And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

MATTHEW 28:2KJV
Know the Bible

Matthew 28:2 (KJV)

What does Matthew 28:2 mean?

Matthew 28:2 describes a dramatic moment at Jesus’ tomb: a powerful earthquake occurs as an angel from God comes down from heaven, rolls away the stone blocking the entrance, and sits on it. This verse sets the stage for the discovery that Jesus’ tomb is empty.

The Gospel of Matthew is telling what happened early on the first Easter morning. The women who come to the tomb witness not just an empty grave but a supernatural event: the earth shakes, and an angel visibly moves the stone. The details highlight that something extraordinary and divine is happening, not just a quiet disappearance.

The Greek behind Matthew 28:2

  • σεισμός (seismos, G4578): This word means “earthquake.” The Greek here emphasizes a significant, even frightening, shaking of the ground, underscoring the power and seriousness of the moment.
  • ἄγγελος (angelos, G32): This means “messenger” or “angel.” The word points to a supernatural being sent by God, not just a human messenger.
  • κατέβη (katabē, G2597): This verb means “descended.” The Greek here shows the angel coming down from heaven, making it clear this is a divine intervention.
  • ἀποκυλίω (apokuliō, G617): This means “rolled away.” The verb stresses a deliberate action—the angel actively moves the stone, showing that the tomb is opened by God’s power, not by human effort.

Why Matthew 28:2 matters

  • Matthew 28:2 makes it clear that the empty tomb is not the result of human action but a direct act of God, witnessed by supernatural signs.
  • The verse connects the resurrection story to earlier moments in the Bible where earthquakes signal God’s presence or intervention, helping readers see continuity in how God acts.
  • By describing the angel sitting on the stone, Matthew 28:2 emphasizes the finality and authority of what has happened—the barrier to the tomb is not just moved, but overcome in a way that cannot be reversed by human hands.

Where else these words appear

“back” Greek G617 · used in 4 verses

  • Mark 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
  • Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
  • Luke 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

“earthquake” Greek G4578 · used in 12 verses

  • Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
  • Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
  • Revelation 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

“upon” Greek G1883 · used in 18 verses

  • Matthew 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
  • Matthew 23:22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
  • Luke 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

“door” Greek G2374 · used in 37 verses

  • Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
  • John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
  • Acts 12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.