Matthew 27:1 and 2:
27:1But early (morning) having come-to-pass, all the chief-priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus so-as to put him to-death, .2and having bound they led him away and gave (him) over to Pilate the leader.
After it had become early in the morning on the 13th Nisan (about 6 am, this year it was a Tuesday), all the chief-priests and the elders of the people (the people of Israel collectively, group of people) got together in an assembly to consult, deliberate and receive advice against Jesus for the result and consequence to put Jesus to death (cause him to die). This is the second unjust trial Jesus was subjected to a few hours after the first one which had taken place during the nighttime (Matthew 26:57-68).
When this one was over they tied Jesus and led him away (directed, conducted, conveyed him away from where he was) and handed him over to Pilate the leader (they delivered him alongside, beside, into the power of Pilate). Pilate, a Gentile, was the imperial prefect, procurator, governor of the Roman Emperor over the people in Judea, Samaria and Idumea at that time.
[Reference: Mark 15:1; Luke 3:1, and 22:66-23:1; John 18:28; Acts 13:28. Also see Genesis 3:15; John 8:37-58.]
Verses 3-10:
.3Then Judas, the (person) having given him over, having seen that he was condemned, having been caused-to-repent turned the thirty silver (coins) to the chief-priests and elders .4saying, “I sinned having given-over innocent blood.” But the (chief-priests and elders) said, “What (is it) towards us? You will see!” .5And having tossed the silver (coins) into the interior-temple he departed; and having gone-away he choked. .6But the chief-priests having taken the silver (coins) said, “It is not permitted to throw them into the gift-treasury since it is (the) price of blood.” .7And having taken counsel they bought from them the field of the potter with-a-view-to a burial-grave for the strangers, .8on-which-account that field was called Field of Blood until today. .9Then the-thing was fulfilled having been said by means of Jeremiah the prophet saying, “And they took the thirty silver (coins), the price of the (one) having been priced2 whom they priced from (the) sons of Israel, .10and they gave them into the field of the potter according to-which-things (the) Lord arranged-together with me.”
When Judas, who had given Jesus along into the hands of the Israeli/Judean religious leaders, saw (perceived, knew) that Jesus was condemned (a decision, pronounced sentence, judgment was brought down against him), he was caused to repent (he changed his concern or purpose, he regretted, his mind's purpose pertaining-to what he had done to Jesus changed after he had seen the consequence to Jesus of his action against him). He turned the thirty silver coins, which he had gotten in payment for Jesus, back to the chief-priests and elders saying, “I sinned having given-over innocent blood (I missed the mark, I’ve erred from God’s law in-that I handed over, delivered alongside or beside you a man whose life/living is without the guilt of sin against God, free from any just/right charge or cause for punishment).”
The word “blood” is sometimes used literally as the blood in a fleshy body; it is also used to represent life, soul, natural man and his abilities and descent, the shedding of blood, the guilt and penalty of causing death, murder, the consequences of the loss of physical life, and what is red in color.
Judas said, “I sinned having given-over innocent blood.” But the religious leaders said, “What is it towards us (what relevance or concern is what you now say to/with us, why are you saying that to us)? You will see (emphatically you will see to this yourself, deal with your personal problem yourself, the result of your actions will be presented to be perceived with your eyes and known by you, you will see the consequences of your own actions because what you did and what happens to/with you as a result have nothing to do with us)!”
Then Judas tossed (threw suddenly, hurled, jerked away from himself with a forceful ripping motion) the silver coins into the interior-temple (the innermost-part of God's temple, the most sacred area within the temple in Jerusalem, where the only true God's presence was manifested-forth, called the "Holy of Holies") and he departed (moved up/back, put space between where he was with the religious leaders in the temple and his destination).
The Book of Matthew now lets the reader know that later on in time Judas went away and he choked (strangled himself, as described in Acts 1:15-20, he committed suicide in his own acquired property). If the verb translated “he choked” is taken to be what Judas did to himself at that time while Jesus was being questioned and tortured then it would have the meaning that he choked up with grief, anguish, and other emotions because Judas did not kill himself until after he had seen the resurrected Christ Jesus taken up into heaven about 44 days later (refer to Acts chapter 1).
And Matthew also tells the reader what the chief-priests did with that returned money at a later time. They took the thirty silver coins, which Judas had tossed into the interior-temple before he departed, and they said, “It is not permitted to throw them into the gift-treasury since it is the price of blood (it is not available or possible, according to our laws, to cast these thirty silver coins into the store of items and money received as gifts or offerings to God by the people, into the corban place, as Mark 7:11, since this money is the correct honorable price, the holding-worth of the item, the value of the item which is the life of an injured slave).” In Exodus 21:32, thirty shekels of silver was the price to be paid to the master in recompense for causing injury to his servant/slave. In this case the chief-priests and elders estimated the price of Jesus and they intended to injure him to the point of death by crucifixion shedding his blood; they had given this amount to Judas previously (refer to Matthew 26:15).
So, the chief-priests and elders got together in an assembly to consult, deliberate and receive advice regarding what to do with the thirty silver coins. The result was that they bought (as one who buys and sells in the marketplace) from these coins the potter’s field (it used to belong to the man who made vessels from clay) for the purpose of making that field a place to have graves, a burial ground, a burial site to bury strangers (foreigners, those who would die but would not have family in that area who would take and bury them in their family grave). It was on account that the potter’s field was bought with these thirty silver coins described by the chief-priests and elders as “the price of blood” (blood money) that this field was called “Field of Blood” continuing up until the day that Matthew wrote this record.
When the chief-priests and elders did what they did as described in verses 6 and 7, at that time the matter which had been spoken by definite words being uttered by means of Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled (filled-up, made full, accomplished), saying, “And they took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one having been priced and continuing priced whom they priced from the sons of Israel, and they gave them into the field of the potter according to-which-things the Lord arranged-together with me.” God had previously revealed this information to Jeremiah to speak to Israel so that they would know this – and they took (received) the thirty silver coins (shekels), the holding-worth or value of the person who was valued and he remains valued at this amount, the truth of which has not changed, whom they valued away-from the sons of Israel (Jesus was one of the sons of Israel but their estimation of how much it would cost to separate him away from being part of the sons of Israel was thirty silver coins), and they gave these thirty silver coins for the potter’s field in accordance with the things which the Lord (God) put/set in order in conjunction with me.
[Reference: Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 27:25; II Samuel 17:23; Psalm 94:21; Matthew 26:14 and 15, 27:24 and 25.]
Matthew’s account continues by returning to what happened to Jesus after the events recorded in Luke 23:2-12 and John 18:29-38 during the morning of 13th Nisan, Tuesday.
Verses 11-14:
.11But Jesus was caused-to-stand in-front-of the leader and the leader asked him saying, “Are you the king of the Judeans?” And Jesus said, “You say.” .12And during his being accused by the chief-priests and elders he answered nothing. .13Then Pilate says to him, “You hear how-many-things they witness-against you, don’t you?” .14And he did not answer him with not-even one spoken-matter so-as-for the leader to marvel very-much.
Jesus was made to stand in front of the leader (before Pilate) and the leader asked him (a question with familiarity inquiring for information on a certain topic) saying, “Are you (emphatically you) the king of the Judeans (referring to the descendents of Israel)?” And Jesus brought to light by saying to him, “You say (emphatically you say).” Jesus’ answer here was a definite confirmation to Pilate that what he said was right; the collection of words that he laid out before him was true.
While Jesus was being accused (publicly spoken against) by the chief-priests and elders he answered nothing (he did not reply by saying anything, he did not give them a judicial sentence by speaking to them in response to what they were accusing). Then Pilate says to him, “You hear how many things they witness (bear witness, they attest to the information and knowledge that they have and confirm on the strength of their own authority) against you, don’t you?” Pilate expected the answer of “Yes, I hear….” However, Jesus did not answer him with not-even one spoken-matter (none, not any word which would be a portion of speech that Pilate thought was needed to be spoken by Jesus that would contain the specific discourse for this situation) with the consequence and result that the leader marveled very-much (Pilate was extremely astonished and look-on with wonder and amazement).
[Reference: Isaiah 53:7; Mark 15:2-5; I Timothy 6:13.]
Verses 15-26:
.15But according to (the) feast the leader had been accustomed to loosen one prisoner to the crowd whom they used-to-intend; .16and then they used-to-have a signaled prisoner being said (as) Barabbas. .17Therefore (after) their having been gathered-together2 Pilate said to them, “Whom do you intend I may loosen to you, Barabbas or Jesus the (one) being said (as) Christ?” – .18for he had known that because-of envy they gave him over. .19But (during) his sitting-down on the judgment-seat, his wife apostled towards him saying, “Nothing (must be) with you and that righteous-person for I suffered many-things today according to a dream because-of him.” .20But the chief-priests and the elders persuaded the crowds in order that they may ask-for-themselves Barabbas but they may destroy Jesus. .21But the leader having answered said to them, “Whom do you intend from the two I may loosen to you?” And the (people) said, “Barabbas.” .22Pilate says to them, “What therefore should I do (with) Jesus the (one) being said (as) Christ?” All-people say, “He must be crucified!” .23But the (leader) said, “For what bad-thing did he do?” And the (people) exceedingly used-to-shout saying, “He must be crucified!” .24But Pilate having seen that he profits nothing but rather a tumult came-to-pass, having taken water he washed (his) hands before the crowd saying, “I am innocent from this blood. You will see!” .25And all the people having answered said, “His blood (is) on us and on our children.” .26Then he loosened Barabbas to them, but having flogged Jesus he gave (him) over in order that he may be crucified.
In accordance with this feast the leader (whoever happened to be in the political position that Pilate had) was accustomed and it remained customary (it was the ethic, manner, habit around the time of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread) to loosen (unbind, unfasten, untie, release away from custody) one prisoner to the crowd whom they were intending (willing). At this time they had a signaled prisoner (one of the prisoners who was signed-upon or noted by the people) who was being said as (called, named) Barabbas. It is interesting to realize that the word “Barabbas” means “the son of the father” and some texts give Barabbas the first name of “Jesus” – an antitype of the true Jesus the son of the Father – the only true God was/is Jesus the Christ’s Father.
Therefore after the people had been assembled Pilate said to them, “Whom do you intend (will) I would loosen to you, Barabbas or Jesus the one being said as Christ?” – for Pilate knew (perceived, saw) that it was on account of envy (which is being jealous or resentful of another's considered-advantage with the desire to gain the same 'advantage' for oneself) they gave him over.
While Pilate was sitting-down on the judgment-seat…. A “judgment-seat” is a step or raised-platform reached by steps, a tribune, judicial bench, an area where someone, such as a judge, would speak-from to the assembly of people present because he is the one doing the judging, the decision-making regarding those in front of him. While Pilate was sitting-down on the judgment-seat his wife/woman apostled (sent someone on a specific assignment from herself) towards him saying, “Nothing must be with you and that righteous-person (let there be not one thing between you and that just man, justified person) for I suffered many things (I experienced, was affected by a lot of things) today according to a dream (information was communicated to me via a specific significant dream) on account of him.”
The chief-priests and the elders persuaded the crowds (convinced the throngs of people with words) for the purpose and result that they would ask Barabbas for themselves, but they would destroy Jesus (utterly ruin Jesus the Christ, cause him to be lost away from themselves). Pilate the leader answered by saying to them, “Whom do you intend/will from the two I would loosen (unbind, unfasten, untie, release) to you?” And the people said, “Barabbas.” Pilate says to them, “What therefore should I do with/to/for Jesus the one being said as Christ?” All the people say, “He must be crucified!”
But Pilate the leader brought to light by saying, “In truth, what bad thing did he do (perform)?” And the people exceedingly spent time shouting (abundantly, over and above normalcy crying out) saying, “He must be crucified!”
When Pilate saw (perceived, knew) that he profits nothing (no benefit, no advantage is brought to him) but on the contrary rather a tumult came-to-pass (more-so noise, uproar, clamor or commotion of the people happened), he took (received) water and washed his hands (as washing something away from himself) in the presence of the crowd saying, “I am innocent from this blood (I am without the guilt of sin against God, free from any just/right charge or cause for punishment away-from the shedding of this man’s blood [some Greek texts include the word “righteous/just”]). Emphatically you will see (with emphasis you will see to this yourselves, deal with your personal problem yourselves, the result of your actions will be presented to be perceived with your eyes and known by you, you will see the consequences of your own actions because what you are doing and what happens to/with you as a result have nothing to do with me)!”
And all the group of people assembled (all the people of Israel, Judeans collectively) answered by saying, “His blood is on us and on our children (the guilt for shedding his blood, murdering him, is down on us and on our children, we accept the responsibility and consequences of ending his life).”
Then Pilate loosened Barabbas to them, but he had Jesus flogged (scourged, tied to a pillar in a bending or stretched position and hit with leather thongs having sharp pieces of bone or lead at the ends which tore the flesh of the back and the breast), and afterwards he gave him over for the purpose and result that he would be crucified. By this time it is about 12 noon on 13th Nisan, Tuesday.
[Reference: Deuteronomy 21:1-9; Psalm 129:3; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-19:16; Acts 3:13-15, 4:10, 5:28, and 13:28.]
Verses 27-31:
.27Then the soldiers of the leader having taken Jesus beside (themselves) into the praetorium gathered-together the whole corps on him, .28and having unclothed him they put-around him a crimson cloak, .29and having weaved a crown from thorns they put (it) on his head and a reed in his right (hand), and having kneeled in-front-of him they derided him saying, “Joy, king of the Judeans,” .30and having spit into him they took the reed and used-to-beat (him) into his head, .31and when they derided him they unclothed the cloak from him and clothed him with his outer-garments, and they led him away with-a-view to crucify (him).
At that time Pilate’s soldiers received Jesus from him (took him from Pilate to beside or alongside themselves) into the praetorium (referring to the area of the guard-room attached to Herod’s palace, now occupied by Pilate and his entourage) and they assembled the whole corps (the entire body of men-at-arms stationed there at that time, usually a corps consisted of 600 men) down on Jesus…
[Reference: Isaiah 50:6 and 7, 52:14-53:12; Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 15:16-20.]
All of these activities took time – in fact, the next thing we read about takes place the following morning, 14th Nisan, Wednesday, the day that the Passover lamb was sacrificed.
Verse 32:
.32But coming-out they found a Cyrenian man Simon by-name – they dispatched this-person in order that he may lift his cross.
While they were going out from the praetorium on their way to the place where they would crucify Jesus, the soldiers found a Cyrenian man named Simon and they dispatched this Simon (they compelled or pressed him into their service to do something for them) for the purpose and result that he would lift (take up and carry) Jesus’ cross (stake). Simon from Cyrene lifted the physical cross after (behind, following) Jesus that Jesus was to be crucified on. Jesus himself was too weak/sick from being beaten, etc, by this time to lift it himself.
We should note that the record in John 19:17 refers to Jesus carrying out his assignment which God gave him and which they talked about in the garden of Gethsemane (see Isaiah chapter 53; Matthew 8:17, 16:24 and 26:36-46; Luke 14:27; Romans 5:6-21 and 6:6; I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews chapters 9 and 10; I Peter 2:21-24). Jesus willingly drank the drink in the cup that God gave to him; he had taken man’s sin upon himself, the sin offering, and now he was suffering the right/just judgment for all sins.
Also, the word translated "cross" literally means a stake, and to “crucify” is to nail someone to/on a stake. So we ought to realize that Jesus the Christ was crucified on a stake, as the trunk of a tree or single log of wood stuck upright into a hole in the ground. Thus his hands would not have been out to either side nailed on another piece of wood, but they were stretched above his head and nailed in that position which made it much more difficult for him to breath, etc.
[Reference: Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26.]
Verses 33-37:
.33And having come into a place being said (as) Golgotha, which is being said (as) Place of a Skull, .34they gave to him to drink wine having been mingled2 with gall, and having tasted he did not intend to drink. .35But having crucified him they throughly-distributed his outer-garments throwing a lot. .36And sitting-down they used-to-keep him there. .37And they put upon his head the cause of him having been written2, “This is Jesus the king of the Judeans.”
When they came into a place being said as (called, named) Golgotha, which is also called Place of a Skull (Calvary, this was a hill outside the gate/wall of Jerusalem), they gave to Jesus to drink wine (some texts have a word referring to a cheap, sharp, sour kind of wine, vinegar) that was mingled with gall (it had bile or a bitter-tasting substance from a plant blended, mixed in it which would deaden the pain if he drank it), and when Jesus tasted he did not intend/will to drink. This is the second time that Jesus was offered a drink during these events.
After they had crucified Jesus they throughly distributed his outer-garments throwing a lot. They fully divided, completely parted, divided up, divided into parts with the different parts of his clothes distributed, imparted, apportioned among them by casting a lot, ballot. The result of their voting was that the particular part of his clothes (viewed as the inheritance, portion, assigned lot, allotment, allotted portion, that-which is assigned by lot) was given to the winner.
While they were sitting-down they were continuing to keep Jesus (they spent time keeping an eye on him, they had him in safekeeping, were watching-over him) there on the stake. They were not going to allow any escape or rescue attempt by his friends.
They put (placed) upon/over Jesus’ head the cause of him (the ground for charge pertaining to Jesus, the reason for accusation) that was written, “This is Jesus the king of the Judeans.”
As we read these verses we can see that Matthew writes a very condensed record of what happened, and for further details of all that occurred during this time we need to read the accounts in Mark, Luke and John. The time of Jesus’ crucifixion is given in Mark as the third hour of the day, which is about 9:00 am in the morning on the day of Passover when the lamb was killed, Wednesday 14th Nisan.
[Reference: Psalm 22:14-18; Mark 15:22-26; Luke 23:27-38; John 19:17(b)-24.]
Verses 38-44:
.38Then two robbers are crucified together with him, one out-from (his) right-sides and one out-from (his) left-sides. .39But the (people) journeying-by used-to blaspheme him moving their heads .40and saying, “The (one) disuniting the interior-temple and in three days building, you must save yourself! If you are (the) son of God, you must descend from the cross!” .41Likewise also the chief-priests deriding with the scribes and elders used-to-say, .42“Others he saved, himself he is not able to save! He is king of Israel, he must descend now from the cross and we will believe on him! .43He was persuaded2 on God, He must now rescue him if He intends, for he said that ‘I am (the) son of God’!” .44And the same-thing also the robbers, the (robbers) having been crucified together with him, used-to reproach him.
After all that has happened described to verse 37 above, then two robbers (two men who plundered by violence and open force) are nailed to stakes in conjunction with Jesus who was already there, one robber was staked literally at his right-hand side and one robber at his left-hand side.
The people who were journeying-by (passing beside Jesus on the stake) spent some time blaspheming him moving their heads (they were evilly-speaking of him, treated him with lack of Godly reverential respect, calumniating while motioning or shaking their heads in contempt, derision, disgust, ironically) and saying…
Also the chief/high priests similarly deriding (in like manner playing-with him, mocking Jesus like a child, toying-with him) with the scribes and elders spent time saying…
Also the robbers, emphatically the robbers who were crucified together with him (the two of them, verse 38 above), spent time reproaching Jesus with the same-thing. Both of these robbers were continuing to defame, insult Jesus the same way as the people passing-by, the chief-priests, scribes, and elders.
[Reference: Psalm 22:7 and 8, 109:25; Jeremiah 18:16; Lamentations 2:15; Matthew 1:20, 4:3, 26:61-64; Mark 15:27-32; Luke 1:31 and 35; John 2:19-22; Romans 1:3 and 4; Hebrews 1:1-4.]
Verses 45-49:
.45But from (the) sixth hour darkness came-to-pass on all the earth until (the) ninth hour; .46and around the ninth hour Jesus cried-aloud with a great sound saying, “Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani!” – this is, “My God, my God - in-order-for-that You left me down-in (this state).” .47But some of the (people) having stood2 there having heard used-to-say that “This-person sounds (to) Elijah.” .48And immediately one out-from them having run and having taken a sponge, both having filled of sharp-wine and having put (it) around a reed, used-to-give him to-drink. .49But the remaining-people used-to-say, “You must leave (him), let us see if Elijah comes saving him.”
From the sixth hour (12 noon on 14th Nisan, Wednesday) darkness came to pass (lack of light happened, became) on all the earth for the length of time until the ninth hour (3 pm in the afternoon).
About the ninth hour Jesus cried-aloud with a great sound (he shouted out-loud, bellowing with a large voice) saying, “Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani!” (these words are transliterated from the Aramaic language spoken by Jesus, and texts vary in the spelling of the words) – this is, “My God, my God - in order for that You left me down-in this state.” Jesus did not address God as “My Father” but as “Eloi/Eli”: my God, the God of me, the only strong, powerful, mighty Creator of His creation, Who knows, sees and perfectly completes His work, He does what He intends/wills and says. Also, the verb translated “leave behind in (a certain state or way or place)” does not mean to forever disown, forsake or abandon someone or something, but it does mean to leave that one behind remaining there at that time in that state. Jesus made it known that the only true God was/is his God and he was doing God’s will and that’s why God left him there to die at that time.
“You are the God of me, my God - it is for that purpose and result, the definite thing that You have designed, to that end You left me behind remaining where I am this way/place.” Jesus utters an exclamation, a declaration of fact and truth, not a question because God had already told him what to do and why he was doing it. Both God and Jesus knew what was in the process of being accomplished – redemption. Jesus was carrying out God's purpose, part of which was for God to leave Jesus remain dying on the cross at that time. Jesus cried this truth aloud with a great sound to God, in front of mankind and the devil/satan who could hear what he declared.
Jesus was emphatically speaking to God his Father as “El” Who created mankind regarding His plan leaving him remaining behind where he was in that state at that time to die being the sacrificial lamb. Jesus had not died yet but he knew that it was necessary for him to die, with the understanding that God will come to him again three days and three nights (72 hours) after his burial to resurrect him giving him eternal life. God did not forget about Jesus but – yes – God left Jesus there on the stake because at that time he was the cursed offering, the lamb that had to be killed as the just judgment and punishment for sin, for breaking God’s laws. It was approaching 40 hours since the time he was arrested in the
Some of the people who were still standing there in the vicinity of the cross having heard Jesus crying something out-loud were saying that, “This person sounds to Elijah (this man is making a sound with his voice calling to/for Elijah the prophet).” It is evident that they did not understand the meaning of what Jesus cried out loud! And immediately (straightaway, directly) one out-from them ran and took a sponge, and after he had both filled the sponge up with enough sharp-wine and put it around a reed, he spent some time offering Jesus to drink from the sponge. But the remaining-people (the rest of them) were saying, “You must leave him (you singular, individual, must let him go from your concern, dismiss him and thereby permit him to be as he is), let us see if Elijah comes saving him.”
[Reference: Genesis 3:15; Psalm 16:10, chapters 2 and 22; Malachi 4:5; Matthew 11:14, 12:40, 17:1-13; Mark 15:33-36; Luke 23:44; John 2:19-21; Acts 2:27 and 31, 4:24-28; Romans 3:25 and 26, 9:29; II Corinthians 4:9, 5:21, 13:4; Galatians 3:13 and 14.]
Verses 50 and 51:
.50But Jesus again having shouted with a great sound left the spirit. .51And look!, the veil of the interior-temple was divided away from-the-top until below into two, and the earth was caused-to-quake, and the rocks were divided.
And look (see, behold, calling attention, pay attention to what is written here)!...
The true sacrificial Passover lamb was dead. He was killed instead of the people. They had killed their Messiah.
[Reference: Exodus chapter 12, 14:21, 26:31-37, 40:3-5; I Kings 19:11; Isaiah 2:19-21; Nahum 1:2-7; Mark 15:37 and 38; Luke 23:45 and 46; John 2:19-21, 19:28-30; Acts 2:36, 3:12-18; II Corinthians 13:4; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 9:3 and 22, 10:20, 12:24-27; in fact all of the Book of Hebrews would be most helpful. To see the contrast between the first man Adam and the second man Jesus it may help to read Genesis chapter 3, my study of Appendix to Romans, the fall of Adam, and I Corinthians chapter 15. See also Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:22; Romans 1:3 and 4, 8:3, 4 and 19-21; I Corinthians 3:16 and 17, 5:7, 6:19 and 20, 15:23-28; II Corinthians 6:16; Galatians 5:24, and 6:14; Ephesians 2:13-22; Colossians 1:18, 2:9-15; Revelation 1:5.]
Some words have been added to the texts making verses 52 and 53 – however these are in direct contradiction to the truth of God and His Word and all that the Lord Jesus Christ is today being the only man who has been resurrected to eternal life so far. The resurrections of all other dead people, either to receive eternal life or to receive their second/final death, are still future events to us today. The next resurrection to take place will happen when Christ comes to gather together all the holy-people (Christians) to himself in the air, which begins the day of wrath for those left remaining on the earth because they refuse to receive the gift of holy spirit which has been available from God and the Lord Jesus Christ since the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2 (50 days after Jesus’ resurrection). See I Corinthians chapter 15, my studies on I and II Thessalonians, and the Book Revelation.
Verses 54-61:
.54But the centurion and the (people) with him keeping Jesus having seen the quake and the-things having come-to-pass were caused-to-fear vehemently saying, “Truly this-person used-to-be (the) son of God.” .55And many women used-to-be there viewing-with-attention from a distance, the-(women)-who followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to him, among whom used-to-be Mary the Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. .57But (after) evening came-to-pass a wealthy man from Arimathea came named Joseph who also himself was made-a-learning-disciple to Jesus; .58this-person having gone-towards Pilate asked the body of Jesus for-himself. Then Pilate commanded (the body) to be given-away. .59And having taken the body Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen-cloth .60and he put it in his new memorial-place, the (one) he stone-cut in the rock, and having rolled a great stone towards the door of the memorial-place he went-away. .61But Mary the Magdalene and the other Mary used-to-be there sitting-down before the grave.
The centurion (Roman military officer commanding a hundred men) and those with him keeping Jesus (keeping an eye on him, having him in safekeeping, watching-over him, see verse 36 above), having seen the quake (perceived the shaking motion, shocking movement, seismic event) and the-things that happened, were caused to fear vehemently (they became very fearful, in terror, afraid to a great extent) saying, “With truth this one was God’s son.”
Also a lot of women spent time there viewing-with-attention from a distance (contemplating in their minds a long way away, from afar), the women who followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to him (they had continued to come after Jesus from Galilee serving so as to benefit him, doing work to bring him profit, taking care of him as regards what he needed), among whom were Mary the Magdalene (Luke 8:2), and Mary (wife of Cleopas, John 19:25) the mother of James (or Jacob) and Joseph (or Joses), and the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John, Matthew 4:21).
But after it became evening (late in the day on 14th Nisan when the Passover lamb was to be eaten, becoming 15th Nisan at sunset which would begin the special high day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread) a rich man from Arimathea came, the name of whom was Joseph, who also emphatically himself was caused to become a learning-disciple to Jesus (a student of Jesus). This man, Joseph a Judean, went towards Pilate, a Gentile, and asked him (as an inferior to a superior) to give him Jesus’ dead body; doing this would have made Joseph ceremonially unclean to eat the physical Passover lamb that evening, but he did it anyway believing what Jesus had taught.
Then Pilate commanded Jesus’ dead body to be given-away to him (as paying back what is due or obligated). When Joseph had taken (received) the body…
It is evident that Joseph of Arimathea believed what Jesus had foretold about his death and his resurrection because Joseph made sure he had a new memorial-place in that area to put Jesus in when he died, and he did not put the customary spices, ointments, and coverings on the dead body of Jesus, but he was very caring and loving and left it so that it would be easy for Jesus to rise up again.
But Mary the Magdalene and the other Mary were spending their time there sitting-down before the grave (in the presence or vicinity of, opposite the sepulcher, burial-place). These women would have seen Joseph and how he had not buried Jesus in the traditional fashion with spices, etc.
[Reference: Mark 15:39-47; Luke 23:47-55; John 19:31-38; Acts 13:29.]
Verses 62-66:
.62But on the morrow, the-one-which is after the preparation, the chief-priests and the Pharisees were gathered-together towards Pilate .63saying, “Lord, we were caused-to-remember that that wanderer said yet living, ‘After three days I will be raised-up’, .64therefore you must command the grave to be-made-safe until the third day lest-perhaps his learning-disciples having come may steal him and may say to the people, ‘He was raised-up away-from the dead-people’, and the last wandering will be worse-than the first.” .65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard, you must go, you must make-sure as you knew2.” .66And the (chief-priests and Pharisees) having journeyed made the grave safe having sealed the stone with the guard.
The next morning (15th Nisan, Thursday morning, the special high day, a special sabbath, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread)…
…the chief-priests and the Pharisees were assembled towards Pilate saying…
Pilate brought to light to them by saying, “You have a guard (a group that keeps custody, custodian, the temple guard which usually consisted of four soldiers), you must go (lead yourselves under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else, go), you must make-sure as you knew and continue to know (you must secure the grave as you perceive, see fit how to do it).”
And the chief-priests and Pharisees journeyed and made the grave safe (secure) having sealed the stone with the guard. They securely fastened the stone at the door/entrance to the grave with their temple guard so it could not be opened and no-one could get inside and take the body of Jesus away from there and change the purpose of these Israeli/Judean religious leaders. This would have stopped any of Jesus’ followers from going into the grave during Thursday 15th or Friday 16th and should have included Saturday 17th – but we will see more of what happened on that Saturday 17th Nisan, a ‘normal’ sabbath day, that year as we read on into chapter 28!
[Reference: Matthew 12:40, 16:21, 20:19, chapter 28; Acts 1:1-11; I Corinthians 15:4. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]