And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
- KJV And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
- BSB Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man,
- NKJV Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.
- NLT Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council,
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, a good and righteous council member, is introduced. God provided an honorable man to bury His Son.
Overview
Luke presents Joseph of Arimathea as a member of the Sanhedrin marked by goodness and righteousness. His character sets him apart from the council that condemned Jesus. God raised up this faithful man to ensure Christ received an honorable burial, fulfilling Isaiah's word that the Servant would be with a rich man in His death.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- John 19:38–42After 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.
- Acts 10:22They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”
- Acts 11:24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
- Matt 27:57–61When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple came.
- Mark 15:42–47When evening had now come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
- Acts 10:2a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
- Luke 2:25Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 23:50 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.