But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
Parallel translations
- WEB The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
- KJV And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
- NKJV But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
- NASB And the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
- NLT Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The angel reassures the women not to fear, acknowledging they seek the crucified Jesus. Fear gives way to a gracious announcement.
Overview
The angel's first word, 'Don't be afraid,' is a common biblical assurance when heaven breaks into human experience. He names Jesus as the one 'who has been crucified,' affirming that the same Jesus who truly died is the subject of the good news to follow. The women's earnest seeking is met with revelation rather than rebuke.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Heb 1:14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Isa 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Rev 1:17–18When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
- Luke 24:5As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
- Luke 1:30So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- Dan 10:12“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
- Luke 1:12–13When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
- Ps 105:3–4Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
- Matt 28:10“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”
- Matt 14:27But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
- Dan 10:19“Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
- Isa 41:14Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
- Isa 35:4Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”
- Mark 16:6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.
- John 20:13–15“Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked. “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I do not know where they have put Him.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 28:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.