58. He went to Pilate and asked to have Jesus’ body. Pilate gave orders for the soldiers to give Jesus’ body to him.
59. Then Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a new linen cloth.
60. He put Jesus’ body in a new tomb that he had dug in a wall of rock. Then he closed the tomb by rolling a very large stone to cover the entrance. After he did this, he went away.
61. Mary Magdalene and the other woman named Mary were sitting near the tomb.
62. That day was the day called Preparation day. The next day, the leading priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.
63. They said, “Sir, we remember that while that liar was still alive he said, ‘I will rise from death in three days.’
64. So give the order for the tomb to be guarded well for three days. His followers might come and try to steal the body. Then they could tell everyone that he has risen from death. That lie will be even worse than what they said about him before.”
65. Pilate said, “Take some soldiers and go guard the tomb the best way you know.”
66. So they all went to the tomb and made it safe from thieves. They did this by sealing the stone in the entrance and putting soldiers there to guard it.