Chapter 163: Joseph of Arimathaea entombs the corpse

1 And now when the even was come, because the battle with the risen still stretched long and wide, 2 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

3 And Pilate marvelled if he were still dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while risen. 4 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

5 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him tight in the linen lest he move, 6 and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre so that, should he move, he could not wander.

7 And that day was the first of the battle, and the sabbath drew on.

8 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 9 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments to protect against the infection; and retreated to a fortified place according to the commandment, for the risen had begun to gather.

10 Now the next day, that second day of the battle, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 11 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 12 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure, lest he rise as a warrior of the risen.

13 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

14 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.