Matthew 28 · Verse 12

Matthew 28:12

And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

Matthew 28:12, King James Version

Matthew 28:12 in other translations

BSB	And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money
WEB	When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,
ASV	And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers,
YLT	and having been gathered together with the elders, counsel also having taken, they gave much money to the soldiers,
DARBY	And having assembled with the elders, and having taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
BBE	And when they had come together with those in authority, and had made their decision, they gave much money to the watchmen, saying,
Webster	And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,

What does Matthew 28:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. And when they were assembled with the elders--But Joseph at least was absent: Gamaliel probably also; and perhaps others. and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers--It would need a good deal; but the whole case of the Jewish authorities was now at stake. With what contempt must these soldiers have regarded the Jewish ecclesiastics!

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. And when they were assembled, etc. They deemed the matter of so much importance as to justify the calling together of the great council of the nation. Notwithstanding all their caution, it was plain that the body of Jesus was gone. It was farther plain that the disciples would affirm that he was raised. It was not improbable that Jesus would himself appear, and convince multitudes that he was the Messiah; and that the guilt of putting him to death would, after all their caution and cunning, be charged on them. They had been at great pains to procure his death. They had convinced Pilate that he was dead. They had placed a guard for the express purpose of preventing his being taken. It would be in vain, after this, to pretend that he was not dead; that he was in a swoon; that he died in appearance only. They had shut themselves out from this, which would have been the most plausible plea; and whatever course they might now adopt, they were obliged to proceed on the admission that he had been really dead, and that all proper measures had been taken to prevent his being stolen. They concluded, after consultation, that but one way was left--to bribe the soldiers, to induce them to tell a falsehood, and to attempt to convince the world that Jesus, in spite of themselves, and in the face of all probability, and been really stolen.

Large money. Much money. This was given to bribe them; to induce them to conceal the truth; and to affirm what they knew was false.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 With the elders - That is, the senators of the great Sanhedrin or Jewish council of state, elsewhere called the elders of the people; they could now meet, as the Sabbath was over.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 28:11-15

What wickedness is it which men will not be brought to by the love of money! Here was large money given to the soldiers for advancing that which they knew to be a lie, yet many grudge a little money for advancing what they know to be the truth. Let us never starve a good cause, when we see bad ones so liberally supported. The priests undertook to secure them from the sword of Pilate, but could not secure these…

Read the full comment on Matthew 28:11-15 →

Matthew 28:12 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532

συναχθέντεςsunachthenteshaving been gathered togetherG4863

μετὰmetawithG3326

τῶνtōntheG3588

πρεσβυτέρωνpresbuterōneldersG4245

συμβούλιόνsumboulioncounselG4824

τεtethenG5037

λαβόντεςlabonteshaving takenG2983

ἀργύριαarguriasilver piecesG694

ἱκανὰhikanamanyG2425

ἔδωκανedōkanthey gaveG1325

τοῖςtoisto theG3588

στρατιώταιςstratiōtaissoldiersG4757

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

Cross references for Matthew 28:12

Acts 4:5-22
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, …
Matthew 27:1-2
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Matthew 26:3-4
Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
Matthew 27:62-64
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Acts 5:40
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Psalms 2:1-7
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. …
John 11:47
Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
Acts 5:33-34
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
John 12:10-11
But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

26:3,4; 27:1,2,62-64; Ps 2:1-7; Joh 11:47; 12:10,11; Ac 4:5-22
Ac 5:33,34,40

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

Context

Matthew 28:11
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
Matthew 28:12
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Matthew 28:13
Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

Read all of Matthew 28

Matthew 28:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y juntados con los ancianos, y habido consejo, dieron mucho dinero á los soldados,
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et s’étant assemblés avec les anciens, ils tinrent conseil et donnèrent une bonne somme d’argent aux soldats,
German Elberfelder 1871	Und sie versammelten sich mit den Ältesten und hielten Rat; und sie gaben den Soldaten Geld genug
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et congregati cum senioribus consilio accepto, pecuniam copiosam dederunt militibus,