27:57 Now 1 when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 2 27:58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 3 Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
2 sn Though some dispute that Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, his actions regarding Jesus’ burial suggest otherwise.
3 sn Asking for the body of Jesus was indeed a bold move on the part of Joseph of Arimathea, for it clearly and openly identified him with a man who had just been condemned and executed, namely, Jesus. His faith is exemplary, especially for someone who was a member of the council that handed Jesus over for crucifixion (cf. Mark 15:43, Luke 23:51). He did this because he sought to give Jesus an honorable burial.