New Testament in a Year
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.
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