Matthew 27:57
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text highlights Joseph as a "rich man" and a "disciple," not just for his wealth, but because his status and prior secrecy enabled him to boldly approach Pilate and claim Jesus' body, fulfilling prophecy and acting when the other disciples were still hidden in fear.
Just as the Passover began and a sense of urgency filled the air, a respected, wealthy man named Joseph, a secret follower of Jesus, approached Pilate to request Jesus' body. This happened in the late afternoon, before the Sabbath officially started at sunset, making this burial a hurried but significant act of devotion.
In the darkest hour, when the closest followers scattered in fear, who stepped forward to care for Jesus' body?
The text introduces Joseph of Arimathea, a man of wealth and influence, as a disciple of Jesus. While the other disciples fled or hid, Joseph, despite his secret discipleship, took a courageous step. The scholars point out he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the very council that condemned Jesus. This makes his action even more remarkable. He didn't just agree with Jesus in secret; he acted when it was most dangerous, demonstrating a faith that overcame fear and societal pressure.
Why was the timing of Joseph's request so critical, and what does it reveal about the urgency of that day?
The scholars explain that 'when the even was come' points to a specific time in the Jewish day, likely late afternoon. This timing was crucial because the Jewish Sabbath was about to begin at sunset. Jewish law required that bodies not remain on the cross after sunset, especially before a Sabbath. Joseph's action was not just an act of kindness but a race against time, driven by both respect for Jesus and adherence to religious law. His position as a respected counselor likely facilitated his quick access to Pilate, enabling this hurried, yet honorable, burial before the Sabbath commenced.
How does Joseph's act of burying Jesus with the rich connect to ancient prophecies?
The commentators highlight that Joseph being a 'rich man' is significant. While it granted him access and resources for a proper burial, it also fulfilled prophecy. The scholars point to Isaiah 53:9, which foretold the suffering servant would be 'assigned a grave with the wicked, but with the rich at his death.' Joseph, a man of means, provided a burial befitting someone important, thereby ensuring Jesus' death was not merely among criminals but also marked by the dignity of the rich, aligning His end with divine foreknowledge.
Understand the original words
mathētēs · Greek Noun
Refers to a student or follower of a teacher or master; in the New Testament, it describes those who have committed themselves to follow the teachings and person of Jesus Christ.
Joseph's actions, though bold, were taken by a secret disciple, highlighting the fear and division among Jesus' followers immediately after his death, just before the unfolding of the resurrection.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Death
Jesus is crucified and dies on the cross on the day of Passover.
c. 30 AD, late afternoon
Joseph of Arimathea Claims the Body
Joseph, a rich and secret disciple, obtains permission from Pilate to take Jesus' body for burial before the Sabbath begins at sunset.
c. 30 AD, late afternoon
Burial of Jesus
Joseph buries Jesus in his own new tomb, a rock-cut tomb, near the place of crucifixion.
c. 30 AD, Friday evening to Saturday evening
The Jewish Sabbath
The Sabbath day begins at sunset Friday and ends at sunset Saturday, during which time all work and travel were forbidden.
c. 30 AD, Saturday evening
This passage introduces Joseph of Arimathea as a 'good and just' member of the Sanhedrin, directly corroborating Matthew's description of him as a man of status who was secretly a disciple.
John 19:38This verse explicitly states that Joseph was a disciple, but 'secretly, for fear of the Jews,' providing a crucial insight into his hidden commitment that is only hinted at in Matthew.
Isaiah 53:9This prophetic passage foretold that the suffering servant would be 'assigned a grave with the wicked, but with the rich at his death.' Joseph, a rich man, fulfilling this by providing a rich tomb, directly connects the historical event to Old Testament prophecy.
Mark 15:43Mark adds that Joseph was a 'respected member of the council' who 'bought a linen cloth' and 'came and rolled the stone away from the tomb,' offering more detail about his bold actions immediately following his request for Jesus' body.
clarkeMatthew 27:57: "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:"
When the even - This must have been about three o'clock, or a little after; for our Lord having expired about three o'clock, Matthew 27:46 , and the Jewish passover beginning about four, it was necessary that Joseph, who would not fail to eat the passover at the usual time, should have obtained and buried the body of Christ some time before four o'clock. But such was…
gillMatthew 27:57: "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:"
When the even was come,.... The second evening, when it was just at sunset; at which time the Jewish sabbath began, and when the bodies of those that were crucified, must be taken down; and if not dead, their bones must be broken, and they dispatched, in order to be interred in the common burying place of malefactors: there came a rich man Arimathea: not from thence…
The text highlights Joseph as a "rich man" and a "disciple," not just for his wealth, but because his status and prior secrecy enabled him to boldly approach Pilate and claim Jesus' body, fulfilling prophecy and acting when the other disciples were still hidden in fear.
Just as the Passover began and a sense of urgency filled the air, a respected, wealthy man named Joseph, a secret follower of Jesus, approached Pilate to request Jesus' body. This happened in the late afternoon, before the Sabbath officially started at sunset, making this burial a hurried but significant act of devotion.
Just as the Passover began and a sense of urgency filled the air, a respected, wealthy man named Joseph, a secret follower of Jesus, approached Pilate to request Jesus' body. This happened in the late afternoon, before the Sabbath officially started at sunset, making this burial a hurried but significant act of devotion.
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Religious Leaders Seek a Guard
The chief priests and Pharisees, fearing the disciples might steal the body and claim resurrection, persuade Pilate to secure the tomb with a guard.
"When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus." — The text highlights Joseph as a "rich man" and a "disciple," not just for his wealth, but because his status and prior secrecy enabled him to boldly approach Pilate and claim Jesus' body, fulfilling…
