Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.
Parallel translations
- WEB After these things, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body.
- KJV And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
- NKJV After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
- NASB Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, requested of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
- NLT Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple, courageously asks for Jesus' body. His public act marks a step from hidden to open faith.
Overview
Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43), had believed secretly out of fear, but now openly claims Jesus' body, a bold and risky act. His care for the burial fulfills Isaiah 53:9, that the Servant would be with the rich in his death. His example encourages timid believers to confess Christ openly, even at great cost.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Mark 15:42–47Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),
- Matt 27:57–61When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus.
- Prov 29:25The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
- John 7:13Yet no one would speak publicly about Him for fear of the Jews.
- Luke 23:50–56Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man,
- Phil 1:14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
- John 12:42Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
- John 9:22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
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Original language
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