initial request of the Jewish authorities (vv. 63–64) and in their cover-up story after the event (28:13–15). Justin, Dial. 108, tells us that this charge was still being actively propagated in the middle of the second century;7 it was an obvious counter-move to Christian claims of Jesus’ resurrection. It is hardly likely that Christians would have invented such a convenient weapon for their critics if the story were not already in circulation.8 62 “The Preparation” means what we call Friday, so