The Burial of Jesus

⁴² When^(A) it was already evening, because it was preparation day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward^(B) to the kingdom of God,^(C) came and boldly went in to Pilate^(D) and asked for Jesus’ body.^{(E) 44} Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He had already died. ⁴⁵ When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. ⁴⁶ After he bought some fine linen, he took Him down and wrapped Him in the linen. Then he placed Him in a tomb^(F) cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone^(G) against the entrance to the tomb. ⁴⁷ Now^(H) Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where He was placed.

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁷ When it was evening,^(A) a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple^(B) of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate ordered that it^[a] be released. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, ⁶⁰ and 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.^{(C) 61} Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb.

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁰ There^(A) was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, ⁵¹ who had not agreed with their plan^(B) and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.^{(C) 52} He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.^{[a](D) 54} It was preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.^{[b] 55} The women^(E) who had come with Him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how His body was placed. ⁵⁶ Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.^(F) And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.^(G)

Jesus’ Burial

³⁸ After^(A) this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body.^(B) Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. ³⁹ Nicodemus^(C) (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds^[a] of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ Then they took Jesus’ body^(D) and wrapped it in linen cloths^(E) with the aromatic spices, according to the burial^(F) custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. ⁴² They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

The Closely Guarded Tomb

⁶² The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate^{(A) 63} and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive He said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’^{(B) 64} Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples^(C) may 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^[a] a guard of soldiers,”^[b] Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ Then they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting the guard.^[c](D)

Resurrection Morning

16 When^(A) the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene,^(B) Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so they could go and anoint Him. ² Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week,^(C) they went to the tomb^(D) at sunrise. ³ They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” ⁴ Looking up, they observed that the stone—which was very large—had been rolled away. ⁵ When^(E) they entered the tomb,^(F) they saw a young man^[a](G) dressed^(H) in a long white^(I) robe sitting on the right side; they were amazed and alarmed.

⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,^(J) who was crucified. He has been resurrected!^(K) He is not here! See the place where they put Him. ⁷ But go, tell His disciples and Peter,^(L) ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee;^(M) you will see Him there just as He told you.’”

⁸ So they went out and started running from the tomb,^(N) because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone,^(O) since they were afraid.

Resurrection Morning

28 After the Sabbath,^(A) as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. ² Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.^{(B) 3} His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow.^{(C) 4} The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.

⁵ But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.^{(D) 6} He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.^{(E) 7} Then go quickly and tell His disciples,^(F) ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”^(G)

Resurrection Morning

24 On^(A) the first day of the week,^(B) very early in the morning, they^[a] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. ³ They went in but did not find the body^(C) of the Lord Jesus.^{(D) 4} While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling^(E) clothes. ⁵ So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.^[b]

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. ⁶ “He is not here, but He has been resurrected!^(F) Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,^{(G) 7} saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed^(H) into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise^(I) on the third day’?” ⁸ And they remembered His words.

⁹ Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven^(J) and to all the rest. ¹⁰ Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James,^(K) and the other women with them were telling the apostles^(L) these things. ¹¹ But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe^(M) the women. ¹² Peter,^(N) however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths.^[c](O) So he went home, amazed^(P) at what had happened.

Appearances of the Risen Lord

[⁹ Early^(A) on the first day of the week,^(B) after He had risen,^(C) He appeared first to Mary Magdalene,^(D) out of whom He had driven seven demons.^{(E) 10} She went and reported to those who had been with Him, as they were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ Yet, when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.^(F)