Matthew 27:65
 Matthew 27:65 
New International Version (©2011)
"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."

New Living Translation (©2007)
Pilate replied, "Take guards and secure it the best you can."

English Standard Version (©2001)
Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
You have a guard of soldiers," Pilate told them. "Go and make it as secure as you know how."

International Standard Version (©2012)
Pilate told them, "You have a military guard. Go and make the tomb as secure as you know how."

NET Bible (©2006)
Pilate said to them, "Take a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can."

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Pilate said to them, “You have guards, go guard it just as you know how.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Pilate told them, "You have the soldiers you want for guard duty. Go and make the tomb as secure as you know how."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Pilate said unto them, You have guards: go your way, make it as sure as you can.

American King James Version
Pilate said to them, You have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can.

American Standard Version
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it as'sure as ye can.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Pilate saith to them: You have a guard; go, guard it as you know.

Darby Bible Translation
And Pilate said to them, Ye have a watch: go, secure it as well as ye know how.

English Revised Version
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

Webster's Bible Translation
Pilate said to them, Ye have a watch: go, make it as secure as ye can.

Weymouth New Testament
"You can have a guard," said Pilate: "go and make all safe, as best you can."

World English Bible
Pilate said to them, "You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can."

Young's Literal Translation
And Pilate said to them, 'Ye have a watch, go away, make secure -- as ye have known;'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

27:62-66 On the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees, when they should have been at their devotions, were dealing with Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This was permitted that there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection. Pilate told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as they could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were satisfied that all needful care was taken. But to guard the sepulchre against the poor weak disciples was folly, because needless; while to think to guard it against the power of God, was folly, because fruitless, and to no purpose; yet they thought they dealt wisely. But the Lord took the wise in their own craftiness. Thus shall all the rage and the plans of Christ's enemies be made to promote his glory.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 65. - Ye have a watch (ἔχετε κουστωδίαν, take a guard). Pilate answers briefly and haughtily, "Well, I give permission; do as you like; take a body of soldiers as a guard, and go your way." This last verb is imperative, so the former is most probably imperative also. If taken as indicative, the question arises - What guard had they? This is difficult to answer, unless, as Alford supposes, it may refer to some detachment placed at their disposal during the feast. But of this we know nothing historically. Make it as sure (ἀσφαλίσασθε, secure it for yourselves) as ye can; literally, as ye know how. Take any precaution you think fit to employ.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Pilate said unto them, ye have a watch,.... Meaning either the watch of the temple, said to be placed in the tower of Antonia, for the service of it: hence mention is made of the captain of the temple, Acts 4:1, but it is not likely they would remove the temple guards, to watch a sepulchre night and day: or rather, therefore, the soldiers that had had the care of the crucifixion of Christ, and watched him on the cross, are designed: the words may be read imperatively, "have yea watch", or "take a watch", as the Ethiopic version renders it, and which seems best; for if they had a watch already, what occasion had they to have applied to Pilate for one? but having none, he gives them leave to take one, or such a number of soldiers as were sufficient:

go your way; as fast as you can, take the watch as soon as you please, make no stay, but satisfy yourselves in this point:

make it as sure as you can; or, as you know how to do it, and what will be proper and necessary.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

65. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch—The guards had already acted under orders of the Sanhedrim, with Pilate's consent; but probably they were not clear about employing them as a night watch without Pilate's express authority.

go your way, make it as sure as ye can—as ye know how, or in the way ye deem securest. Though there may be no irony in this speech, it evidently insinuated that if the event should be contrary to their wish, it would not be for want of sufficient human appliances to prevent it.


Matthew 27:65 Parallel Commentaries

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The Guard at the Tomb
64Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65Pilate said to them, You have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can. 66So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 27:64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
Matthew 27:66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew 28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.