Untitled Sermon (9)
Matthew speaks of one angel who rolled the stone away and also spoke to the women. Mark refers to a young man in a white robe whom they saw after they entered the tomb. John mentions two angels in white who spoke to Mary Magdalene. It is clear that all these refer to angels. The fact that sometimes we hear of one and sometimes of two need not concern us. As many commentators point out, a spokesman is more prominent than his associates and may be referred to without mention of others. Neither should we be greatly concerned that the angels may be sitting (in John) or standing (here), nor that their words are not identical in the various accounts. It is hypercriticism that does not allow angels to change their position, and there is no reason for thinking that they spoke once only. Moreover John speaks of them in connection with a different