Matthew 28:12-15

28:12 After ¹  they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 28:13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole his body ²  while we were asleep.’ 28:14 If ³  this matter is heard before the governor, ⁴  we will satisfy him ⁵  and keep you out of trouble.” ⁶  28:15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day. ⁷ 

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¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

² tn Grk “him.”

³ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

⁴ tn Here ἐπί (epi) followed by the genitive = “before,” especially in the language of lawsuits (BDAG 363 s.v. 3).

⁵ tc ‡ αὐτόν (auton, “him”) is found after πείσομεν (peisomen, “we will satisfy”) in the majority of witnesses, though it seems to be motivated by a need for clarification and cannot therefore easily explain the rise of the shorter reading (which is found in א B Θ 33 pc). Nevertheless, English style requires the pronoun. NA²⁷ includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

⁶ tn Grk “and you will not have to be worried” = “we will keep you out of trouble.”

⁷ tc ‡ The word ἡμέρας (Jhmeras, “day”) is found after σήμερον (shmeron, “today, this [day]”) in some early and important witnesses (B D L Θ lat), but may be a clarifying (or perhaps redundant) note. The shorter reading (found in א A W 0148^vid Ë^1,13 33 Ï) is thus preferred. NA²⁷ includes the word in brackets, indicating reservations about its authenticity.