Mark 15 · Verse 43

Mark 15:43

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.

Mark 15:43, King James Version

Mark 15:43 in other translations

BSB	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.
WEB	Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for God’s Kingdom, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body.
ASV	there came Joseph of Arimathæa, a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
YLT	Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable counsellor, who also himself was waiting for the reign of God, came, boldly entered in unto Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus.
DARBY	Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable councillor, who also himself was awaiting the kingdom of God, coming, emboldened himself and went in to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus.
BBE	There came Joseph of Arimathaea, a responsible man in high honour, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God; and he went in to Pilate without fear, and made a request for the body of Jesus.
Webster	Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly to Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

What does Mark 15:43 mean?

Barnes' Notes

Verse 43. Joseph--an honourable counsellor. A distinguished man, who probably held a high office among the Jews, as one of their great council or a Jewish senator. The word honourable here is not a mere title of office, but is given in reference to his personal character, as being a man of integrity and blameless life.

Waited for the kingdom of God. Waited for, or expected, the coming of the Messiah. But this expression means more than an indefinite expectation that the Messiah would come, for all the Jews expected that. It implies that he believed Jesus to be the Messiah, and that he had waited for him to build up the kingdom of God; and this agrees with what John says, Jn 19:38 that he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews. He had retained his secret belief in the hope that Jesus would be proclaimed and treated as the Messiah, and then he probably proposed openly to acknowledge his attachment to him. But God called him to a public profession of attachment in a different manner, and gave this distinguished man grace to evince it. So men often delay a profession of attachment to Christ. They cherish a secret love; they indulge a hope in the mercy of God; but they conceal it for fear of man. Whereas God requires that the attachment should be made known. "He that is ashamed of me," said the Saviour, "and of my words before men, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in the glory of his Father and of the holy angels." Those who love the Saviour have no right to hide their light under a bushel. As soon as they have evidence, satisfactory to their own mind, that they are Christians, or have a prevalent belief, after faithful examination, that they truly love God, and depend on the Lord Jesus for salvation, so soon are they bound to profess Christ before men. This is the command of God, and this is the way of peace. None have the prospect of comfort in religion, who do not have respect to all of the commandments of God.

Went in boldly unto Pilate. God had raised up this distinguished counsellor and secret disciple for a special and most important vocation. The disciples of Jesus had fled; and if they had not, they had no influence with Pilate. Unless there had been a special application to Pilate in behalf of Jesus, his body would have been buried that night in the common grave with the malefactors: for it was a law of the Jews that the body of an executed man should not remain on the cross on the sabbath. At this critical juncture, God called forward this secret disciple--this friend of Jesus, though unknown as such to the world, and gave him confidence; he dared to express sympathy for the Saviour; he went in boldly, and begged the body of Jesus. It needed no small measure of courage to do this. Jesus had just been condemned, mocked, spit on, crucified--the death of a slave, or the most guilty wretch. To avow attachment for him now was proof of sincere affection; and the Holy Spirit has thought this worthy of special notice; and has set down this bold attachment of a senator for Jesus, for our imitation.

Craved the body. Begged, or asked.

(s) "also waited" Lk 2:25,38

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 43 Went in boldly unto Pilate - He who was a coward before now acts a more open, fearless part, than any of the disciples of our Lord! This the Holy Spirit has thought worthy of especial notice. It needed no small measure of courage to declare now for Jesus, who had been a few hours ago condemned as a blasphemer by the Jews, and as a seditious person by the Romans; and this was the more remarkable in Joseph, because hitherto, for fear of the Jews, he had been only a secret disciple of our Lord. See Joh 19:38. The apostle says, We have Boldness to enter into the holiest through his blood. Strange as it may appear, the death of Jesus is the grand cause of confidence and courage to a believing soul.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 15:42-47

We are here attending the burial of our Lord Jesus. Oh that we may by grace be planted in the likeness of it! Joseph of Arimathea was one who waited for the kingdom of God. Those who hope for a share in its privileges, must own Christ's cause, when it seems to be crushed. This man God raised up for his service. There was a special providence, that Pilate should be so strict in his inquiry, that there might be no…

Read the full comment on Mark 15:42-47 →

Mark 15:43 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐλθὼνelthōncomingG2064

ἸωσὴφIōsēphJosephG2501

ὁho<the>G3588

ἀπὸapofromG575

Ἁριμαθαίας,HarimathaiasArimathea,G707

εὐσχήμωνeuschēmōna prominentG2158

βουλευτὴςbouleutēsCouncil memberG1010

ὃςhoswhoG3739

καὶkaialsoG2532

αὐτὸςautoshimselfG846

ἦνēnwasG1510

προσδεχόμενοςprosdechomenoswaiting forG4327

τὴνtēntheG3588

βασιλείανbasileiankingdomG932

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦ,theouof God,G2316

τολμήσαςtolmēsashaving boldnessG5111

εἰσῆλθενeisēlthenhe went inG1525

πρὸςprostoG4314

ΠιλᾶτονPilatonPilateG4091

καὶkaiandG2532

ᾐτήσατοētēsatoasked forG154

τὸtotheG3588

σῶμαsōmabodyG4983

τοῦtou<the>G3588

Ἰησοῦ.Iēsouof Jesus.G2424

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 15:43

Luke 2:38
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Luke 2:25
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
Luke 23:51
(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
John 19:38
And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Acts 17:12
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Matthew 27:57
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
Acts 4:8-13
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. …
Matthew 20:16
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Philippians 1:14
And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Acts 13:50
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
Matthew 19:30
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Mark 10:23-27
And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

an.
10:23-27
which.
Lu 2:25,38; 23:51
and went.
14:54,66-72; Mt 19:30; 20:16; Ac 4:8-13; Php 1:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Mark 15:42
And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
Mark 15:43
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.
Mark 15:44
And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

Read all of Mark 15

Mark 15:43 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	José de Arimatea, senador noble, que también esperaba el reino de Dios, vino, y osadamente entró á Pilato, y pidió el cuerpo de Jesús.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Joseph qui était d’Arimathée, conseiller honorable, qui aussi lui-même attendait le royaume de Dieu, vint et prit sur lui d’entrer auprès de Pilate, et lui demanda le corps de Jésus.
German Elberfelder 1871	kam Joseph von Arimathia, ein ehrbarer Ratsherr, der auch selbst das Reich Gottes erwartete, und ging kühn zu Pilatus hinein und bat um den Leib Jesu.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	venit Joseph ab Arimathæa nobilis decurio, qui et ipse erat exspectans regnum Dei, et audacter introivit ad Pilatum, et petiit corpus Jesu.