John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week , etc..] (See Gill on Matthew 28:1). They came to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun ; of the sun of righteousness, as Mr. Mede observes; or rather, of the natural sun: for though it was dark when they set out, and when it dawned towards the first day, yet by that time that they all got to the sepulchre, the sun was rising; the Jews say f274 , that from the ascending of the morning, or break of day, until the sun rises, is an hour and a half.
And so much time may very well be allowed the women, from their setting out, to their coming to the sepulchre. Moreover, they say f275 , that from the hind of the morning, to the time the east is enlightened, a man may walk four miles, and from the time that the east is enlightened, hm j h Unt d [ , until the sun rises, four miles.
But women must not be thought to walk so fast: let it be observed, that Christ, who is called the hind of the morning, ( Psalm 22:1) (title, Aijeleth Shahar), and the morning star, ( Revelation 22:16), rose at this time.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Nicodemus brought a large quantity of spices, but these good women di not think that enough. The respect others show to Christ, should no hinder us from showing our respect. And those who are carried by holy zeal, to seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties in their way speedily vanish. When we put ourselves to trouble and expense, from love to Christ, we shall be accepted, though our endeavours are no successful. The sight of the angel might justly have encouraged them but they were affrighted. Thus many times that which should be matte of comfort to us, through our own mistake, proves a terror to us. He was crucified, but he is glorified. He is risen, he is not here, no dead, but alive again; hereafter you will see him, but you may here se the place where he was laid. Thus seasonable comforts will be sent to those that lament after the Lord Jesus. Peter is particularly named Tell Peter; it will be most welcome to him, for he is in sorrow for sin. A sight of Christ will be very welcome to a true penitent, and true penitent is very welcome to a sight of Christ. The men ran with all the haste they could to the disciples; but disquieting fears ofte hinder us from doing that service to Christ and to the souls of men which, if faith and the joy of faith were strong, we might do.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ λιαν 3029 ADV πρωι 4404 ADV της 3588 T-GSF μιας 1520 A-GSF σαββατων 4521 N-GPN ερχονται 2064 5736 V-PNI-3P επι 1909 PREP το 3588 T-ASN μνημειον 3419 N-ASN ανατειλαντος 393 5660 V-AAP-GSM του 3588 T-GSM ηλιου 2246 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. At the rising of the sun (anateilantov tou hliou). More correctly, as Rev., when the sun was risen.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:2 {When the sun was risen} (anateilantos tou heliou). Genitive absolute, aorist participle, though some manuscripts read anatellontos, present participle. #Lu 24:1 has it "at early dawn" (orqrou baqeos) and #Joh 20:1 "while it was yet dark." It was some two miles from Bethany to the tomb. Mark himself gives both notes of time, "very early" (lian prwi), "when the sun was risen." Probably they started while it was still dark and the sun was coming up when they arrived at the tomb. All three mention that it was on the first day of the week, our Sunday morning when the women arrive. The body of Jesus was buried late on Friday before the sabbath (our Saturday) which began at sunset. this is made clear as a bell by #Lu 23:54 "and the sabbath drew on." The women rested on the sabbath (#Luke 23:56). this visit of the women was in the early morning of our Sunday, the first day of the week. Some people are greatly disturbed over the fact that Jesus did not remain in the grave full seventy-two hours. But he repeatedly said that he would rise on the third day and that is precisely what happened. He was buried on Friday afternoon. He was risen on Sunday morning. If he had really remained in the tomb full three days and qen had risen after that, it would have been on the fourth day, not on the third day. The occasional phrase "after three days" is merely a vernacular idiom common in all languages and not meant to be exact and precise like "on the third day." We can readily understand "after three days" in the sense of "on the third day." It is impossible to understand "on the third day" to be "on the fourth day." See my _Harmony of the Gospels_, pp. 289-91.
