15:42 Now 4 when evening had already come, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 5 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the council, 6 who was himself looking forward to 7 the kingdom of God, 8 went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 9 15:44 Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He 10 called the centurion and asked him if he had been dead for some time. 15:45 When Pilate 11 was informed by the centurion, 12 he gave the body to Joseph. 15:46 After Joseph 13 bought a linen cloth 14 and took down the body, he wrapped it in the linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock. 15 Then 16 he rolled a stone across the entrance 17 of the tomb. 15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body 18 was placed.
1 sn In Matt 27:56 the name Joses is written as Joseph.
2 tn Grk “and ministered to him.”
3 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic and introduction of a new character.
4 sn The day of preparation was the day before the Sabbath when everything had to be prepared for it, as no work could be done on the Sabbath.
4 tn Grk “a councillor” (as a member of the Sanhedrin, see L&N 11.85). This indicates that some individuals among the leaders did respond to Jesus.
5 tn Or “waiting for.”
6 sn Though some dispute that Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, this remark that he was looking forward to the kingdom of God and his actions regarding Jesus’ burial suggest otherwise.
7 sn Asking for the body of Jesus was indeed a bold move on the part of Joseph of Arimathea, for it clearly and openly identified him with a man who had just been condemned and executed, namely, Jesus. His faith is exemplary, especially for someone who was a member of the council that handed Jesus over for crucifixion (cf. Luke 23:51). He did this because he sought to give Jesus an honorable burial.
5 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
6 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Pilate) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 sn See the note on the word centurion in 15:39.
7 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Joseph of Arimathea) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn The term σινδών (sindwn) can refer to a linen cloth used either for clothing or for burial.
9 tn That is, cut or carved into an outcropping of natural rock, resulting in a cave-like structure (see L&N 19.25).
10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
11 tn Or “to the door,” “against the door.”
8 tn Grk “it”; the referent (Jesus’ body) has been specified in the translation for clarity.