Inquiry:
Did the women report the resurrection immediately or not? Luke 24:8-9 and Matthew 28:8 say they told the disciples righht away, but Mark 16:8 says they told no one. Is there a contradiction?
Response:
Both Matthew & Luke plainly tell us that the women went and told the apostles that the tomb had been found empty. Upon their testimony it is appropriate that we conclude it was as they tell us – the women told the disciples about the empty tomb.
Does Mark tell us something different? Mark 16:8 reads,
So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
If the questioner were to continue reading, he would see that Mary Magdalene saw the Lord (Mark 16:9, cf. Matthew 28:9) and went and told the disciples (Mark 16:10). So, all three synoptic gospels say that the women went to tell the disciples about the empty tomb.
But what does Mark mean then, by saying that “they said nothing to anyone?” Since He does not mean that they did not tell the apostles (Mark 16:9-10), could it simply be that they said nothing to anyone on their way to see the apostles? They may have passed by several people that morning, but they said nothing to any, until they saw the apostles.
There is no contradiction.
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