“Roman Guards at the Empty Tomb” - Best Easter Skits For Adults

This reader’s theater skit follows two Roman guards stationed at a sealed tomb just outside Jerusalem. At first, their conversation is marked by dry, restrained humor: they complain about being assigned to “guard a rock,” debate whose turn it is to stay awake, and poke fun at rumors spreading through the city. One guard casually wonders if people will invent a “new Easter animal” someday to replace the Easter bunny, because humans seem to cope with fear by turning it into something cute and marketable.

As dawn approaches, the tone shifts. The ground trembles. A presence, holy, undeniable, changes the air. The stone moves, and the tomb is empty. The narrator explains the resurrection with simple, powerful language: Jesus is not stolen, not misplaced, not defeated. The guards are not treated as fools; they are witnesses to an event that overturns everything they thought they knew. One guard freezes, the other asks quietly, “What does this mean?” The answer is clear: the good news has entered the world, and even those sent to suppress truth cannot help but stand in its light.

Theme

Truth cannot be buried; witnesses are made in unexpected places.

Characters 

(4-7 actors)

• Narrator – steady, clear, guiding voice

• MARCUS – Roman guard; dry humor; practical; uneasy conscience

• LUCIUS – Roman guard; thoughtful; questions authority; observant

• CENTURION CASSIUS – their commanding officer; controlled; politically aware

• PRIEST ZADOK – temple official; composed; defensive; wants the story contained

When

Early Sunday morning, just before and at sunrise, outside Jesus’ tomb.

Props & Costumes

• Roman-style tunics/armor pieces (simple costume versions)

• Two spears (or staffs)

• A “stone” marker (chair/flat set piece) and a dark doorway/arch to represent the tomb

• A seal sign/cloth ribbon (symbolic)

• Sound cue option: low rumble (earthquake)

• Optional lantern

Why

Matthew 28:5–6 – “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.”

This skit shows resurrection as public good news, witnessed even by reluctant outsiders.

How

Reader’s theater: actors can stand at music stands or in a simple line. Minimal movement. Lighting shifts from night to dawn; the tomb remains visible.

Time

10 minutes