Joseph of Arimathea

JOE-suf of air-uh-muh-THEE-uh

A rich, respected member of the Jewish ruling council who quietly admired Jesus, then took a genuine risk after the crucifixion by asking Pilate for the body and burying it in his own new tomb.

Life and work

Joseph was a wealthy man from the town of Arimathea and, according to Mark and Luke, a member of the Sanhedrin — the very council that condemned Jesus. Luke is careful to note that Joseph had not consented to their decision or action against him. John adds that Joseph was 'a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews' — someone who believed but had kept it quiet given his position.

After Jesus died on the cross, Joseph did something bold: he 'took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus' (Mark 15:43). Requesting the corpse of a man executed for sedition was not a small ask, and it publicly identified Joseph with a condemned criminal in front of the very authorities he served alongside. Pilate, surprised Jesus was already dead, granted it after confirming with the centurion.

Joseph wrapped the body in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, cut into the rock, where no one had yet been buried (Matthew 27:60, John 19:41). Its proximity to the crucifixion site meant it could be reached before the Sabbath began. Nicodemus, another secret sympathizer among the Jewish leaders, joined him with a large quantity of myrrh and aloes for the burial (John 19:39-40). Joseph is not mentioned again in the New Testament after this act.

Occupation: Wealthy man, member of the Sanhedrin (Jewish ruling council)
Places: From Arimathea (a town of uncertain exact location in Judea); active in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus's death.

Extra-biblical evidence

No first-century source outside the four Gospels mentions Joseph of Arimathea; later traditions about him (including medieval legends connecting him to Britain and the Holy Grail) date many centuries after his lifetime and are not historical evidence.

Scripture references

Matthew 27:57-60 — Requests and buries Jesus's body in his own tomb
Mark 15:43-46 — Takes courage to ask Pilate for the body
Luke 23:50-53 — Described as a good and righteous man who had not consented to the council's action
John 19:38-42 — Secret disciple, joined by Nicodemus for the burial

Reflect

Joseph of Arimathea stayed a quiet disciple until the costliest moment, then stepped forward — what would move you to stop being quiet?

More people

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