Luke 24:1

βαθέως אABCD. It is not an adverb, but the Alexandrine form of βαθέος the gen. of βαθύς.

[καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς.] Omitted in אBL, Copt. Aeth. Vulg[413] It[414] &c.

[413] Vulg. Vulgate.
[414] It. Old Latin Version (Itala).

1. ὄρθρου βαθέως. Literally, ‘at deep dawn,’ i.e. at the earliest morning twilight, ‘while it was yet dark’ (John 20:1), though the sun began to rise before they reached the tomb (Mark 16:2). St John mentions only Mary of Magdala (Luke 20:1); St Matthew adds Mary, mother of James (Matthew 28:1); St Mark adds Salome (Mark 16:1); and St Luke Joanna, Luke 24:10. They may have gone singly or in small groups, the Marys being separate from the others. There is no discrepancy in the different narratives, although, as we might have expected, they are fragmentary and seem to reflect the varied and tumultuous emotions of those who were the first to see the Lord. The Easter music, as Lange says, is not ‘a monotonous chorale’ but an impassioned fugue. Godet suggests that the narrative of each Evangelist is in accordance with the object and design of each Gospel. St Luke, desiring to describe the growth of Christianity, prepares for his future history of the founding of the Church. St Matthew crowns his demonstration of the Messianic glory of Jesus. St Mark displays His active power. St John illustrates the triumph of faith over incredulity.

1. To Mary of Magdala. John 20:11-17 (‘Noli me tangere’); Mark 16:9.