Footnote

a Some may argue that Matthew 28:1 proves that there were two separate sabbaths between the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection. That text reads: “After the sabbath [literally, sabbaths], when it was growing light on the first day of the week.” However, the fact that the plural is used in the Greek does not prove that more than one sabbath was involved. According to respected authorities, such as A Greek-English Lexicon by H. G. Liddell and Robert Scott, the plural form frequently refers to just one day. Also, the plural “sabbaths” is used in the Bible to designate a week. (Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7) That is why Rotherham renders Matthew 28:1: “And late in the week when it was on the point of dawning into the first of the week.”