Bible Strands
Mark 15:43
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes Joseph of Arimathea approaching Pontius Pilate in the evening of the Preparation Day, immediately before the Sabbath begins.
The words — The text identifies him as an εὐσχήμων (euschēmōn) βουλευτής (bouleutēs), literally a prominent council member. This designation establishes his social standing before he approaches Pilate.
The thread — The motif of waiting for God’s intervention appears in Luke 2:25 and Luke 2:38, where Simeon and Anna anticipate Israel’s consolation and redemption. Luke 23:51 parallels Joseph by explicitly noting his expectation of the kingdom of God.
Why it lands — The text records Joseph taking immediate action to claim Jesus’ body after identifying his own hope in God’s kingdom. The passage requires the reader to recognize that public allegiance to a crucified man is presented as a concrete act of waiting for God’s rule.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
Cross-references
- Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
- Luke 2:38 Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
- Luke 23:51 who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea and was waiting for the kingdom of God.
- Matthew 27:57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus.
- John 19:38 Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.
- Acts 17:12 As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.
- Matthew 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
- Matthew 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Mark 10:23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
- Mark 14:54 Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the officers and warmed himself by the fire.