Luke 24:1

Now. [The Resurrection, Luke 24:1—12=Matt. 28:1—15=Mark 16:1—11=John 20:1-18. Major comment: Matthew and John.] Gr. de, “but,” or “and,” connecting the first phrase of ch. 24 very closely with the concluding statement of ch. 23. The connection is more clearly seen with an alternate translation: “Indeed, they rested the Sabbath according to the commandment, but on the first day of the week ...” This translation makes quite evident the sacredness these early Christian believers attached to the seventh-day Sabbath. Their last act on Friday was to prepare “spices and ointments” (ch. 23:56). Then they laid everything aside “according to the [Sabbath] commandment” (see on Ex. 20:8-11), and did not resume their labor of love until early Sunday morning. The strong contrast between the sacredness of the Sabbath and the secular character of Sunday here embedded in the gospel narrative speaks eloquently to Christians today. For comment on the circumstances of the resurrection see Additional Note on Matt. 28; see on Matt. 28:1.