Matthew Poole and continuators on John 20:1

THe first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre , and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre .

Matthew saith, In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn, toward the first day of the week; he also mentioneth another Mary in company with Mary Magdalene▪ Mark tells us, that other Mary was the mother of Iames and Salome. Luke saith, Chap. 23.55. They came, referring to the Women, tbat came with him from Galilee. For the time, Luke saith, it was upon the first day of the week; Mark saith, it was when the Sabbath was past.

Our Evangelist saith, it was while it was dark; so that Matthew's [non-Latin text not transcribed], which we translate, in the end of the Sabbath; must be interpreted by Mark, when the Sabbath was past; and indeed Matthew plainly expounds himself; adding, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week; which must be seven or eight hours after the Iewish Sabbath was ended; (for that ended, with the setting of the Sun the night before) The other Evangelists tell us, that the design of their coming, was to shew their last act of love, in anointing, or imbalming the body of Jesus; for which purpose they had brought materials the night wherein he was Crucified, but rested on the Sabbath-day, which ending about Sunset, probably, they slept some hours, and early in the morning, in the twilight, they come with their Spices. Hence appears, that there is no contradiction at all betwixt the four Evangelists, about the time of these womens coming to the Sepulchre. Matthew saith it was about the dawning of the first day of the week; Mark saith, it was when the Sabbath was past; Luke saith, it was upon the first day of the week; so saith Iohn; which would make one admire, that so many words should have been spent by Divines, in untying a knot here, where there is indeed none.

Tho Iohn in his History of our Saviours Burial, saith nothing of any stone rolled to the mouth of the Sepulchre; yet Matthew doth; and of the Iews sealing of it, and setting a watch, Matth. 27.64, 65, 66. Mark Chap. 16 3. tells us also, that these women were thoughtful as they came▪ who should roll the stone away; and also tell us, how it came rolled away, viz. by an Angel: Iohn saith nothing, but that the stone was rolled away. So than the History runs thus; Early on the first day of the week, an Angel in a glorious appearance (described by Mark) cometh down, rolleth away the stone from the mouth of the Sepulchre, and Christ ariseth; soon after, these women came with Spices, and were thoughtful as they came, who should roll away the stone; but when they came to the Sepulchre, they found that, as to that, their cares were needless, for the stone was rolled away to their hands.

Marginal references: Mat. 28.1. Mar. 16.1. Luhe 24.1.