Luke 23:53 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.

NIV: Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.

NASB: And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain.

CSB: Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.

NLT: Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock.

KJV: And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

NKJV: Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.

Joseph of Arimathea is rich (Matthew 27:57) and a member of the Jewish ruling council that condemned Jesus to die by crucifixion. But he didn't agree with their decision (Luke 23:50–51). In fact, he's secretly a disciple of Jesus (John 19:38). He has faith that the kingdom of God is near, as Jesus promised.

He makes his allegiance to Jesus public after Jesus dies. Courageously, he approaches Pilate and asks for Jesus' body. Once Pilate affirms Jesus is dead, he obliges (Mark 15:43–45). Joseph takes the body, but he's not alone. Nicodemus, who learned he must be born again (John 3:1–15), meets with him and brings embalming materials (John 19:39). They wrap Jesus' body in the aromatics and linen cloths. Then they place Him in the tomb Joseph had made for himself (Matthew 27:60). Jesus' fulfillment of the prophecies of the Suffering Servant continue:

"And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth" (Isaiah 53:9).

This is all Joseph and Nicodemus can do. It is the day of Preparation for the Sabbath (Luke 23:54). Since this day is Passover, the next day is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread: a holiday Sabbath (Exodus 12:16). They roll a heavy stone in front of the opening and return home to prepare for the next day (Matthew 27:60). Joseph and Nicodemus don't seem to receive any political repercussions for their act, but it's still a sacrifice. By touching Jesus' dead body, they are unclean for seven days: the entirety of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Numbers 19:11–12).

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph are watching (Mark 15:47). They note the location of the tomb and return to where they are staying to prepare more spices before sundown when they must rest (Matthew 27:61; Luke 23:56).

In Luke 23:50–56, Jesus has died and His follower from the Sanhedrin, Joseph of Arimathea, takes responsibility to bury His body. The women from Galilee follow and watch so they may add to the aromatics after the Sabbath. Mark 15:42–47 records much of the same information. Matthew 27:57–66 includes how the Sanhedrin asks Pilate to make Jesus' tomb secure. John 19:31–42 goes into more detail about how the soldiers ensure Jesus is dead and adds that Nicodemus helps Joseph. In Luke 24, Jesus rises from the dead and meets with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. At the end, He ascends into heaven.

Luke 23 records the remaining trials, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. He is examined by the Roman governor and the local appointed King, neither of whom are interested in passing a death sentence. Local religious leaders incite the crowd, pressuring the governor, Pilate, to authorize crucifixion. Jesus accepts the faith of another condemned man and dies. Joseph of Arimathea asks for Jesus body and buries it in a tomb cut from rock.

Luke 23 records Jesus' civil trials, crucifixion, and burial. The members of the Sanhedrin have put Jesus through three trials in their attempt to convince Pilate He's a threat (Luke 22:47–71). Their case is weak, but their political influence is powerful enough to force Pilate's hand. Jesus is executed. Three days after Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus, Jesus reappears on the road to Emmaus where He explains Messianic prophecies in Jewish Scriptures. After spending time with His followers, Jesus ascends into heaven (Luke 24) and the disciples build the church (Acts).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.