Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

MATTHEW 28:11KJV
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Matthew 28:11 (KJV)

What does Matthew 28:11 mean?

Matthew 28:11 describes how some of the guards at Jesus’ tomb brought news of what had happened to the chief priests in Jerusalem. The verse shifts attention from the women who had visited the tomb to the people responsible for guarding it.

“Now when they were going” refers to the women traveling to tell Jesus’ disciples the news, as Jesus had instructed them in verse 10. The guards’ report reached the chief priests while the women were on their way. Matthew tells the story; the verse does not quote the guards’ actual words.

The Greek behind Matthew 28:11

  • “watch” — κουστωδία (koustōdia): This word refers to a guard or a group assigned to keep watch. Here it points to the guards stationed at the tomb, not to the act of watching.
  • “shewed” — ἀπαγγέλλω (apangellō): This word carries the sense of reporting or telling news. In the KJV, “shewed” here means that the guards gave an account to the chief priests, rather than necessarily showing them an object.

Why Matthew 28:11 matters

  • The report came from the guards themselves. Earlier, the guards had seen the angel and shaken with fear (Matthew 28:2–4), so the chief priests received news from men who had been at the tomb.
  • The guards had been assigned to keep the tomb secure. The chief priests had requested a guard because they feared that Jesus’ disciples might take his body (Matthew 27:62–66).
  • The report sets up the chief priests’ response. In the following verses, they give the soldiers money and instruct them to say that the disciples stole Jesus’ body while the soldiers slept (Matthew 28:12–13).

Where else these words appear

“watch” Greek G2892 · used in 3 verses

  • Matthew 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
  • Matthew 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

“things” Greek G537 · used in 43 verses

  • Matthew 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
  • Luke 8:37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
  • Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

“shewed” Greek G518 · used in 44 verses

  • Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
  • Luke 8:34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
  • Acts 12:14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

“priests” Greek G749 · used in 120 verses

  • Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
  • Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
  • John 19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.