That evening Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate if he might bury Jesus. He was rich, and had a tomb ready for his own burial.
Joseph, with Nicodemus - the Pharisee who had first come to Jesus at night – wrapped Jesus' body in clean linen with sweet-smelling spices, and laid it in Joseph's tomb, which was hewn out of the rock. A large stone was rolled across the entrance of the tomb.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.
The chief priests came to Pilate. "The tomb must be guarded," they said, "or Jesus' disciples may steal His body and say He has risen from the dead." "Very well," said Pilate, "set a guard over it."
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