Matthew 28:12 kjv
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Matthew 28:12 nkjv
When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
Matthew 28:12 niv
When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,
Matthew 28:12 esv
And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers
Matthew 28:12 nlt
A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe.
Matthew 28 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 26:3-4 | Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes...to take Jesus by subtilty... | Jewish leaders conspire against Jesus. |
| Matt 27:1 | When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus... | Another formal counsel against Jesus. |
| Matt 27:62-66 | The next day...the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying...make the sepulchre sure... | Leaders securing the tomb, setting the stage for the need for bribery later. |
| Exod 23:8 | And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. | Warning against bribes perverting justice/truth. |
| Deut 16:19 | Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift... | Bribes corrupt justice and impartiality. |
| Prov 17:23 | A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. | Depicts the corrupt nature of bribery. |
| Prov 1:19 | So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. | Warning against destructive greed, often a motivator for bribes. |
| Isa 1:23 | Thy princes are rebellious...every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards... | Denunciation of corrupt leaders who accept bribes. |
| Amos 5:12 | For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe... | Prophetic condemnation of those who oppress and take bribes. |
| Jer 22:17 | But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. | Leaders driven by self-interest and injustice, relating to bribery. |
| Mic 7:3 | That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward... | Widespread corruption among authorities through bribery. |
| Acts 5:28 | ...ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. | Jewish leaders resisting the disciples' testimony about Jesus. |
| Acts 5:29-32 | Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. | Apostles' defiant truth-telling contrasted with leaders' suppression of truth. |
| Jn 3:19-20 | And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light... | People prefer darkness and lies over divine light/truth. |
| Jn 18:37 | Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. | Jesus came to bear witness to truth, a contrast to the leaders' deceit. |
| Eph 4:25 | Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. | Christian principle to reject lying and embrace truth. |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith... | Money as a corrupting influence and motivation for evil acts like bribery. |
| Jas 4:17 | Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. | The leaders knew the guards' report, implying knowledge of the truth they rejected. |
| Rev 21:8 | But the fearful, and unbelieving...and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone... | Condemnation of liars, relevant to the false narrative created by bribery. |
| Matt 28:13-15 | Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears...And this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. | The consequence and widespread propagation of this specific lie. |
Matthew 28 verses
Matthew 28 12 Meaning
Matthew 28:12 reveals the desperate action taken by the chief priests and elders, members of the Sanhedrin, immediately following the resurrection of Jesus. Faced with the undeniable testimony of the Roman guards, who had witnessed the supernatural events at the tomb, these Jewish leaders assembled. Their meeting was a formal counsel, leading to a decision to bribe the soldiers with a substantial sum of money. The purpose of this bribe was to silence the truth of the resurrection and fabricate a counter-narrative: that Jesus' disciples had come by night and stolen His body while the guards slept. This act underscores their fear, malice, and rejection of God's revealed truth.
Matthew 28 12 Context
Matthew 28:12 occurs immediately after the pivotal event of Jesus' resurrection. The Roman guards stationed at the tomb had witnessed an angel descend, a great earthquake, and the stone being rolled away, leaving them terrified. Some of these guards had already gone into the city and reported all that had happened to the chief priests (Matt 28:11). This verse, therefore, details the immediate and direct reaction of the Jewish religious leadership—the chief priests and elders—to this unprecedented and divine revelation. It highlights their decision to suppress this truth and disseminate a false story to maintain their control and discredit Jesus' divine claim. Historically, this counsel would have been a session of the Sanhedrin, reflecting a formal and significant decision made by the highest Jewish religious authority.
Matthew 28 12 Word analysis
- And when they were assembled: The Greek verb synēchthēsan (συνήχθησαν), meaning "they were gathered together" or "assembled," indicates a formal and deliberate convocation. This was not a casual encounter but a purposeful meeting, likely in an official capacity by members of the Sanhedrin, emphasizing the solemnity and official nature of their conspiracy.
- with the elders: The Greek term presbyterōn (πρεσβυτέρων) refers to the influential leaders and members of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the highest religious and judicial body among the Jews. Their presence underscores the full authority of the Jewish religious establishment involved in this plot. This assembly highlights the unified opposition of Jewish officialdom against Jesus' claims even after His resurrection.
- and had taken counsel: The phrase symboulion labontes (συμβούλιον λαβόντες), meaning "having taken counsel" or "held a consultation," denotes a process of deliberation and a collective decision. This was a premeditated and well-considered plot, not an impulsive reaction, signifying the depth of their intent to deceive and suppress the truth. It mirrors earlier counsels taken against Jesus.
- they gave: The verb edōkan (ἔδωκαν) is a straightforward act of giving, but in this context, it implies a transaction, a payoff.
- large money: The Greek phrase argyria hikana (ἀργύρια ἱκανὰ) literally means "sufficient money" or "enough money," but in context, it conveys a "large," "considerable," or "ample" sum. It suggests a payment that was significant enough to compensate the Roman soldiers for their perilous risk. Roman soldiers found guilty of sleeping on guard duty faced severe penalties, possibly death. Thus, the money had to be substantial enough to outweigh this immense danger and ensure their compliance in spreading a highly implausible lie. This financial commitment highlights the high stakes the leaders perceived and their desperate measures to discredit the resurrection.
- unto the soldiers: The Greek stratiōtais (στρατιώταις) refers to the Roman guards assigned to the tomb. These soldiers were eyewitnesses to the supernatural events surrounding the resurrection (Matt 28:2-4). Bribing them was crucial because their true testimony would confirm Jesus' resurrection, directly challenging the authority and narratives of the Jewish leaders. This act also reveals the extent of the leaders' influence and access to resources, enabling them to corrupt even Roman officials.
Words-group analysis:
- "assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel": This phrase depicts a formal, deliberative session of the Jewish authorities. It demonstrates the premeditated and official nature of their plan to counter the resurrection evidence. It signifies a collective act of resistance to God's revelation.
- "gave large money unto the soldiers": This direct statement outlines the method of suppression—bribery. The "large money" underscores the magnitude of the lie they intended to spread and the desperate lengths they were willing to go to enforce it, indicating a fear of the truth. It highlights the use of worldly resources to fight divine truth.
Matthew 28 12 Bonus section
The narrative in Matthew 28:11-15 serves as a direct polemic against an early and persistent anti-Christian accusation that Jesus' body was stolen by His disciples. Matthew, by detailing this conspiratorial bribery, explains the origin of this false story and reveals it as a deliberate act of deceit by the Jewish leadership. This act was risky for the Roman soldiers; sleeping on duty, especially when guarding a political prisoner, was punishable by death. The "large money" must have been truly substantial to make such a risk palatable, implying that the Jewish authorities understood the severity of the truth and the extreme measures needed to bury it. This account highlights the profound chasm between God's manifest power in the resurrection and the determined resistance of those who refused to believe. The very fabrication of a lie proves the reality of the event they sought to deny.
Matthew 28 12 Commentary
Matthew 28:12 marks a pivotal moment showcasing the religious establishment's ultimate rejection of Jesus, even in the face of His undeniable resurrection. The leaders, comprising the chief priests and elders (the Sanhedrin), rather than investigating or acknowledging the profound events reported by the terrified guards, convened in formal counsel. Their pre-existing hostility towards Jesus fueled their response: a desperate attempt to suppress the truth. By offering a "large sum" of money, they engaged in an act of outright bribery, not merely buying silence but securing an active lie. This was a direct, calculated challenge to the power of God, seeking to propagate falsehood and preserve their own power structure, demonstrating the corrupting influence of power and resistance to truth when spiritual darkness prevails. It tragically illustrates how hardened hearts can choose deliberate deception over divine revelation.