Matthew 28:4

4 and for dread of him the keepers were afeared, and they were made as 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 And lo! there was made a great earth-shaking; for the angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and approached, and turned away the stone [+forsooth the angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and he nighing/coming to turned away the stone], and sat thereon.

3 And his looking was as lightning, and his clothes as snow; [Soothly his looking was as lightning, and his clothes white as snow;]

4 and for dread of him the keepers were afeared, and they were made as dead men.

5 But the angel answered, and said to the women, Do not ye dread, for I know that ye seek Jesus, that was crucified;

6 he is not here, for he is risen, as he said; come ye, and see ye the place [come ye, and see the place], where the Lord was laid.