42 When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. 45When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.


 

"New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Transcript

The figure of Joseph of Arimathea is prominent in all four Gospel narratives, though his description changes with each Gospel.  Among other minor differences of detail, the Synoptic Gospels depict Jesus’ tomb as rock-hewn, while John situates it in a garden. In Mark’s Gospel, Joseph is described as a respected Council member, likely sympathetic to Jesus because of his interest in the Kingdom of God. Mark names two women observers the burial, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses.