New Testament in a Year

⁵¹ Suddenly, the curtain^[a] in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth shook, rocks were split open, ⁵² tombs were opened, and many^[b] saints who had died^[c] were brought back to life. ⁵³ After his resurrection, they came out of their tombs, went into the Holy City,^[d] and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴ When the centurion^[e] and those guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things that were taking place, they were terrified and said, “This man certainly was the Son of God!”

⁵⁵ Now many women were also there, watching from a distance. They had accompanied Jesus from Galilee and had ministered to^[f] him. ⁵⁶ Among them were Mary Magdalene,^[g] Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Jesus is Buried^(A)

⁵⁷ Later that evening, a rich man arrived from Arimathea. His name was Joseph, and he had become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered it to be done. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. ⁶⁰ Then he placed it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock. After rolling a large stone across the door of the tomb, he left, ⁶¹ but Mary Magdalene^[h] and the other Mary remained there, sitting in front of the tomb.

The Tomb is Secured

⁶² The following day (that is, after the Day of Preparation), the high priests and Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³ and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘I will be raised after three days.’ ⁶⁴ Therefore, order the tomb to be secured until the third day, or his disciples may go and steal him and then tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ Then the last deception would be worse than the first one.”

⁶⁵ Pilate told them, “You have^[i] a military guard. Go and make the tomb^[j] as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ So they went and secured the tomb by putting a seal on the stone in the presence of the guards.