Now when [Jesus] was risen early the first [day] of
the
week
Though the word "Jesus" is not in the text, it is rightly
supplied; for of the rising of no other, can the words be
understood; and so the Persic version supplies "Messiah", or
"Christ"; that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the
week, agrees with the accounts of all the evangelists, and is
here expressly affirmed; the phrase, "the first day of the week",
is so indeed placed, as that it may be thought to connected with
the following words; as it is by some; fancying there would
otherwise be a disagreement with ( Matthew 28:1
) , whereas there is none; (See Gill on Matthew
28:1) though it is true also, that he did appear on that
day to Mary Magdalene, it being the same day he rose from the
dead. But the true reading and pointing are as here placed; and
the phrase belongs to, and points out the day of Christ's rising
from the dead; and which ambiguity is removed in the Syriac
version, which renders it, "now early on the first day of the
week he rose"; and so the Persic version, "the Messiah", or
"Christ, therefore on the morning of the, first day, rose from
the dead": and that he rose early on that day, is clear from the
women, who set out at the end of the sabbath, when that was past
and over; and got to the sepulchre by the time the day dawned;
and one of them, while it was dark, and all of them by break of
day, at least by sunrising, and he was then risen:
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene;
in the habit of a gardener, for whom she took him at first; and
this was at the sepulchre, where she staid after the disciples
were gone. That she was the very first person that Christ showed
himself to, after his resurrection, may be concluded from hence,
and from the account the Evangelist John has given, ( John 20:14 ) , nor is
there any reason to think, that before this, he appeared to his
mother, of which the evangelists are entirely silent. This was a
very great favour, and an high honour that was bestowed upon her;
and who had received large favours from him before:
out of whom he had cast seven devils,
see ( Luke 8:2 )
. And if she had been a very wicked person, as she is commonly
thought to be, and very likely she had been, since Satan had such
a power over her, as to lodge seven devils in her, it is an
instance of abounding grace, that Christ should heap up favours
on such an one; and she should be the first that he should appear
to and converse with after his resurrection.
