Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 27:61

61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher

Mark hath it, Chap. 15. from v. 42. to the end. And now when the even was come, because it was the Preparat[illegible: 1 letter]on, that is, the Day before the Sabbath. Joseph of Arimathea, an Honourable Councellor, who waited for the Kingd[illegible: 2 letters] of God, came and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the Body of I[illegible: 1 letter]sus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead, and calling unto him the Centurion, he asked him whether he had been any time Dead. And when he knew it of the Centurion, he gave the Body to Joseph. And he bought fine Linnen, and took him down, and wrapt him in the linnen, and laid him in a Sepulcher, which was hewd out of a Rock▪ and rolled a stone to the door of the Supulcher. And Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mother of Iesus, beheld where he was laid. Luke hath it, Ch. 23, 50. &c. thus. And behold there was a Man Named Joseph, a Councellor, and he was a good Man, and a just. The same Man had not consented to the Counsel, and deed of them; he was of Arimathea a City of the Iews, who also himself waited for the Kingdom of God. This Man went unto Pilate, and begged the Body of Iesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in Linnen, and laid it in a Sepulcher, that was hewn in Stone, wherein never Man before layd. And that Day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. Iohn reports it with some additions, Ch. 19.38, 39, 40, 41, 42. And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a Disciple of Iesus, but secretly for fear of the Iews, besought Pilate, that he might take away the Body of Iesus, and Pilate gave him leave, He came therefore and took the Body of Iesus. And there came also Nicodemus (which at the first came to Iesus by Night) and brought a mixture of Myrrh, and Aloes about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the Body of Iesus, and wound it in Linnen Cloths, with the Spices, [illegible: 1 letter]as the manner of the Iews is to Bury. Now in the place where he was Crucified, there [illegible: 1 word] a Garden, and in the Garden, a new Sepulcher, wherein ne[illegible: 1 letter]er was [illegible: 1 span] laid. There laid they Iesus therefore, [illegible: 1 word] of the Iews Preparation Day, for the Sepulcher was nigh [illegible: 1 word] Hand. All [illegible: 1 letter]oar [illegible: 1 word] (as we see) repeat this Histor[illegible: 2 letters] ▪ one s[illegible: 1 letter]pp[illegible: 1 letter]y[illegible: 1 letter]ng what is wanting in another▪ towards the [illegible: 1 span] it. Nor must we think it is for nothing so punctu [illegible: 2 letters]ly related; much depended upon the Worlds Satisfaction in the Truth, and Certainty of his Death, Burial and Resurrection, [illegible: 1 letter]they are three great Articles o[illegible: 1 letter] our Faith.) We have therefore [illegible: 1 letter]ere p[illegible: 1 letter]nctually described h[illegible: 1 letter]s Burial, with all the Circumstances of it. As it is with us, so it seems it was with them. The Bodies of those who dyed as Malefactors▪ were taken to be in power of the Magisrates, to dispose of as they pleased▪ tho they were ord[illegible: 1 letter]n[illegible: 1 letter]r[illegible: 1 letter]ly granted upon Petition to their Friends and Relations. The Per[illegible: 1 letter]on who begged the Body of our Saviour, is described to us, by his N[illegible: 1 letter]me Iosep[illegible: 1 letter], by his City Arim[illegible: 1 letter]thea (there it seems [illegible: 1 letter]e was born▪ or had his Mansion-House, tho he resided in Ierusalem) by his Quality, both his more Exterior Quality, and his more interior Qualification. As for his outward Q[illegible: 1 letter]ality, Matthew saith, he was a Rich Man. Mark saith, He was an Hon [illegible: 1 letter]urab[illegible: 1 letter]e Counce[illegible: 2 letters]or. Luke also c[illegible: 1 letter]lls him a Councel[illegible: 1 letter]our, but had not consented to the Cou[illegible: 1 letter]sel and deed of them. That is of them, who had examined and Condemned Christ, whether he was a Member of the Iewish Sanhedrim, or of Pilates Council (tho the [illegible: 1 word] be not probab[illegible: 1 letter]e) or had been a Councellour formerly, but now was not so▪ is hard to determine, but his Quality doubtle[illegible: 1 letter]s made his Access more free to P[illegible: 1 letter]late. He went in boldly to him (saith Mark) his Q[illegible: 1 letter]ality in the City, and his Love to Christ, both contributed to this boldness, for his more inward Qualifications. Matthew and Iohn both tell us he was a [illegible: 1 word], one that ha[illegible: 1 letter] learne[illegible: 1 letter] of Christ, tho Iohn tells us, it was secretly for fear of the Ie[illegible: 1 letter]s, Iohn 12.42.Among the C[illegible: 1 letter]ief Rulers, many believed on him. As b[illegible: 1 letter]d as that set of Rulers was, which now ruled the Jewish Affairs, (and a worse could not be) Christ had some Disciples among[illegible: 1 letter]t them (as well as afterward in Neroes Co[illegible: 1 letter]rt) these for fear of the Jews ca[illegible: 2 letters]ing them out of the Syna [illegible: 2 letters]gues, durst not openly own Christ, but secretly loved him. Ioseph and Nicodemus were two of them. And to let us know what the Disciples of Christ are, and should be; this Ioseph is described by Luke to be a good and a [illegible: 1 letter]ust Man, by Mark to be one who waited for the Kingdom of God. A believer▪ one who believing what Christ had said, both concerning his Kingdom of Grace, and Glory, lived in the Expectation of it. This Man b[illegible: 1 letter]ggeth of the Governour, the Body [illegible: 1 letter]f Christ. P[illegible: 2 letters]ate wondred t[illegible: 1 letter]at he should be so soon Dead, but inquiring of the Centurion, and hearing that he was Dead [illegible: 1 letter]he commands that his Body should be delivered unto Ios[illegible: 1 letter]ph. The manner of the Jews, was neither to have Gardens, nor Bury[illegible: 1 letter]ng places within the City, but without the Wall; it should appear that this Ioseph, had a Garden place without the City, and near to the Place where Christ was Crucified, and in that Garden, he had Cut out of some great Stone, a Sepulcher for himself (Matthew calls it his own New Tomb, which he had [illegible: 2 letters]ewed out of the Rock) the other Evangeli[illegible: 2 letters]s do not call it his own new Tomb, only Luke and Iohn observe it was a Sepulcher, in which none ever before was laid. So as when they found him Risen from the Dead, they could not say it was some other Body, for there was no other Body in the Tomb. But before they laid in the Body, both Matthew and Mark observe, that Ioseph wrapped it in Fine Linnen, and Iohn further addeth, that they Embalmed the Body, to which purpose it was that Nicodem[illegible: 1 letter]s (that Ruler who came to Jesus by Night, of which we have the Story, Iohn 3. with whom our Saviour had a Discourse about Regeneration) brought the mixture of Myrrh and Al[illegible: 1 letter]es, of about an hundred pound weight. Iohn adds▪ as it was the manner of the Iews to Bury, not ordinarily, but Persons of greater Note, whose Estates were such, as they could bear such an expence. This was the beginning ofhonour done unto Christ, after that he had passed through his lowest degree of Humiliation. Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, that is, the Wife of Cleopas, of whom we heard before, stayed to see where he was laid, and took their Seats over against the Sepulcher. Luke saith, C[illegible: 1 letter]. 23.55. The Women also w[illegible: 2 letters]ch came with him from Gali[illegible: 1 letter]ee followed af[illegible: 1 letter]er, and beheld the Sepulcher, and how his [illegible: 1 letter]ody was laid. And they returned, and prepared the Spices, and Ointment, and rested the Sabbath Day, according to the Commandement. It seems they sate but a little while (as Matthew saith) right over against the Sepulcher, but went home, and prepared Spices, and Oin[illegible: 1 letter]ment to Imbalm him, but would not do it on the Sabbath, which was now beginning, thinking that it would be time enough upon the first Day of the Week▪ Matthew saith, that Ios[illegible: 1 letter]ph Rolled a great Stone to the Door of the Sepulcher, and departed.