Matthew 28:4

4 For fear of him the guards trembled violently, and became like dead men.

Matthew 28:4 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 28:4

And for fear of him the keepers did shake
Though they were soldiers, Roman soldiers and veterans, who had been used to terrible sights in the field of battle; were men of courage, and fearless of danger; and yet were seized with a panic, and every limb of them shook and trembled at the sight of the angel, for fear he was come as an executioner of divine vengeance upon them; who had been concerned in the crucifixion of Christ, had watched him as he hung upon the cross, and now his body in the sepulchre: and even supposing no consciousness of guilt in them, or dread of punishment from him; yet such was the glory and majesty in which he appeared, of which they had never seen the like before, that it had this effect upon them:

and became as dead men:
they turned pale, as dead men, and had scarce any life, or spirit, left in them.

Matthew 28:4 In-Context

2 But to their amazement there had been a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord had descended from Heaven, and had come and rolled back the stone, and was sitting upon it.

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.

4 For fear of him the guards trembled violently, and became like dead men.

5 But the angel said to the women, "As for you, dismiss your fears. I know that it is Jesus that you are looking for--the crucified One.

6 He is not here: He has come back to life, as He foretold. Come and see the place where He lay.