And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joseph's purchase of a "fine linen shroud" is a direct fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, highlighting that the Messiah, though dying with criminals, would be buried with the rich. This wasn't just any burial; it was a deliberate, honorable placement in a new, rock-hewn tomb, setting the stage for his unique resurrection.
And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the hours immediately following Jesus' crucifixion, as the Sabbath was about to begin, a wealthy disciple named Joseph of Arimathea bravely steps forward. He obtains permission from Pilate to take Jesus' body, then, with the help of Nicodemus, he wraps it in a fine linen shroud and lays it in his own newly prepared tomb carved from rock. This act of honorable burial, in stark contrast to the ignominious death on the cross, sets the stage for the incredible events that are about to unfold.
In the shadow of the cross, when fear gripped most, one man stepped out of secrecy and into courageous action. His actions speak volumes about faith in the face of ultimate despair.
Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Jewish council, was a secret disciple of Jesus. The crucifixion, a brutal public spectacle, would have made most followers hide. But Joseph, emboldened by love and faith, went directly to Pilate to ask for Jesus' body. This wasn't just a favor; it was a public declaration of allegiance at a time when such allegiance was dangerous. His decision to respectfully bury Jesus, rather than allowing the body to be discarded, showed his deep honor for Jesus, even in death. This act of bravery wasn't born of his own strength alone, but from a growing hope for God's kingdom.
The tomb where Jesus was laid wasn't just any burial place. Its unique characteristics foreshadowed the incredible event that was about to unfold.
Joseph's choice of a tomb 'cut out of the rock' and 'new'—one where no one had ever been laid—was significant. This wasn't a common grave; it was a special, personal sepulchre, likely intended for Joseph himself. Placing Jesus in such a distinguished and untouched place separated Him from the commonality of death. It signaled that this was no ordinary death, but a unique burial. This 'newness' and isolation of the tomb serve as a powerful symbol, pointing forward to Jesus' resurrection and the new life He offers, a life distinct from the grip of sin and death.
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A massive stone blocked the tomb's entrance. It seemed to seal Jesus' fate, but its presence was crucial for the greatest reveal in history.
The rolling of a large stone against the tomb's entrance served a dual purpose. Firstly, it was a practical measure to secure the body and prevent tampering, as mentioned by Pilate's order to make the tomb secure (Matthew 27:65-66). This act seemingly sealed Jesus in the finality of death. However, from a theological perspective, this stone was essential for the resurrection narrative. Its eventual removal by an angel, witnessed by the women, would dramatically demonstrate that Jesus had indeed overcome death. The stone, meant to signify defeat, ultimately highlighted God's power to bring life out of the most profound stillness.
Understand the original words
sindōn · Greek Noun
A woven cloth made from flax, typically used in the ancient world for clothing, temple hangings, or burial wrappings to honor the dead.
mnēmeion · Greek Noun
A place of burial; in biblical times, often a cave or a chamber carved into stone, serving as a final resting place for the deceased.
The burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent figure, was a crucial event that provided a stark contrast to the ignominy of the cross. This act ensured Jesus received an honorable burial in a new tomb, fulfilling prophecy and setting the stage for the resurrection on the third day.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus Crucified and Dies
Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified on the charge of sedition against Rome. His death occurs late on a Friday afternoon.
c. 30 AD, Friday Afternoon
Joseph of Arimathea Requests the Body
Joseph, a wealthy and respected council member and secret follower of Jesus, boldly asks Pilate for Jesus' body to ensure a proper burial.
c. 30 AD, Friday Afternoon
Jesus' Body is Buried
Joseph, joined by Nicodemus who brings expensive spices, takes Jesus' body, wraps it in a linen shroud, and places it in Joseph's own new tomb carved from rock. A large stone is rolled to seal the entrance.
c. 30 AD, Friday Evening
Sabbath Begins
The Jewish Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and lasts until sunset on Saturday. All work, including burial preparations, must cease.
c. 30 AD, Sunday Morning
Women Visit the Tomb
Mary Magdalene and other women visit the tomb early on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus' body with spices, only to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
This prophetic passage describes the suffering servant being 'assigned a grave with the wicked—but with the rich at his death,' directly foreshadowing the honorable burial Jesus received from Joseph of Arimathea.
Matthew 27:57-60This parallel account provides more detail about Joseph of Arimathea, highlighting that he was a rich man and a disciple, underscoring the significance of his new tomb and his bold actions.
John 19:38-42John's Gospel adds Nicodemus to the narrative, showing that Jesus' burial was a joint effort of secret disciples who, emboldened by His death, came forward to give Him an honorable burial with spices and fine linen.
Luke 23:50-53Luke emphasizes Joseph's character as a 'good and rightous man' and a 'counselor' who had not agreed with the council's actions, showing God raising up a respected figure for Jesus' burial.
Song of Solomon 3:6-7While not a direct burial account, this passage describing a 'procession... from the desert leaning on her beloved, wreathed with myrrh and frankincense' evokes the rich spices and solemnity associated with Jesus' burial preparations, hinting at the preciousness of Christ's sacrifice.
cambridgeMark 15:46: "And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre."
46 . And he bought fine linen ] Thus successful, Joseph purchased fine (probably white ) linen, the original word for which has been already explained in the note on ch. Mark 14:51 , and then he repaired to Golgotha, where he was joined by Nicodemus, formerly a secret disciple like himself, but whom…
vincentMark 15:46: "And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre."
StoneSee on Matthew 27:60.
Joseph's purchase of a "fine linen shroud" is a direct fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, highlighting that the Messiah, though dying with criminals, would be buried with the rich. This wasn't just any burial; it was a deliberate, honorable placement in a new, rock-hewn tomb, setting the stage for his unique resurrection.
In the hours immediately following Jesus' crucifixion, as the Sabbath was about to begin, a wealthy disciple named Joseph of Arimathea bravely steps forward. He obtains permission from Pilate to take Jesus' body, then, with the help of Nicodemus, he wraps it in a fine linen shroud and lays it in his own newly prepared tomb carved from rock. This act of honorable burial, in stark contrast to the ignominious death on the cross, sets the stage for the incredible events that are about to unfold.
In the hours immediately following Jesus' crucifixion, as the Sabbath was about to begin, a wealthy disciple named Joseph of Arimathea bravely steps forward. He obtains permission from Pilate to take Jesus' body, then, with the help of Nicodemus, he wraps it in a fine linen shroud and lays it in his own newly prepared tomb carved from rock. This act of honorable burial, in stark contrast to the ignominious death on the cross, sets the stage for the incredible events that are about to unfold.
"And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb." — Joseph's purchase of a "fine linen shroud" is a direct fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, highlighting that the Messiah, though dying with criminals, would be buried with the rich. This wasn't just an…
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Last reviewed October 2026