Matthew 2:1

The Visit of the Wise Men

2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem ¹  in Judea, in the time ²  of King Herod, ³  wise men ⁴  from the East came to Jerusalem ⁵ 

Matthew 10:2

10:2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: ⁶  first, Simon ⁷  (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother;

Matthew 24:21

24:21 For then there will be great suffering ⁸  unlike anything that has happened ⁹  from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen.

Matthew 24:32

The Parable of the Fig Tree

24:32 “Learn ¹⁰  this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

Matthew 27:11

Jesus and Pilate

27:11 Then ¹¹  Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ¹²  “Are you the king ¹³  of the Jews?” Jesus ¹⁴  said, “You say so.” ¹⁵ 

Matthew 28:1

The Resurrection

28:1 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

¹ map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.

² tn Grk “in the days.”

³ sn King Herod was Herod the Great, who ruled Palestine from 37 b.c. until he died in 4 b.c. He was known for his extensive building projects (including the temple in Jerusalem) and for his cruelty.

⁴ sn The Greek term magi here describes a class of wise men and priests who were astrologers (L&N 32.40).

⁵ map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

⁶ sn The term apostles is rare in the gospels, found only here, Mark 3:14, and six more times in Luke (6:13; 9:10; 11:49; 17:5; 22:14; 24:10).

⁷ sn In the various lists of the twelve, Simon (that is, Peter) is always mentioned first (see also Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:13) and the first four are always the same, though not in the same order after Peter.

¹¹ tn Traditionally, “great tribulation.”

¹² sn Suffering unlike anything that has happened. Some refer this event to the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. While the events of a.d. 70 may reflect somewhat the comments Jesus makes here, the reference to the scope and severity of this judgment strongly suggest that much more is in view. Most likely Jesus is referring to the great end-time judgment on Jerusalem in the great tribulation.

¹⁶ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

²¹ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

²² tn Grk “asked him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

²³ sn “Are you the king of the Jews?” Pilate was interested in this charge because of its political implications of sedition against Rome.

²⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

²⁵ sn The reply “You say so” is somewhat enigmatic, like Jesus’ earlier reply to the Jewish leadership in 26:64.