Matthew 28 · Verse 14

Matthew 28:14

And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
Matthew 28:14, King James Version

Matthew 28:14 in other translations

BSBIf this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
WEBIf this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.”
ASVAnd if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care.
YLTand if this be heard by the governor, we will persuade him, and you keep free from anxiety.'
DARBYAnd if this should come to the hearing of the governor, we will persuade him, and save you from all anxiety.
BBEAnd if this comes to the ruler's ears, we will see that he does not make you responsible.
WebsterAnd if this shall come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

What does Matthew 28:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. And if this come to the governor's ears--rather, "If this come before the governor"; that is, not in the way of mere report, but for judicial investigation. we will persuade him, and secure you--The "we" and the "you" are emphatic here--"we shall [take care to] persuade him and keep you from trouble," or "save you harmless." The grammatical form of this clause implies that the thing supposed was expected to happen. The meaning then is, "If this come before the governor--as it likely will--we shall see to it that," &c. The "persuasion" of Pilate meant, doubtless, quieting him by a bribe, which we know otherwise he was by no means above taking (like Felix afterwards, Ac 24:26).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. The governor's ears. To Pilate. If it is reported to him that Jesus was stolen while you slept.

We will persuade him. We will convince, or satisfy him, so that he shall not punish you. This they might promise with safety. For,

(1.) they knew from the character of Pilate that he could be easily bribed.

(2.) Pilate, after the feast of the passover, was accustomed to return to Caesarea. He had not been inclined at all to interfere in anything concerning the Saviour, until it was urged upon him by the Jews. He would not be disposed of himself to take any farther trouble about the matter. He would feel that all that could be demanded of him had been done, and would not be disposed farther to interfere, unless the sanhedrim should demand it. This of course they would not do.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 If this came to the governor's ears - Pilate - we will persuade him that it is for his own interest and honor to join in the deception; and we will render you secure - we will take care that you shalt not suffer that punishment for this pretended breach of duty which otherwise you might expect.

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 28:14 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
ἐὰνeanifG1437
ἀκουσθῇakousthēashall be heardG191
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
ἐπὶepibyG1909
τοῦtoutheG3588
ἡγεμόνος,hēgemonosgovernor,G2232
ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165
πείσομενpeisomenwill persuadeG3982
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
καὶkaiandG2532
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ἀμερίμνουςamerimnousout of troubleG275
ποιήσομεν.¶poiēsomenwill keep.G4160

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

Cross references for Matthew 28:14

  • Matthew 27:2

    And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

  • Acts 12:19

    And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Cesarea, and there abode.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
we.
Ac 12:19

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

Context

  • Matthew 28:13

    Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

  • Matthew 28:14

    And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

  • Matthew 28:15

    So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Read all of Matthew 28

Matthew 28:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si esto fuere oído del presidente, nosotros le persuadiremos, y os haremos seguros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et si le gouverneur vient à en entendre parler, nous le persuaderons, et nous vous mettrons hors de souci.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und wenn dies dem Landpfleger zu Ohren kommen sollte, so werden wir ihn zufriedenstellen und machen, daß ihr ohne Sorge seid.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et si hoc auditum fuerit a præside, nos suadebimus ei, et securos vos faciemus.