Matteo 28:4

4 E per timor d’esso, le guardie tremarono, e divennero come morti.

Matteo 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.

Matteo 28:4 In-Context

2 Ed ecco, si fece un gran tremoto, perciocchè un angelo del Signore, sceso dal cielo, venne, e rotolò la pietra dall’apertura del sepolcro, e si pose a seder sopra essa.

3 E il suo aspetto era come un folgore, e il suo vestimento era bianco come neve.

4 E per timor d’esso, le guardie tremarono, e divennero come morti.

5 Ma l’angelo fece motto alle donne, e disse loro: Voi, non temiate; perciocchè io so che cercate Gesù, il quale è stato crocifisso.

6 Egli non è qui, perciocchè egli è risuscitato, come egli avea detto; venite, vedete il luogo dove il Signore giaceva.