The next day, on the Sabbath,
the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate.
They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said
while he was still alive:
‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’
So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day.
This will prevent his disciples from coming
and stealing his body
and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead!
If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
Pilate replied,
“Take guards and secure it the best you can.”
So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.
