(A Arimathaias; for etymology, etc., of Joseph, see general article on JOSEPH): Joseph of Arimathea-a place the locality of which is doubtful, but lying probably to the Northwest of Jerusalem-was a "rich man" (
Mt 27:57), "a councilor of honorable estate," or member of the Sanhedrin (
Mr 15:43;
Lu 23:50), "a good and righteous man.... who was looking for the kingdom of God" (
Lu 23:50;
Mr 15:43), and "himself was Jesus' disciple" (
Mt 27:57;
Joh 19:38). Although he kept his discipleship secret "for fear of the
Jews" (
Joh 19:38), he was yet faithful to his allegiance in that he absented himself from the meeting which found Jesus guilty of death (compare
Lu 23:51;
Mr 14:64). But the condemnation of his Lord awakened the courage and revealed the true faith of Joseph. On the evening after the crucifixion he went "boldly" to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. There is a fine touch in that he himself took down the body from the cross. With the assistance of Nicodemus he wound it in fine linen with spices (compare
Mt 27:57, Joseph was a "rich man") and brought it to the new sepulcher in the garden near the place of His crucifixion. There they "laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain" and rolled a stone against the door
of the tomb' (compare
Mt 27:57-60;
Mr 15:42-46;
Lu 23:50-53;
Joh 19:38-42). In this was held to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of
Isa 53:9.