Matthew 28:12
Matthew 28:12 in Multiple Translations
And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers,
And when they had come together with those in authority, and had made their decision, they gave much money to the watchmen, saying,
After the chief priests had met with the elders, and worked out a plan, they bribed the soldiers with a great deal of money.
And they gathered them together with the Elders, and tooke counsell, and gaue large money vnto the souldiers,
and having been gathered together with the elders, counsel also having taken, they gave much money to the soldiers,
When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
And they being assembled together with the ancients, taking counsel, gave a great sum of money to the soldiers,
So the chief priests and Jewish elders met together. They made a plan to explain why the tomb was empty. They gave the soldiers a lot of money as a bribe.
Then the ceremony bosses called a meeting with the Jewish elders. They all agreed to give the soldiers a lot of money to get them to tell a lie.
Berean Amplified Bible — Matthew 28:12
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Matthew 28:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Matthew 28:12
Study Notes — Matthew 28:12
- Context
- Cross References
- Matthew 28:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Matthew 28:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 28:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
- Cambridge Bible on Matthew 28:12
- Barnes' Notes on Matthew 28:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
- Sermons on Matthew 28:12
Context — The Report of the Guards
12And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money
13and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ 14If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 26:3–4 | At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. |
| 2 | Acts 4:5–22 | The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response. So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it. But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. |
| 3 | Matthew 27:1–2 | When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death. They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor. |
| 4 | Matthew 27:62–64 | The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.” |
| 5 | Acts 5:40 | At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. |
| 6 | John 11:47 | Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. |
| 7 | Psalms 2:1–7 | Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them. Then He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury: “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.” I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. |
| 8 | Acts 5:33–34 | When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time. |
| 9 | John 12:10–11 | So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus. |
Matthew 28:12 Summary
This verse is about a group of important religious leaders, the chief priests and elders, who made a plan to lie about what happened to Jesus' body after He died. They paid the soldiers to say that Jesus' disciples had stolen His body, which was not true (as we know from Matthew 27:57-60 and Matthew 28:1-10). This shows that these leaders were more interested in protecting their own power and reputation than in telling the truth. It's a reminder that we should always try to be honest and truthful, even when it's hard, and trust in God's plan and sovereignty (Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 8:28).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the chief priests and elders form a plan to give the soldiers money?
The chief priests and elders were trying to cover up the truth about Jesus' resurrection, as they had previously plotted to kill Him (Matthew 26:3-5, Matthew 27:1-2).
What was the plan that the chief priests and elders formed?
The plan was to bribe the soldiers to spread a false story that Jesus' disciples had stolen His body while the guards were asleep (Matthew 28:13).
How does this verse relate to the guards' report to the chief priests in the previous verse?
The guards' report to the chief priests in Matthew 28:11 prompted the chief priests and elders to form a plan to cover up the truth, which is described in Matthew 28:12.
What does this verse reveal about the character of the chief priests and elders?
This verse reveals that the chief priests and elders were willing to lie and bribe others to achieve their goals, which is consistent with their previous actions and the warnings of Jesus in Matthew 23:1-36.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I try to cover up or deny the truth, and how can I learn to be more honest and transparent like Jesus?
- How do I respond when my plans or expectations are disrupted, and what can I learn from the chief priests' and elders' reactions in this verse?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be trying to control or manipulate the narrative, and how can I surrender those areas to God's sovereignty?
- How can I be more like the women in Matthew 28:10, who were willing to obey Jesus and share the truth with others, even in the face of uncertainty or opposition?
Gill's Exposition on Matthew 28:12
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 28:12
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
Cambridge Bible on Matthew 28:12
Barnes' Notes on Matthew 28:12
Whedon's Commentary on Matthew 28:12
Sermons on Matthew 28:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Denying the Resurrection of Christ by William MacDonald | William MacDonald addresses the denial of Christ's resurrection, highlighting the absurdity of the theories proposed by His enemies to explain the empty tomb. He questions the cred |
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(John) the Jewish Council by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of learning from the teachings of Jesus and not relying on personal abilities or popularity. He shares a story of how even in |
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John 11:53 to End. Christ Retires to Ephraim. by Favell Lee Mortimer | Favell Lee Mortimer preaches about the wicked suggestion of Caiaphas leading to the plot to put Jesus to death, emphasizing the guilt of those who propose evil schemes and the cons |
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Jesus Predicts Judas's Betrayal and Peter's Denial John 13:18-38 by David Servant | David Servant delves into the responsibility for Christ's betrayal, explaining that Judas bore most of the responsibility, Satan bore some, and Christ bore none. The Scriptures for |
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Acts #4: Name of the Lord Jesus in the Church by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the story of a young ruler who approached Jesus with a sincere heart for spiritual matters. Jesus tells him to sell everything, give to the |
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(Through the Bible) Mark 13 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Jesus is urging his followers to be watchful and ready for his return, as the exact timing is unknown. He compares his return to a master of a house who could come |
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Jesus Will Set You Free by David Du Plessis | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing and acting upon the simple truths of the Bible. He highlights how many people are bound and unable to do anything b |







