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The life of Christ

Jesus is buried; the tomb is sealed and guarded

Saturday, 4 April AD 33Ussher date

Matthew 27:57–66; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42

Before the Sabbath began, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus laid Jesus' body in Joseph's new tomb cut in the rock. The next day the chief priests had Pilate seal the stone and post a guard.

So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.

Matthew 27:66 (World English Bible)
TEMPLESolomon's porchAntonia fortressPools of BethesdaPool of SiloamHerod's palace(likely the Praetorium)Golgothaand the tomb(traditional site)Garden Tomb (alternative site)Upper Room (traditional)Caiaphas's house?GethsemaneMOUNT OFOLIVESto Bethany, 2 milesKidron ValleyHinnom ValleyUPPER CITYCITY OFDAVID200 mWalls as in Jesus' day (the third, northern wall came later). Positions approximate; many sites debated.North ↑
Jerusalem in Jesus' day, with the places of Holy Week. Many sites are traditional or debated.

The women who had followed him from Galilee watched where he was laid and went home to prepare spices, resting on the Sabbath according to the commandment. The priests remembered that Jesus had said he would rise after three days, and wanted to make sure the disciples could not steal the body.

Dating notes

Ussher: buried on the evening of Friday, 3 April; the tomb sealed on Saturday, 4 April AD 33 (Matthew 27:62). Ussher's dates put the crucifixion on Friday, 3 April AD 33; many scholars prefer Friday, 7 April AD 30, which would move all of Holy Week three years earlier.

Open on the timelineRead Matthew 27:57–66