Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 28:15

15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught; And this saying is commonly reported amongst the Jews to this day.

No other Evangelist hath this passage which was necessary to be inserted by Matthew. 1 To satisfie Readers how it could come to pass, that Matthew should know of the Earthquake, or concussion of the Air rather, and that an Angel came and rolled away the Stone, for all this was done, and Christ risen, before the Women came, it came out by the Watch, or by Pilate to whom the Watch related it, or else by some of the Priests and Elders, who did not keep Counsel so well as others. 2 To shew the horrible Wickedness of these Priests and Elders, that would thus cover the Blood they had spilt with a Lye, and Subornation. Thus one Sin requires more to defend it. 3 To let us see how simple People will shew themselves in their Malice. What a Story here was? If they were asleep, how could they know that Christ's Disciples came by Night and stole him away? Would no noise of rolling away the stone wake them? Malice will not allow Men deliberation enough to shew themselves wise. God infatuated these Men, that succeeding ages might know they were suborned. Here we have also the ground of that Fable with which the Jews presently f[illegible: 1 letter]lled all the World.