Matthew 27:52-66

52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints (God’s people) who had fallen asleep [in death] were raised [to life];

53and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city (Jerusalem) and appeared to many people.

54Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, they were terribly frightened and filled with awe, and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

55There were also many women there looking on from a distance, who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him.

56Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and [Salome] the mother of Zebedee’s sons [James and John].

57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.

58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus [so that he might bury Him], and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

59And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth (burial wrapping),

60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock; and he rolled a large stone over the entrance of the tomb and went away.

61And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

62The next day, that is, the day after the [day of] preparation [for the Sabbath], the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate,

63and said, “Sir, we have remembered that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise [from the dead].’

64Therefore, give orders to have the tomb made secure and safeguarded until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception [the reporting of His resurrection] will be worse than the first [the reporting that He is the Messiah].”

65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard [of soldiers]; go [with them], make the tomb as secure as you know how.”

66So they went and made the tomb secure, and along with [stationing] a guard of soldiers [to be on watch] they set a seal on the stone.