er of James and Joses, and the ❘ also himself was Jesus' disciple: mother of Zebedee's children. 57 ¶ When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who j Mar.15.42. Lu.23.50. Jno.19.38. 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph hal ta same as Ramah, six miles north of Jerusalem. It is more likely the same as Ramleh, near Lydda, about thirty miles north-west of Jerusalem. This was Samuel's birth-place (see 1 Sam. 1. 1). "Ramathaim-Zophim." vail is rent-the ritual is abolished. Heaven is opened, and Christ the forerunner enters for us within the vail-and there we may cast our hope-sure and steadfast-as an anchor that takes hold upon the rock (Heb. 6. 19, 20). (2.) Death is van- 58. Begged the body. This inciquished for believers-and a resurrec- dental allusion to existing customs, tion is secured, and the glorious shows the veracity of the narrative. rising of the saints is demonstrated. Those crucified by the Romans, are (3.) Sinners are convinced by His said to have been usually exposed to death. The preaching of the cross the birds of prey-and a guard was and the scenes of His blood-shedding set to prevent their friends from buryshail yet powerfully convince the most ing the bodies. The body of Jesus, obdurate hearts. Jehovah's inflexible therefore, could not be obtained for justice-Christ's dying love-the aw- burial, without leave from Pilate. | ful cup of the curse, and the accept- The Evangelists only relate that it was ance of the work in heaven, are the applied for.-See "Greenleaf's Testigreat truths which shall always have mony of the Evangelists." With the convincing power, by the Holy Ghost. Jews, it was not lawful for the bodies (4.) His people are willing. The last of criminals to remain all night upon at the cross and the first at the sepul- the tree, "but thou shalt in any wise chre are the women ministering bury him that day." Deut. 21. 23. following from far-and when they Mark says that Joseph "went in boldly can do nothing more, bringing sweet unto Pilate." This is expressive, conspices to embalm His corpse. sidering what John says of him, that he was a disciple secretly for fear of the Jews. The most timid Christians do sometimes show the greatest cour27.57-61 15.42-47 23.50-56 19.31-42 for Christ. Who would not plead for age, and accomplish the boldest things 57. Joseph. A rich man, and a dis- Christ's body? But the church is now ciple. Not many such were found His body (Col. 1. 24). Who will go among Christ's followers. But the forward before governors and kings Scripture was to be fulfilled in this, for it? Pilate ordered the body to be "He made His grave with the wick- given up. But, the most completely ed and with the rich in His death." Isa. to forestal any allegation of His being 53.9. This man is called by Luke, yet alive, in order to account for His "a counsellor a good man and a rising, Mark records (15. 44), that just. The same had not consented to "Pilate marvelled if He were already the counsel and deed of them (i. e., dead, and calling unto him the rentuwho condemned and crucified Him)- rion, he asked him if He had been who also himself waited for the king- any while dead. And when he knew dom of God." John says of him, "be- it of the centurion, he gave the body to ing a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for Joseph." John gives another confirfear of the Jews."-T Arimathea.mation of His actual death (19. 31), This is supposed by some to be the that because it was the (Tapaokεun) 157. THE TAKING DOWN FROM THE CROSS. THE BURIAL.-Jerusalem. Matt. Mark. Luke. ! John. ken the body, he wrapped it in | dalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. : 61 And there was Mary Mag kc Is.53.9. day of preparation (see ch. 26. 19, note), and the bodies were not allowed to remain on the cross on the sabbath day, they asked to have the legs of all the bodies broken, and the corpses removed. And the manifest fact of Jesus' death (dead already), kept them from breaking His legs, and thus fulfilled the Scripture (Ps. 34. 20), and answered to the type, for the paschal lamb was to have no bone broken. Exod. 12. 46. 59. Clean linen cloth. This was a large square wrapper, in which the body was shrouded, and then bound by linen bandages, with spices. This was the Jewish mode of burying. John 19. 40. So also the Egyptians embalmed and it seems of Egyptian origin. John tells us, in this connexion, of the Nicodemus-whose night visit to Christ he records also (chap. 3) that he came at this time, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight," to embalm the Saviour. 60. In his own new tomb. John tells us more precisely, that this sepulchre was in a garden adjoining the place where Christ was crucified-i. e., in 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, the near vicinity of Calvary, outside the city-where, in the rocky slopes, tombs were excavated (see ch. 23. 27, 29, note). Gethsemane was called "a garden." No other tenant occupied this tomb.-¶ Rolled a great stone. It was customary to close the mouths of tombs and caves thus, to preserve from wild beasts. 61. While this was doing, and after it was done, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, in their warm and undying affection, sat over against, or opposite the sepulchre, gazing at the sacred spot. Luke says, they "beheld the sepulchre and how the body was laid.” OBSERVE, (1.) These particulars are so fully given-viz., of Christ's ascer tained death and of His being alone in the tomb, so that the rising could not have been another's-that we shall have the fullest evidence of His resurrection. (2.) We see the Scripture fulfilled in this case, to the last and least details, and we may look for all Scripture to be equally made good. (3.) Christ shall never be without some faithful followers. (4.) Timid faith is drawn out and emboldened by contact with the realities of Christ's death-e. g. Joseph and Nicodemus. 158. THE WATCH AT THE Sepulchre. —SEVENTH day of the week, or Jewish SABBATH. Jerusalem. 63 Saying, Sir, we remember | people, He is risen from the that that deceiver 1 said, while dead: so the last error shall be he was yet alive, After three worse than the first. days I will rise again. m 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and a steal him away, and say unto the Z Jno.7.12,47. 2Cor.6.8. m c.16.21; 17.23; 20.19. Lu.24.6,7. Jno.2.19. n c.28.13. 31). As the Jews reckoned their days from evening to evening, this day spoken of, means not the next morning, but after sunset of Friday, when the Jewish day commenced. Saturday was the Sabbath at that time. Hence they took the very promptest measures, before a night should intervene. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. o Da.6.17. Custodia. The guard from the castle of Antonia-used at the festivals for any service needed in the city. "A watch" consisted, usually, of about sixty soldiers. This watch had already been in use in the trial and crucifixion.- -T As sure as you can-literally (wo oidare), as ye know, or know 63. Here we find the utmost pre-how. caution of Christ's enemies taken against His rising, and against any possible deceptions to that effect. Hence they call Him "that deceiver" --or impostor. They speak of Him as an impostor, because they have not the least confidence in His rising from the dead. See ch. 12. 40; 26. 61. 64. Until the third day. This is the sense in which the Jews evidently understood the time, "after three days" in the preceding verse. The period for Christ's remaining in the grave, was the intervening time until the third day, taking in the parts of three days. They supposed that His disciples would steal away His body, as the only means of making His word seem good-deceiving the people, by declaring Him risen. This is introduced to show that they were on the sharpest look out for any deception. 66. Sealing the stone. This was the utmost security that could be given. Pilate's signet was stamped on a seal set to the extremities of a leathern band, that passed round the stone. This was done probably to prevent the guards being bribed by the disciples, as they suspected to be possible. Daniel's den was sealed (Dan. 6. 17). -¶ Setting a watch. They stationed this military guard at the sepulchre, and gave them charge to duty. OBSERVE, (1.) It is plain that all deception was most thoroughly guarded against, as to the resurrection of Christ. At the earliest moment—bcfore night-in a way utterly to prevent His leaving the tomb, except by Divine power-the stone, the guard, the seal, and the active suspicion of any possible fraud, all invested the sepulchre with the utmost possible security. Let us see whether He will rise again. This will settle the evidence of His work. (2.) Every sinner should weep at the sufferings and death of Christ, both in penitence for his own sins, and in gratitude for the grace of our Lord Jesus. (3.) Christians have comfort in looking forward to death, because Christ went through the grave for them, to make its dark65. A watch. (xovorwdiav)—Latin—ness bright with hope, and its repose The last error, or fraud-imposition. If this should succeed, and they could pretend that He had risen, this last pretence would more powerfully influence the people than the first, or His pretending to be the Messiah. This confession of theirs is their testimony, that if He should really rise, it would carry the most overpowering conviction. § 159. THE MORNING OF THE RESUR- § 160. VISIT OF THE WOMEN TO THE CHAPTER XXVIII. 1. In the end of the sabbath-literally (¿ys), in the evening of the sabbath. And as in Jewish reckoning, the day ended at six o'clock, P. M., this phrase refers to the opening of the subsequent day. The next clause more exactly specifies the time. Quite as soon as the sabbath time had passed, and the earliest dawn of the following day was breaking, these anxious and affectionate followers of Christ hastened to the sepulchre. John says, early." Luke, "very early." Mark, "very early, at the ri- Mark. 16. 1 Luke. John. 28. 1 16. 2-4 24. 1-3 20. 1, 2 Be literally, one of the Sabbaths." The as snow: 2 And, behold, there was a lightning, and his raiment white great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like 1 Or, had been. c Ps.104.4. Eze. 1.4-14. Da.10.6. Re.1.14-16. to visit. Bengel remarks here, "that they came for such offices as belonged to those who were not near relatives-viz., of embalming-and hence it is not wonderful that our Lord's mother was not in the company. 2. Great earthquake. This had taken place before their arrival. Such an event had accompanied the death of Christ, and the graves of His people were opened. Much more shall it occur at His own rising, when His own sepulchre is burst.-- The angel of the Lord. He came with authority from heaven." Matthew describes him as sitting. Luke speaks of two that were seen standing. Twelve legions of angels could have been there at Christ's command. These were His angels (" of the Lord"). Theophylact remarks, that "the stone was removed, not to let Jesus out, but to let the disciples in." 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5. And the angel answered. Mark says that this address of the angel was as they had entered the sepulchre-the heavenly messenger "sitting on the right side”—viz., on the stone, as Matthew records. There was an inner vault where the bodies were laid, and the stone was at the mouth of this, while there was also an outer enclosure, into which the women entered, as stated by Markand saw the angel sitting, as told by 3. His countenance-literally, his Matthew. This reconciles the seemform or appearance. This was heav- ing discrepancy. Mark further deheaving enly apparel. Christ at His trans- scribes him as "a young man (that figuration had His face shining as is in form), clothed in a long white the sun, and His raiment white and garment, and they were affrighted." glistening. This dazzling whiteness This last statement by Mark, of the was the symbol of joy and purity and women's fear, accounts for the conglory. Bengel remarks, that we do ciliatory address of the angel, here not read of celestial messengers ap- given. The angel knew whom they pearing before this, in such dress; sought, because he was sent on this but afterward they so appeared. Acts Divine commission. In vs. 8, Mat1. 10, and 10. 30. thew intimates by the Greek term rendered "departed" (or having gone out from), that they had been inside. The fact that Luke records the appearing of two angels who stood by them, is not inconsistent with the other statements; because Matthew and Mark speak only of the one who addressed the women. This is natural, and occurs elsewhere; as in 4. For fear of him—i. e., of the angel. T Did shake - or quake. The verb here has the same force as the noun, vs. 2-" earthquake." The military guards were struck with tremor and terror, and fell down as dead. Mark records the query of the women on the way, about who should rall away the stone for them, and of |