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Contemporary English Version

John 19:38

Joseph from Arimathea was one of Jesus' disciples. He had kept it secret though, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. But now he asked Pilate to let him have Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, and Joseph took it down from the cross.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Arimathea;   Burial;   Cowardice;   Jesus, the Christ;   Joseph;   Opinion, Public;   Pilate, Pontius;   Thompson Chain Reference - Courage-Fear;   Discipleship;   Fear;   Fear of Man;   Secret Discipleship;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Burial;   Judea, Modern;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Arimathea, or Ramah;   Embalming;   Joseph;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Joseph of arimathea;   Nicodemus;   Pharisees;   Rome;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Burial;   Disciple, Discipleship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Christianity;   Humiliation of Christ;   Jesus Christ;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Arimathea;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Burial;   Jeremiah;   Joseph;   Nicodemus;   Scribes;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Disciples;   Jesus, Life and Ministry of;   Jews in the New Testament;   John, the Gospel of;   Joseph;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Arimathaea;   Joseph;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Arimathaea ;   Cowardice;   Fear ;   Joseph (2);   Preparation ;   Stone;   Surname;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Arimathaea ;   Joseph ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Joseph;   Nicodemus;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Arimathea;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Joseph;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Arimathaea;   Golgotha;   Johannine Theology, the;   John, Gospel of;   Joseph of Arimathaea;   Pilate, Pontius;   Wealth;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Arimathea;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Joseph of Arimathæa;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Later, Joseph from Arimathea asked Pilate if he could have Jesus's body. Joseph was a secret rider for Jesus because he was afraid of the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he took Jesus's body away.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
Bible in Basic English
After these things, Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, made a request to Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate said he might do so. So he went and took away his body.
Darby Translation
And after these things Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly through fear of the Jews, demanded of Pilate that he might take the body of Jesus: and Pilate allowed it. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus.
New King James Version
Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56">[xr] After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
Christian Standard Bible®
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away.
World English Bible
After 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.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews) asked Pilate leave, to take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore and took the body of Jesus.
Weymouth's New Testament
After this, Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but for fear of the Jews a secret disciple, asked Pilate's permission to carry away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and removed the body.
King James Version (1611)
And after this, Ioseph of Arimathea (being a disciple of Iesus, but secretly for feare of the Iewes) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Iesus, and Pilate gaue him leaue: he came therefore, and tooke the body of Iesus.
Literal Translation
And after these things, Joseph from Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but concealed because of fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave permission. Then he came and took the body of Jesus.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
After that, Ioseph of Arimathia, which was a disciple of Iesus (but secretly for feare of the Iewes) besought Pilate, yt he might take downe the body of Iesus. And Pilate gaue him lycence.
Mace New Testament (1729)
after this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but for fear of the Jews a conceal'd one, pray'd Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave: so he went and took the body of Jesus.
THE MESSAGE
After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body.
Amplified Bible
And after this, Joseph of Arimathea—a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews—asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away His body.
American Standard Version
And after 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 the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took away his body.
Revised Standard Version
After this Joseph of Arimathe'a, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
After that Ioseph of Aramathia (which was a disciple of Iesus: but secretly for feare of ye Iewes) besought Pylate that he myght take doune the body of Iesus. And Pylate gave him licence.
Update Bible Version
And after 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 the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took away his body.
Webster's Bible Translation
And after this, Joseph of Arimathea (being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore and took the body of Jesus.
Young's Literal Translation
And after these things did Joseph of Arimathea -- being a disciple of Jesus, but concealed, through the fear of the Jews -- ask of Pilate, that he may take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave leave; he came, therefore, and took away the body of Jesus,
New Century Version
Later, Joseph from Arimathea asked Pilate if he could take the body of Jesus. (Joseph was a secret follower of Jesus, because he was afraid of some of the leaders.) Pilate gave his permission, so Joseph came and took Jesus' body away.
New English Translation
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus (but secretly, because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he went and took the body away.
Berean Standard Bible
Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.
Complete Jewish Bible
After this, Yosef of Ramatayim, who was a talmid of Yeshua, but a secret one out of fear of the Judeans, asked Pilate if he could have Yeshua's body. Pilate gave his consent, so Yosef came and took the body away.
English Standard Version
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And after these things, Ioseph of Arimathea (who was a disciple of Iesus, but secretly for feare of the Iewes) besought Pilate that he might take downe the bodie of Iesus. And Pilate gaue him licence. He came then and tooke Iesus body.
George Lamsa Translation
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because of fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate granted him permission. So he came and took away the body of Jesus.
Hebrew Names Version
After these things, Yosef of Ramatayim, being a talmid of Yeshua, but secretly for fear of the Yehudim, asked of Pilate that he might take away Yeshua' body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body.
International Standard Version
Later on, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, and he came and removed his body.Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:50; John 9:22; 12:42;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
After these Jauseph, he who was of Rometha, begged of Pilatos, for he was a disciple of Jeshu, but secretly for fear of the Jihudoyee, that he might take the body of Jeshu: and Pilatos permitted. And he came and took the body of Jeshu.
Murdock Translation
After these things, Joseph of Ramath, (for he was a disciple of Jesus, and kept concealed through fear of the Jews,) requested of Pilate, that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted. And he came, and bore away the body of Jesus.
New Living Translation
Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus' body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away.
New Life Bible
Joseph was from the town of Arimathea. He was a follower of Jesus but was afraid of the Jews. So he worshiped without anyone knowing it. He asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus. Pilate said he could. Then Joseph came and took it away.
English Revised Version
And after 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 the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took away his body.
New Revised Standard
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, after these things, Joseph from Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but having kept it secret for fear of the Jews, requested Pilate, that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave permission. He came, therefore, and took away his body.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews), besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus.
King James Version
And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Lexham English Bible
And after these things, Joseph who was from Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but a secret one for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate allowed it, so he came and took away his body.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
After this, Ioseph of Aramathia, (which was a disciple of Iesus, but secretely, for feare of ye Iewes) besought Pilate that he myght take downe the body of Iesus. And Pilate gaue hym licence. He came therefore, and toke the dye of Iesus.
Easy-to-Read Version
Later, a man named Joseph from Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. (Joseph was a follower of Jesus, but he did not tell anyone, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders.) Pilate said Joseph could take Jesus' body, so he came and took it away.
New American Standard Bible
Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, requested of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
Good News Translation
After this, Joseph, who was from the town of Arimathea, asked Pilate if he could take Jesus' body. (Joseph was a follower of Jesus, but in secret, because he was afraid of the Jewish authorities.) Pilate told him he could have the body, so Joseph went and took it away.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But after these thingis Joseph of Armathi preyede Pilat, that he schulde take awei the bodi of Jhesu, for that he was a disciple of Jhesu, but priui for drede of the Jewis. And Pilat suffride. And so he cam, and took awei the bodi of Jhesu.

Contextual Overview

38 Joseph from Arimathea was one of Jesus' disciples. He had kept it secret though, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. But now he asked Pilate to let him have Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, and Joseph took it down from the cross. 39 Nicodemus also came with about seventy-five pounds of spices made from myrrh and aloes. This was the same Nicodemus who had visited Jesus one night. 40 The two men wrapped the body in a linen cloth, together with the spices, which was how the Jewish people buried their dead. 41 In the place where Jesus had been nailed to a cross, there was a garden with a tomb that had never been used. 42 The tomb was nearby, and since it was the time to prepare for the Sabbath, they were in a hurry to put Jesus' body there.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Joseph: Matthew 27:57-60, Mark 15:42-46, Luke 23:50

but: John 9:22, John 12:42, Proverbs 29:25, Philippians 1:14

Reciprocal: Isaiah 53:9 - made Mark 15:45 - he gave Mark 15:46 - and took Luke 23:52 - General John 3:2 - came John 7:13 - spake John 12:7 - against Acts 5:13 - of Acts 13:29 - they took Acts 17:34 - the Areopagite 1 Corinthians 1:26 - not many mighty 1 Corinthians 15:4 - that

Cross-References

Genesis 19:1
That evening the two angels arrived in Sodom, while Lot was sitting near the city gate. When Lot saw them, he got up, bowed down low,
Genesis 19:3
But Lot kept insisting, until they finally agreed and went home with him. He baked some bread, cooked a meal, and they ate.
Genesis 19:4
Before Lot and his guests could go to bed, every man in Sodom, young and old, came and stood outside his house
Genesis 19:8
I have two daughters who have never been married. I'll bring them out, and you can do what you want with them. But don't harm these men. They are guests in my home."
Genesis 19:15
Early the next morning the two angels tried to make Lot hurry and leave. They said, "Take your wife and your two daughters and get out of here as fast as you can! If you don't, every one of you will be killed when the Lord destroys the city."
Genesis 19:23
The sun was coming up as Lot reached the town of Zoar,
Genesis 19:28
He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and saw smoke rising from all over the land—it was like a flaming furnace.
Deuteronomy 2:9
The Lord told me, "Don't try to start a war with Moab. Leave them alone, because I gave the land of Ar to them, and I will not let you have any of it."
Deuteronomy 2:19
into Ammon. But don't start a war with the Ammonites. I gave them their land, and I won't give any of it to Israel."
Deuteronomy 23:3
No Ammonites or Moabites, or any of their descendants for ten generations, can become part of Israel, the Lord 's people.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And after this,.... That is, after Jesus had given up the ghost, when it was a clear case that he was dead; as it was before the soldiers came to break the legs of the crucified, and before one of them pierced the side of Jesus with his spear, though that confirmed it: but it seems to be before these last things were done, and yet after the death of Christ, that Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate, and desired leave to take down the body of Jesus. This Joseph was a counsellor, one of the Jewish sanhedrim; though he did not give his consent to the counsel of the court concerning Jesus: he is here described by the place of his birth, Arimathea. This place has been generally thought to be the same with Ramah or Ramathaim Zophim, the birth place of Samuel the prophet; and so I have taken it to be in the note :- but there seems to be some reason to doubt about it, since Ramathaim Zophim was in Mount Ephraim, or in the mountainous parts of that tribe, 1 Samuel 1:1 whereas Arimathea is called a city of the Jews, Luke 23:51. But if it was in the tribe of Ephraim, it would rather, as Reland o observes, be called a city of the Samaritans, to whom that part of the country belonged; besides, as the same learned writer shows from Judges 4:5 the mountainous parts of Ephraim were about Bethel, to the north of Jerusalem; whereas Arimathea is mentioned along with Lydda, which lay to the west of it, as it is by Jerom, and others: that ancient writer says p, that not far from Lydda, now called Diospolis, famous for the raising of Dorcas from the dead, and the healing of Aeneas, is Arimathia, the little village of Joseph, who buried the Lord; though he makes this elsewhere q to be the same with Ramathaim Zophim: his words are, Armatha Zophim, the city of Elkanah and Samuel, is in the region of Thamna by Diospolis, (or Lydda,) from whence was Joseph, who, in the Gospels, is said to be of Arimathia; and so in Josephus r, and in the Apocrypha:

"Wherefore we have ratified unto them the borders of Judea, with the three governments of Apherema and Lydda and Ramathem, that are added unto Judea from the country of Samaria, and all things appertaining unto them, for all such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the king received of them yearly aforetime out of the fruits of the earth and of trees.'' (1 Maccabees 11:34)

Lydda and Ramatha, or, as in the latter, Ramathem, are mentioned together, as added unto Judea from the country of Samaria; which last clause, "from the country of Samaria", seems to bid fair for a reconciliation of this matter, that those two are one and the same place: and as the birth place of Samuel the prophet is called, by the Septuagint, Armathaim, as has been observed see Gill "Mt 27:57" so it is likewise called, רמתא, "Ramatha", by the Targumist on Hosea 5:8 as it is also by Josephus s. The city of this name, near Lydda, is now called Ramola, and is about thirty six or thirty seven miles from Jerusalem. The Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions render it, "who was of Rama". Some take this Joseph to be the same with Joseph ben Gorion, the brother of Nicodemus ben Gorion, and who is supposed to be the same Nicodemus mentioned in the next verse. The character the Jews t give of Joseph ben Gorion is, that he was a priest, and of the richest and most noble of the priests in Jerusalem; that he was a very wise, just, and upright man; and that three or four years before the destruction of Jerusalem, he was about sixty seven years of age.

Being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews; not one of the twelve, but a private hearer, who had sometimes secretly attended on the ministry of Christ, loved him, and believed in him as the Messiah, but had not courage enough to confess him, and declare for him, for fear of being put out of the synagogue and sanhedrim: but now being inspired with zeal and courage, "went in boldly", as Mark says,

and besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: from off the cross, that it might not be any more insulted by his enemies, and might not be thrown with the other bodies into the place where the bodies of malefactors were cast, but that it might be decently interred. This Pilate, the Roman governor, had the disposal of, and to him Joseph applies for it; which was a great instance of his affection for Christ, and was a declaring openly for him, and must unavoidably expose him to the malice and resentment of the Jews:

and Pilate gave him leave; having first inquired of the centurion, whether he was dead; of which being satisfied, he readily granted it; not only in complaisance to Joseph, who was a man of note and figure, but on account of the innocence of Jesus, of which he was convinced, and therefore was very willing he should have an honourable burial:

he came therefore; to the cross, with proper servants with him,

and took the body of Jesus; down from the cross, and carried it away. The Alexandrian copy, different from all others, and in language uncommon, reads, "the body of God".

o Palestina Ilustrata, l. 3. p. 581. p Epitaph Paulae, fol. 59. A. q De locis Hebraicis, fol. 88. K. r Antiqu. l. 13. c. 4. soot. 9. s Ib. l. 5. c. 10. sect. 2. t Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 1. fol 25. 1. & 27. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 27:57-61.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 38. Joseph of Arimathea — See on Matthew 27:57-60; and particularly Mark 15:42-43.


 
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