The Guards’ Report

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards^(A) went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away^(B) while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor,^(C) we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

¹⁰ So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, ¹¹ for on account of him^(A) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.^(B)