Saying, Sir, we remember that this deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
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Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
Saying, Sirach , we remember that deceiver said, when He was yet alive. "That impostor" (S. Augustine, Hom. xxxvi. inter1.). "By this name," he says also (in Psalm 43:7), "was the Lord Jesus Christ called, to console His servants when called deceivers."
After three days I will rise again. Three days not completed, but only begun, i.e, within three days, or the third day after.
Sir, we have remembered, that that seducer, this impostor, this cheat; so they called our blessed Redeemer; from whence, says St. Augustine, Christians may learn to be patient under the greatest injuries.
Said: . after three days I will rise again. This, therefore, must have been well known among the Jews. (Witham)
The chief motive, which influenced the high priest on this occasion, was probably the apprehension lest this prediction of Christ's resurrection should be verified. The wonderful prodigies which took place at his death, and especially the opening of the graves, (though none arose it is believed till after Christ's resurrection, since Christ is called the first-born from the dead, 1 Colossians i. 18. and the first-fruits of them that sleep, 1 Corinthians xv. 20.) might naturally appear as preludes to what he had so often foretold. It is true they had no idea but of a temporal passing resurrection , like that of Lazarus, which they had seen: yet they judged that such an even...
See, at any rate, these words bearing witness to every one of these facts.
So that if the sepulchre be sealed, there will be no unfair dealing. For there could not be. So then the proof of His resurrection has become incontrovertible by what you have put forward. For because it was sealed, there was no unfair dealing. But if there was no unfair dealing, and the sepulchre was found empty, it is manifest that He is risen, plainly and incontrovertibly. Do you see, how even against their will they contend for the proof of the truth?
But mark thou, I pray you, the disciples' love of truth, how they conceal from us none of the things that are said by His enemies, though they use opprobrious language. Behold, at any rate, they even call Him a deceiver, and these men are not silent about that.
But these things show also their savageness (that not even at His death did they let go their anger), and these men's simple and truthful disposition.
But it were worth while to inquire concern...
