to me for dear life! Don't be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I'll meet them there."

11 Meanwhile, the guards had scattered, but a few of them went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened.

12 They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers,

13 bribing them to say, "His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping."