Mark 16:5 - Exposition

And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed . They enter the tomb, the expression "tomb" including the ante-chamber They see that the stone has been rolled back, so as to expose the entrance into the place where Jesus had lain. On that stone a young man was sitting. The angel peared in the form of a young man, because youth indicates the vigor, the beauty, and the strength of angels. The good angels always appear in beauty and comeliness of form. There will be no deformity in heaven. The angel appeared as arrayed in a white robe. This white robe, or talar indicated a heavenly spiritual being. St. Matthew ( Matthew 28:3 ) says that "his countenance was like lightning," flashing with splendor, and his raiment was as white as snow. It may be that he appeared more terrible to the keepers ( Matthew 28:4 ), and that he abated something of his dazzling brightness when he appeared to the women; but "they were affrighted" ( ἐξεθαμβήθησαν ); literally, they were amazed . Amazement was the dominant feeling, though probably not unmingled with fear.