Editing Resurrection of Jesus (section)

=== Angels as Witnesses to the Resurrection ===

The New Testament highlights the presence of angels, particularly multiple angels at the tomb of Jesus, reinforcing the credibility of the resurrection account through the motif of paired witnesses. This reflects the legal principle in Deuteronomy 19:15: “A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”<ref>Deuteronomy 19:15, English Standard Version.</ref>

In John, Mary Magdalene sees two angels seated where Jesus' body had been (John 20:12). Luke describes two men in “dazzling apparel” who appear to a group of women (Luke 24:4). Mark mentions a single “young man in white” (Mark 16:5), which some interpret as consistent with the other Gospels when viewed as literary compression. In each case, the women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome—receive the angelic message and are sent to inform the disciples.

The motif of dual angelic witnesses reappears at Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:10–11) and in Revelation’s depiction of two prophetic figures (Revelation 11:3), underscoring a broader biblical pattern of divine confirmation through multiple heavenly messengers.

Reactions to these appearances vary. In Matthew, guards at the tomb witness the angelic event but are bribed to deny it (Matthew 28:2–15). These divergent responses illustrate the tension between revelation and evasion that runs through the Gospel narratives.

John Chrysostom observed, “The appearance of angels is not to bring fear, but to call men to wonder.”<ref>Chrysostom, John. Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Vol. 10. Edited by Philip Schaff.</ref> Daniel L. Akin notes that the presence of two angels in Luke and John corresponds to the Old Testament requirement of multiple witnesses and may be intended to underline the credibility of the resurrection narrative.<ref>Akin, Daniel L. “The Resurrection of the Great King.” Southeastern Seminary, sermon manuscript on Mark 16:1–8. Available at: https://www.danielakin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Mark-16.1-8-The-Resurrection-of-the-Great-King-Manuscript-kh.pdf</ref>