And the angel answered and said unto the women
Who being come up, were also affrighted at the sight of the
angel. The Arabic version leaves out the first part, "and the
angel answered": which is a Jewish way of speaking, when nothing
goes before, to which it is a reply; and renders the other part
thus, "and said to the two women": but from the other evangelists
it appears, that there were more women than two; see ( Mark 16:1 ) ( Luke 24:10 ) ,
fear not ye;
some put an emphasis upon the word "ye", as if used in opposition
to the keepers, who had reason to be afraid, but not these good
women. It was very common with gracious persons to be filled with
fear at the sight of an angel, as Zacharias, and the shepherds;
but without reason; they are their friends, their fellow
servants, and ministering spirits to them. The Persic version
adds, "but come near before, for ye are his familiars": the
reason alleged, by the angel, why they had no reason to fear, is,
for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was
crucified:
the knowledge which angels have of saints is very considerable,
and which arises from their frequent embassies to them, care and
guardianship of them, the good offices they perform, and their
several ministrations to them; and the knowledge which the angel
had of these good women, might not be from immediate revelation,
but from the observations he had made of them: they had followed
Jesus from Galilee, they had attended him all the while he was on
the cross, and were now come to his grave to anoint him; and from
their words and gestures, the angel might know that they were the
disciples of Christ, and now sought him; and therefore had no
reason to fear, as those who were his adversaries: and indeed,
such as seek a crucified Christ, and life and salvation by him,
have no reason to be afraid of any thing; not of sin, and its
damning power, since Christ saves, his blood cleanses, and his
righteousness justifies from all sin; nor of the law, its
menaces, curses, and condemnation, for Christ has redeemed them
from it; nor of Satan, and his principalities and powers, who are
spoiled by Christ, and out of whose hands he has ransomed his
people; nor of the world, since Christ has overcome it, and
delivered his people from it; nor of death, whose sting is taken
away, and that abolished as a penal evil; nor of hell, and wrath
to come, from which he has saved them; and much less of good
angels, who are kindly disposed to them: and such are they that
seek a crucified Christ, whom Christ has first sought, and looked
up, and found in redemption and the effectual calling; who are
made sensible of their lost and dangerous state by nature, to
whom Christ has been manifested; and who see both their need of
him, and his worth and value: these seek to him in the first
place, and with all their hearts, for cleansing, pardon,
righteousness, rest, food, salvation, and eternal life: they seek
for him where he is, and is revealed, in the Scriptures, in the
Gospel, in the ordinances, and at the Father's right hand.
