Matthew Chapter 27 verse 65 Holy Bible
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it `as' sure as ye can.
read chapter 27 in ASV
Pilate said to them, You have watchmen; go and make it as safe as you are able.
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And Pilate said to them, Ye have a watch: go, secure it as well as ye know how.
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Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
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read chapter 27 in WBT
Pilate said to them, "You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can."
read chapter 27 in WEB
And Pilate said to them, `Ye have a watch, go away, make secure -- as ye have known;'
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(65) Ye have a watch.--Better, Take ye a guard. The Greek verb may be either imperative or indicative. The former gives the better meaning. The "watch," or "guard," was a body of Roman soldiers (St. Matthew uses the Latin term custodia), who could not be set to such a task without Pilate's permission. If the priests had had such a "guard" at their disposal before, there would have been no need for them to apply to Pilate.
