Matthew 27:66

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 27:66 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.
Matthew 27:66 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 27

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So they went, etc.] From Pilate’s palace, to the garden of Joseph, and to the sepulchre there; which whether more than a sabbath day’s journey, or two thousand cubits, may be inquired; and if so, then they broke one of their own traditions, which allowed a person to go no further on a sabbath day; (see Gill on “<440112>Acts 1:12”). And made the sepulchre sure; in the following manner, sealing the stone; that was rolled to the door of it, it may be with some public seal, with Pilate’s, or with the sanhedrim’s; as the stone at the mouth of the lions’ den, in which Daniel was put, was sealed with the king’s signet, and with the signet of his lords, (<270617>Daniel 6:17), that there might be no…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone--which Mark (Mar 16:4) says was "very great." and setting a watch--to guard it. What more could man do? But while they are trying to prevent the resurrection of the Prince of Life, God makes use of their precautions for His own ends. Their stone-covered, seal-secured sepulchre shall preserve the sleeping dust of the Son of God free from all indignities, in undisturbed, sublime repose; while their watch shall be His guard of honor until the angels shall come to take their place. Next: Matthew Chapter 28”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Sealing the stone - The sepulchre was made sure by affixing the large stone to the entrance in such a way that it could not be removed without detection. It was sealed. In what way this was done cannot now be certainly told. The cave in which Daniel was cast was fastened in the same manner, and sealed with the king’s signet Daniel 6:17, perhaps by fastening the stone in its place with cords, and bringing them together and uniting them with wax, and impressing on that the seal of the king. In this way, letters and books were anciently sealed. Possibly on the sepulchre of Jesus was impressed in this manner the seal of Pilate - the seal of office - making it doubly sure; or it may be that the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“They went and secured the sepulchre, sealing the stone, and setting a guard - They set Pilate's signet, or the public seal of the sanhedrim upon a fastening which they had put on the stone. And all this uncommon caution was overruled by the providence of God, to give the strongest proofs of Christ's ensuing resurrection; since there could be no room for the least suspicion of deceit, when it should be found, that his body was raised out of a new tomb, where there was no other corpse, and this tomb hewn out of a rock, the mouth of which was secured by a great stone, under a seal, and a guard of soldiers. Next: Matthew Chapter 28”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and made: Every thing was here done which human policy and prudence could, to prevent a resurrection, which these very precautions had the most direct tendency to authenticate and establish. sealing: Dan 6:17; Ti2 2:19 Next: Matthew Chapter 28”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification