Matthew 27:57 is the fifty-seventh verse of the twenty-seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. This verse begins a discussion of the burial of Jesus and introduces Joseph of Arimathea. Content The original Koine Greek, according to Westcott and Hort, reads: οψιας δε γενομενης ηλθεν ανθρωπος πλουσιος απο αριμαθαιας τουνομα ιωσηφ ος και αυτος εμαθητευθη τω ιησου In the King James Version of the Bible it is translated as: When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: The modern World English Bible translates the passage as: When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple came. For a collection of other versions see BibleHub Matthew 27:57 Analysis The verse makes note that these events happened that same evening, the last of a series of chronological notes Matthew adds to the crucifixion narrative. Purchasing burial clothes and anointments, as well as the burial itself, would have been impossible on Sabbath. Jesus died at the ninth hour, or 3:00pm, Jesus' disciples would thus have had to work rapidly to have the burial complete by the start of Sabbath at sundown. France notes that Joseph may have started his preparations, including the meeting with Pilate, before the crucifixion. This verse introduces Joseph of Arimathea, who is found in all four gospels. None of them give many details about this figure, but in later years extensive legends about who he was have developed. Kenner notes that other scholars have noticed a parallel between Joseph here appearing to protect Jesus' body, just as Joseph, the husband of Mary, protected the infant Jesus in Matthew 2. Keener does not place much weight on this parallelism. In the other gospels Joseph does not play much of a role in the infancy narrative, but Joseph of Arimathea still appears. Joseph was also a very common name at the time. The historicity of Joseph's role in Jesus' burial is debated among scholars. He is not mentioned outside the gospels, and can be read to imply that Jesus was buried by the governing forces. Other than Joseph, no disciples are mentioned in the burial narrative. Matthew's introduction of Joseph of Arimathea is distinct from the other gospels. describes him as "searching for the kingdom of God." Matthew elevates him to a full disciple, perhaps the author's