The Report of the Guards

As the women travel, some guards enter the city and report everything to the chief priests, who meet with the elders, plan their response, and give the soldiers a large sum of money.

W¹¹hile the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. ¹²And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money

The leaders tell the soldiers to say the disciples stole the body while they slept, promise to satisfy the governor if needed, and leave the story circulating among the Jews.

¹³and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.