Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself also waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for God’s Kingdom, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.
- KJV Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
- BSB Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
- NKJV Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
- NLT Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)
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 respected council member awaiting God's Kingdom, boldly asks Pilate for Jesus' body. A secret follower openly identifies with the crucified Christ.
Overview
Joseph was a member of the very Sanhedrin that had condemned Jesus, yet he was looking for God's Kingdom and now acts courageously. Requesting the body of a crucified criminal risked his standing and exposed his allegiance. His bold love provided Jesus an honorable burial, fulfilling Isaiah 53:9 that the Servant would be 'with the rich in his death.'
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Luke 2:38Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
- 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.
- Luke 23:51(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom:
- Matt 27:57When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple came.
- John 19:38After 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 17:12Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.
- Acts 4:8–13Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
- Matt 20:16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Phil 1:14and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.
- Acts 13:50But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.
- Mark 14:54Peter had followed him from a distance, until he came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire.
- Mark 14:66–72As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came,
- Matt 19:30But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.
- Mark 10:23–27Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!”
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 15:43 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
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