Matthew 27:57–66

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁷When it was evening, ^ea rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple ^fof Jesus. ⁵⁸He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate ordered that it ^gbe released. ⁵⁹So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, ⁶⁰and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. ^h61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.

The Closely Guarded Tomb

⁶²The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁱ⁶³and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive He said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ ^j64Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples ^kmay come, steal Him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ Then the last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵“You have ^la guard of soldiers,” ^mPilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶Then they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting the guard. ^no