Matthew 27:51-66
New English Translation
51 Just then[a] the temple curtain[b] was torn in two, from top to bottom. The[c] earth shook and the rocks were split apart. 52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died[d] were raised. 53 (They[e] came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.) 54 Now when the centurion[f] and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!” 55 Many[g] women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support[h] were also there, watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Jesus’ Burial
57 Now when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.[i] 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.[j] Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph[k] took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,[l] 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock.[m] Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance[n] of the tomb and went away. 61 (Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, opposite the tomb.)
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The[o] next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees[p] assembled before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body[q] and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “Take[r] a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can.” 66 So[s] they went with the soldiers[t] of the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 27:51 tn Grk “And behold.”
- Matthew 27:51 tn The referent of this term, καταπέτασμα (katapetasma), is not entirely clear. It could refer to the curtain separating the holy of holies from the holy place (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.5 [5.219]), or it could refer to one at the entrance of the temple court (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.4 [5.212]). Many argue that the inner curtain is meant because another term, κάλυμμα (kalumma), is also used for the outer curtain. Others see a reference to the outer curtain as more likely because of the public nature of this sign. Either way, the symbolism means that access to God has been opened up.
- Matthew 27:51 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Matthew 27:52 tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaō) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer.
- Matthew 27:53 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Matthew 27:54 sn See the note on the word centurion in Matt 8:5.
- Matthew 27:55 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 27:55 tn Grk “and ministered to him.”sn Cf. Luke 8:3.
- Matthew 27:57 sn Though some dispute that Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, his actions regarding Jesus’ burial suggest otherwise.
- Matthew 27:58 sn Asking for the body of Jesus was indeed a bold move on the part of Joseph of Arimathea, for it clearly and openly identified him with a man who had just been condemned and executed, namely, Jesus. His faith is exemplary, especially for someone who was a member of the council that handed Jesus over for crucifixion (cf. Mark 15:43, Luke 23:51). He did this because he sought to give Jesus an honorable burial.
- Matthew 27:59 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Matthew 27:59 tn The term σινδών (sindōn) can refer to a linen cloth used either for clothing or for burial.
- Matthew 27:60 tn That is, cut or carved into an outcropping of natural rock, resulting in a cave-like structure (see L&N 19.25).
- Matthew 27:60 tn Or “to the door,” “against the door.”
- Matthew 27:62 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 27:62 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.
- Matthew 27:64 tn Grk “him.”
- Matthew 27:65 tn Grk “You have a guard.”
- Matthew 27:66 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Pilate’s order.
- Matthew 27:66 tn Grk “with the guard.” The words “soldiers of the” have been supplied in the translation to prevent “guard” from being misunderstood as a single individual.
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