Where was the stone when the women arrived at the tomb?

THE STONE AND THE EMPTY TOMB

INTRODUCTION

A key detail in the Gospel accounts of the resurrection is the location of the large stone that had been placed over the entrance to Jesus’ tomb. Each of the four Gospels gives a consistent picture that the stone was not in its original position when the women arrived on the morning after the Sabbath. This entry explores the relevant passages (Mark 16:4; Luke 24:2; John 20:1; Matthew 28:1–6) and provides a thorough examination of what happened to the stone and why it holds significance.

CONTEXT OF THE TOMB’S STONE

It was customary in first-century Judea to seal tombs with a large circular stone rolled into a groove cut into the rock. Such stones could weigh over a ton, making them difficult to move without several people involved. According to the Gospels, when the women went to anoint Jesus’ body early on the first day of the week, they were concerned about how they would get inside (Mark 16:3). This highlights the reality that moving such a stone was not a trivial task.

WITNESS ACCOUNTS IN THE GOSPELS

1) Mark 16:4

Mark records: “But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—for it was very large.”. This conveys that upon arrival, the women noticed the obstacle had already been removed from the entrance. Mark’s comment on the stone’s size underscores their earlier concern about how it could be moved.

2) Luke 24:2

Luke states: “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.”. Here, once again, the text clearly indicates the stone had been moved before the women arrived. There is no suggestion that they had any role in moving it; it was simply already out of place.

3) John 20:1

John recounts: “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”. The emphasis is on Mary’s discovery. There is no mention in John’s account of the process by which the stone was moved, only that she found it no longer covering the tomb.

4) Matthew 28:1–6

Matthew’s account includes a striking detail: “Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it… The angel said to the women… ‘He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.’”. Here, the women witness a dramatic scene involving an angel who rolled away the stone. Matthew highlights that the movement of the stone coincided with an angelic appearance and an earthquake, pointing to a divine intervention.

HARMONIZING THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS

The most straightforward way to harmonize these accounts is to recognize that each writer provides a vantage point emphasizing what each group of witnesses observed. Mark, Luke, and John focus on the fact that the women arrived to find the tomb already open. Matthew includes the scene of the angel rolling away the stone—indicating the event likely took place shortly before or just as the women were arriving. The slight variations in detail reinforce the eye-witness nature of the accounts and do not present contradictions.

HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Archaeological investigations in Jerusalem have shown first-century tombs that match the descriptions in the Gospels, with disc-shaped stones that could seal a rock-hewn entrance. These findings support the reliability of the biblical narratives describing a tomb sealed with a heavy rolling stone. The notion that one or two individuals could not easily move such an object squares well with the women’s worry in Mark 16:3.

Some scholarly and historical research also highlights the difficulty Roman soldiers would have faced if posted at the tomb (Matthew 27:62–66) to prevent tampering. The official guards, the security measures, and the weight of the stone underscore that the empty tomb was no simple misunderstanding. The consistent testimony that the stone was moved before the women arrived, combined with the report of an angelic presence, supports the Gospel claim of a supernatural event.

THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

1) Divine Intervention: The Gospels frame the stone’s removal as an act of God. Whether the women directly see the angel rolling away the stone (Matthew) or discover it already moved (Mark, Luke, John), the emphasis remains that God intervened in a miraculous way.

2) Symbol of the Resurrection: The moved stone signified that Jesus’ body was no longer inside. It did not merely allow the women entry; it served as evidence that the tomb was empty. The empty tomb is central to the proclamation of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–8). Precisely locating the stone outside the entrance paves the way for the announcement, “He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6).

3) Confirmation of Jesus’ Triumph Over Death: In Christian belief, the empty tomb and the relocation of the stone affirm that death could not hold Jesus. This miracle resonates with other parts of Scripture indicating that God, who created the universe, can and does act supernaturally within it (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16). The opening of the tomb parallels the opening of a new way to eternal life for believers.

ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: WHERE WAS THE STONE WHEN THE WOMEN ARRIVED?

Based on Mark 16:4, Luke 24:2, John 20:1, and Matthew 28:1–6, the stone was no longer at the entrance when the women arrived. Mark and Luke both say it was “rolled back” or “rolled away.” John highlights that Mary Magdalene found the stone “removed from the entrance.” Matthew additionally describes the supernatural moment: an angel descended, a great earthquake occurred, and the angel rolled away the stone, making it clear the women then saw it off to the side.

CONCLUSION

All four Gospel accounts agree that the stone intended to seal Jesus’ tomb was moved away by the time the women arrived on the first day of the week. Though each Gospel offers unique details, the unified testimony is that the stone was no longer blocking the entrance, having been miraculously removed. This event becomes a pivotal indication of the empty tomb and the risen Christ—an enduring witness to the central claim of the Christian faith that “He is not here; He has risen” (Matthew 28:6).