The Resurrection Story

Matthew 28:1-20 CEV - Easy English Listening

Jesus resurrection easy english listening
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I love the story of the Resurrection of Jesus. It always reminds me how much He loves me! Here is the resurrection story in easy English. You will find it in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 28. I am reading from the Contemporary English Version (CEV) of the Bible.

Instructions

1. Read the 5 comprehension questions.

2. Listen to the audio and answer the questions. Listen again if it will help you answer them all. The answers are at the bottom of the page.

3. Look at the PDF and study the vocabulary words. The vocabulary words are highlighted in the PDF.

4. Listen again and read as you listen.

 

Enjoy the story! Pray and thank God that he sent Jesus to pay for our sins because He loves us so much.

Comprehension Questions

1. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb on
a. Saturday
b. Sunday
c. Monday

2. Who said, “Don’t be afraid!”
a. the angel
b. Jesus
c. the angel and Jesus

3. The guards 
a. shook from fear and fell down
b. took the money and did what they were told
c. both a and b

4. Where did Jesus meet his disciples?
a. Galilee
b. in the garden
c. in the city

5. Jesus told the disciples to
a. go back to their jobs and wait for instructions
b. go to people of all nations and make them his disciples
c. pack clothing and get ready to leave the city

Now listen…

The Resurrection Story in Easy English
Download the PDF and Read Along!

Vocabulary

  • to be over –
    The word over has many meanings. In this sentence, it is an adverb that means to end. “The Sabbath was over” means “The Sabbath has ended.” It may happen again, but for now, it has ended.
  • daybreak –
    a synonym for dawn, the time of day when sunlight first appears.
  • hurry –
    to move quickly because there is not much time
  • on his way –
    an idiom that means “going” or “coming.” The word way is used in many idioms. 
  • yet –
    Yet is another word that has many meanings and appears in many idioms. In this sentence, it is a conjunction that means “despite what has just been said” or “even though.” The women were frightened, but even though they were afraid, they were also very happy.
  • met –
    Met is the verb meet in the past simple tense. It is irregular. (We do not say meeted). In this sentence, it means a formal meeting, or discussion, between the chief priests and the leaders.
  • worry –
    to think a lot about unpleasant things that might happen
  • still –
    Still is an adverb that means “an action that began in the past and continues into the present.” The Jews told this story 2000 years ago, and they still tell it today.
  • doubted –
    Doubted is the verb doubt in the simple past tense. It is regular. To doubt means that you do not know if you should believe something. It might be true and it might be a lie. 
  • until –
    an action will occur up to a certain point in time. Jesus will be with us until the end of the world.

Answers to Comprehension Questions

1. b – Sunday
…it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. (verse 1)

2. c – the angel and Jesus
The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid!” (verse 5)
Then Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid!” (verse 10)

3. c – both a and b
The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead. (verse 4)
The soldiers took the money and did what they were told. (verse 15) 

4. a – Galilee
Tell my disciples to go to Galilee. They will see me there. (verse 10)
Jesus’s eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him. (verse 16)

5. b – go to people of all nations and make them his disciples
Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. (verse 19)