the resurrection of these numerous "bodies," nor of the earthquake that accompanied it. Then we should have to set down the four records of the four Evangelists as follows:
Mark xv. 37-39. 37. And Jesus uttered a loud voice and gave up the ghost. 38. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. |
Matt. xxvii. 50-54. 50. And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom [and the earth did quake, and the rocks were rent; (52) And the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised; (53) And coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.] |
Luke xxii. 46-7. 46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. |
John xix. 30, 31. 30. And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. | |||
[A blank.] |
[A blank.] |
[A blank.] | ||||
39. And when the centurion, which stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. |
54. Now the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, when they saw [the earthquake and] the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. |
47. And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. |
31. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, &c. |
You see then that this extraordinary incident, startling enough to be the very centre of a galaxy of wonders, is omitted by three out of the four Evangelists. You see also that two of the Evangelists agree with St. Matthew in placing a centurion at the foot of the cross, and in assigning to him expressions of faith: but neither of them mentions the "earthquake" as being even a partial cause
