Matthew Chapter 28 verse 12 Holy Bible
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers,
read chapter 28 in ASV
And when they had come together with those in authority, and had made their decision, they gave much money to the watchmen, saying,
read chapter 28 in BBE
And having assembled with the elders, and having taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
read chapter 28 in DARBY
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
read chapter 28 in KJV
read chapter 28 in WBT
When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,
read chapter 28 in WEB
and having been gathered together with the elders, counsel also having taken, they gave much money to the soldiers,
read chapter 28 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 12. - When they (i.e. the chief priests) were assembled with the elders. On hearing the report of the soldiers, the Sanhedrists held a hurried and informal meeting, to consult about this alarming matter. It would be fatal to their policy to let the real truth get wind. Such testimony from unprejudiced heathens would infallibly convince the people of the validity of Christ's claims, and produce the very effect which their unusual precautions had been intended to obviate. One course alone remained, and that was to prepare a circumstantial lie concerning one part of the story, and to deny or ignore utterly the supernatural details. The plainest evidence will not persuade against wilful blindness. These rulers acted according to Christ's sad foreboding on another occasion, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:31). They gave large money (money enough) unto the soldiers. They bribed the soldiers with a sum of money sufficient to satisfy their cupidity. This they did personally, or more probably through some trusty agent. They never doubted the facts to which the guards bore witness; they never attempted to discredit their story by suggestion of error or superstitious invention. They accepted the tale, and took most dishonourable means to make it innocuous. They had bought the aid of the traitor Judas; they now buy the silence of these soldiers. It. is suggested by St. Jerome that in both cases they made use of the temple funds, thus employing against the cause of God that which was devoted to his service.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(12) When they were assembled.--Obviously the chief priests to whom the soldiers had told their tale.And had taken counsel.--Better, as before in Matthew 27:1; Matthew 27:7, having held a council. It was a formal, though probably, as before, a packed, meeting of the Sanhedrin. They decided on the ready expedients of bribery and falsehood. The fact that the chief priests were Sadducees, and therefore specially interested in guarding against what would appear as a contradiction of their main dogma, must not be forgotten, as in part determining their action. (Comp. Acts 4:42.)
