Matthew 27:57-60
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Joseph, a rich man and secret disciple, steps into the vacuum left by Jesus' terrified followers. His willingness to publicly claim Jesus' body, despite his previous fear and adherence to Jewish law about burial before the Sabbath, highlights the immense love and courage that can emerge even from those who previously held back.
As Jesus breathes His last and the Passover Sabbath looms, the Roman authorities need to clear the crosses. Into this somber scene steps Joseph of Arimathea, a respected, wealthy council member who, though a secret follower of Jesus, bravely comes forward to claim the body for proper burial before sunset. This act of public devotion sets the stage for the subsequent events of the tomb and the resurrection.
This wasn't just any guy. He was a man of influence and wealth, stepping out in the most dangerous of times.
Matthew introduces Joseph of Arimathea with a few key identifiers: he's from Arimathea, he's rich, and he's a disciple of Jesus.
A Man of Standing
Scholars point out that Joseph was likely a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council (Luke 23:50). This wasn't just a title; it meant he held significant social and political power. Being 'rich' (Matthew 27:57) further emphasizes his standing and ability to influence.
A Disciple in Secret
Crucially, he was a disciple of Jesus. The other Gospels (John 19:38) clarify that this was a secret discipleship. Why secret? Fear of the Jewish authorities, who had made a law that anyone openly confessing Jesus would be expelled from the synagogue. This fear kept many, including Joseph and Nicodemus (John 19:39), from openly following Jesus.
Why the rush? The 'evening' mentioned here carried a significant deadline, making Joseph's actions incredibly brave.
The phrase 'When the even was come' points to a critical time constraint.
The Jewish Reckoning of Time
Scholars explain that the Jewish day ran from sunset to sunset. They often reckoned two evenings: the 'early evening' starting around 3 PM (the ninth hour, when Jesus died) and the 'later evening' beginning at sunset (around 6 PM).
The Approaching Sabbath
This timing is crucial because the Jewish Sabbath began at sunset on Friday. Jewish law (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) required that anyone crucified must be buried before sunset, partly to avoid defiling the land on the holy Sabbath day. This meant Joseph had only a few hours, at most, to act after Jesus' death.
A Race Against Time
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.
sōma · Greek Noun
A physical remains of a person after death; in theology, often contrasted with the spirit or soul, but also viewed as part of the human person created by God, destined for future resurrection in the context of Christ's work.
sindōn · Greek Noun
Material made from flax, known for its purity and whiteness; in a biblical context, it is frequently associated with priestly garments, royal attire, or, as seen here, burial wrappings, symbolizing purity or reverence for the deceased.
mnēmeion · Greek Noun
Joseph's willingness to step forward as a disciple, despite his prior secrecy and high social standing, highlights the powerful impact of Jesus's death and the urgency of the approaching Sabbath.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus's Crucifixion and Death
Jesus is crucified under Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. He dies on the cross as the Jewish Passover festival is beginning.
c. 30 AD, late afternoon
Request to Remove Bodies
Fearing the bodies would remain on the crosses during the Sabbath, Jewish authorities ask Pilate to break the legs of the condemned and remove the bodies.
c. 30 AD, late afternoon
Discovery of Jesus's Death
Soldiers find Jesus is already dead. A soldier pierces his side with a spear, confirming his death.
c. 30 AD, late afternoon/early evening
Joseph of Arimathea Intervenes
Joseph, a rich and secret disciple, approaches Pilate to ask for Jesus's body, showing courage in the face of danger.
This passage directly parallels Joseph's discipleship as a 'secret' one, highlighting the fear of the Jewish authorities that kept many followers hesitant to openly identify with Jesus.
Isaiah 53:9The commentary notes that Joseph's wealth and role in Jesus' burial fulfill prophecy, specifically this verse which foretells the suffering servant would be buried with the rich, not the wicked.
Luke 23:50-51This passage introduces Joseph as a 'good and just man' and a member of the Sanhedrin who 'had not consented to their counsel and deed,' showing his noble character and his prior, though perhaps silent, opposition to the plot against Jesus.
Mark 15:43Mark also highlights Joseph's courage and status, describing him as a 'respected member of the council' who 'boldly went to Pilate' to ask for Jesus' body, emphasizing his active faith in a critical moment.
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…
Joseph, a rich man and secret disciple, steps into the vacuum left by Jesus' terrified followers. His willingness to publicly claim Jesus' body, despite his previous fear and adherence to Jewish law about burial before the Sabbath, highlights the immense love and courage that can emerge even from those who previously held back.
As Jesus breathes His last and the Passover Sabbath looms, the Roman authorities need to clear the crosses. Into this somber scene steps Joseph of Arimathea, a respected, wealthy council member who, though a secret follower of Jesus, bravely comes forward to claim the body for proper burial before sunset. This act of public devotion sets the stage for the subsequent events of the tomb and the resurrection.
As Jesus breathes His last and the Passover Sabbath looms, the Roman authorities need to clear the crosses. Into this somber scene steps Joseph of Arimathea, a respected, wealthy council member who, though a secret follower of Jesus, bravely comes forward to claim the body for proper burial before sunset. This act of public devotion sets the stage for the subsequent events of the tomb and the resurrection.
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Joseph's decision to approach Pilate and request Jesus' body happened within this narrow window. It was a public act that risked exposing his secret discipleship just as the Sabbath deadline loomed.
A place of burial; symbolically in Scripture, it often represents the finality of death, yet in the context of Jesus, it becomes the site of His victory over death through resurrection.
c. 30 AD, before sunset
Jesus's Burial
Joseph, joined by Nicodemus, takes Jesus's body, wraps it in linen, and places it in Joseph's own new tomb before the Sabbath begins at sunset.
"When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped i…" — Joseph, a rich man and secret disciple, steps into the vacuum left by Jesus' terrified followers. His willingness to publicly claim Jesus' body, despite his previous fear and adherence to Jewish law…
