Chapter XXIV.—Of the Absence of All Discrepancies in the Narratives Constructed by the Four Evangelists on the Subject of the Events Which Took Place About the Time of the Lord’s Resurrection. 61. Matthew proceeds thus: “And there was there Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.”1474 This is given by Mark as follows: “And Mary Mag- dalene, and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where He was laid.”1475 So far it is evident that there is no kind of inconsistency between the accounts. 62. Matthew continues in these terms: “Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we have remembered that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”1476 This narrative is given only by Matthew. Nothing, however, is stated by any of the others which can have the appearance of contrariety. 63. Again, the same Matthew carries on his recital as follows: “Now, in the evening of the Sabbath,1477 when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, 1478 came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earth- quake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And his countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay: And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.”1479 Mark is in harmony with this. It is possible, however, that some difficulty may be felt in the circumstance that, according to Matthew’s version, the stone was already rolled away from the sepulchre, 1474 Matt. xxvii. 61. 1475 Mark xv. 47. 1476 Matt. xxvii. 62–66. 1477 Vespere autem Sabbati. [The Greek does not present the difficulty which is found in the Latin text, and discussed by Augustin in § 65 (latter part). The phrase is properly rendered in the Revised Version, “Now late on the Sabbath day.”—R.] 1478 The editions often give, in prima Sabbati = on the first day of the week. The best mss. read, as above, in primam, etc. 1479 Matt. xxviii. 1–7. Of the Absence of All Discrepancies in the Narratives Constructed by the Four Evangelists on the Subject of the Events Which Took Place About the Time of the Lord’s Resurrection. 470 Of the Absence of All Discrepancies in the Narratives Constructed by the…