Or Matthew by the first part of the night, which is the evening, wished to represent the night itself, at the end of which night they came to the sepulchre, and for this reason, because they had been now preparing since the evening, and it was lawful to bring spices because the sabbath was over.
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).
Also cites: de Con. Ev. lib. iii. c. 24.