Matthew 27:51-66

New Life Version

The Powerful Works at the Time of His Death ^(A)

⁵¹ At once the curtain in the house of God was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks fell apart. ⁵² Graves were opened. Bodies of many of God’s people who were dead were raised. ⁵³ After Jesus was raised from the grave, these arose from their graves and went into Jerusalem, the Holy City. These were seen by many people.

⁵⁴ The captain of the soldiers and those with him who were watching Jesus, saw all the things that were happening. They saw the earth shake and they were very much afraid. They said, “For sure, this Man was the Son of God.”

The Women at the Cross ^(B)

⁵⁵ Many women were looking on from far away. These had followed Jesus from the country of Galilee. They had cared for Him. ⁵⁶ Among them was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

The Grave of Jesus ^(C)

⁵⁷ When it was evening, a rich man came from the city of Arimathea. His name was Joseph. He was a follower of Jesus also. ⁵⁸ He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate said that the body should be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body and put clean linen cloth around it. ⁶⁰ He laid it in his own new grave. This grave had been cut out in the side of a rock. He pushed a big stone over the door of the grave and went away. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed there. They were sitting near the grave.

⁶² The next day, the day after Jesus was killed, the head religious leaders and the proud religious law-keepers gathered together in front of Pilate. ⁶³ They said, “Sir, we remember what that Man Who fooled people said when He was living, ‘After three days I am to rise from the dead.’ ⁶⁴ Speak the word to have the grave watched for three days. Then His followers cannot come at night and take Him away and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ The last mistake would be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵ Pilate said to them, “Take the soldiers. Go and watch the grave.” ⁶⁶ Then they went and made the soldiers stand by the grave. They put a lock on the big stone door.