And he will be raised on the third day, except for the shift to a third person form, translates the same words found in 16.21.

Were … distressed is the same verb translated “was sorry” in 14.9; elsewhere in Matthew’s Gospel it is used in 18.31; 19.22; 26.22, 37. It is sometimes necessary to say “they were very sorry to hear this” or “they were sad because of what he said.”

They refers to the disciples, as Good News Translation indicates.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .