The Tomb is Secured

1The scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders gathered together after hearing that all the people were grumbling, beating their chests, and saying, “If these greatest signs happened at his death, see how just he was!”

2The elders became afraid and went to Pilate, begging him and saying, “Give us soldiers so that we may guard his grave for three days. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal him, and the people may think that he rose from the dead and may harm us.”

3Pilate gave them Petronius the centurion, together with soldiers to guard the tomb. The elders and scribes went with them to the grave. After they had rolled a great stone to the centurion and the soldiers, everyone who was there placed it at the entrance to the grave. They put seven seals on it, pitched a tent there, and kept watch.