But after I am raised up is an obvious reference to Jesus’ resurrection from death, and Good News Translation makes this fact explicit: “But after I am raised to life.” It may be necessary to alter this statement to an active construction: “But after God raises me back to life” or “… from death.”

I will go before you to Galilee may refer either to Jesus’ resurrection or to his final appearance. On this issue scholarly opinion is sharply divided. The usual interpretation of this phrase is that of Good News Translation, “I will go to Galilee ahead of you.” That is, Jesus will go there before they do, and the presumption is that they will meet him there. Barclay has “I will go on ahead of you into Galilee.” There are some who have understood this to mean Jesus will lead the disciples to Galilee, as in “I will lead the way for you into Galilee.” The first interpretation is probably better.

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 .