I was taking a look at a nice reference book, Bible Background Commentary by Craig S. Keener, to see if there was some additional information about this text.
He speculates whether the guards posted were Temple guards or actual Roman soldiers. We would guess is that the average Roman soldier is better equipped and more trained than the Temple guards of an oppressed society. It is an interesting discussion but I don't know if it materially affects the security of the seal on the tomb. Imagine, if you will, the disciples, a rather rag tag group, attempting a Delta Force type raid to steal Jesus body!
Temple guards/Roman soldiers versus disciples? Who would you put your money on in a knife fight?
Matthew 28:1-15 tells us what happened ...
The male disciples were no where to be found.
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
It is the women disciples who go to the tomb not the elite Green Beret disciples.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
Instead of special forces disciples, an angel of the Lord came!
The guards whether Roman soldiers or Temple guards were terrified.
The angel tells them that Jesus is not here, he is risen just as he said. A quick google search for Easter Song netted this this web page with lyrics.
Here the bells ringingI couldn't figure out how to embed the lyrics box into the blog. 8-(
They're singing that you can be born again
Here the bells ringing
They're singing Christ is risen from the dead
The angel up on the tombstone
Said He has risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead
Joy to the word, He has risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
Hear the bells ringing
They're singing that you can be healed right now
Hear the bells ringing, they're singing
Christ, He will reveal it now
The angels, they all surround us
And they are ministering Jesus' power
Quickly now, reach out and receive it
For this could be your glorious hour
Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah
The angel up on the tombstone
Said He has risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead
Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
Hallelujah
The women leave excited and terrified at what just happened when Jesus shows up to assure them, they aren't imagining the whole thing.
Meanwhile, the guards leave terrified. They go to the chief priests and tell them what happened. The priests gave them some cash and told them to say, His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.
The priests also told them not to worry about Pilate by saying, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.
On this basis, Keener, in the reference book I mentioned before, believes they were probably Roman soldiers.
I suppose the priests would tell Pilate, remember the last guy who claimed to be a Messiah? He had a bunch of disciples too. Raised quite a ruckus. Well, where are they now? Once the so-called Messiah is dead, the followers flee. Same here. You don't have to worry about it. We will take care of it from here.
Of course, one difference: those previous so-called Messiah were dead; this one, this Jesus, was alive!
Those rag-tag disciples would turn the world upside down. Christianity is either the greatest story every told or the greatest hoax ever sold.
Lord, you lived among us to give us an example of godliness and to grant us righteousness, you died to pay for our sins and to show the extent of your love, and you raised from the dead to give us victory over sin and death. Lord, help me to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings. Amen.
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