Matthew 28:12

And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

And {G2532} when they were assembled {G4863} with {G3326} the elders {G4245}, and {G5037} had taken {G2983} counsel {G4824}, they gave {G1325} large {G2425} money {G694} unto the soldiers {G4757},

Then they met with the elders; and after discussing the matter, they gave the soldiers a sizeable sum of money

And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money

And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers,

Commentary

Matthew 28:12 describes the immediate reaction of the Jewish religious leaders to the astonishing news of Jesus' resurrection. After the Roman soldiers, who had been guarding Jesus' tomb, reported what they had witnessed—an earthquake, an angel, and an empty tomb—the chief priests and elders convened to decide their next course of action.

Context

This verse follows directly from Matthew 28:11, where the terrified guards informed the chief priests of the miraculous events at the tomb. These were the same leaders who had insisted on sealing the tomb and setting a guard to prevent Jesus' disciples from stealing His body and claiming resurrection. Faced with undeniable evidence that contradicted their narrative, they chose not to investigate the truth but to suppress it. The "elders" here likely refer to influential members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, who were deeply invested in discrediting Jesus and His followers.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Suppression of Truth: The central theme is the deliberate attempt by the religious authorities to conceal the truth of Jesus' resurrection. Rather than acknowledging God's power, they actively conspired to create a false narrative.
  • Corruption and Deception: The act of giving "large money" (Greek: argyria hikana, meaning a substantial or sufficient amount) to the soldiers highlights their moral corruption and willingness to resort to bribery and deceit to maintain their power and control over the populace.
  • Futility of Opposition: This verse underscores the ultimate futility of human efforts to thwart God's divine plan. Despite their best efforts to secure the tomb and now to cover up the evidence, the reality of Jesus' resurrection could not be truly hidden.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "large money" translates from the Greek argyria hikana (ἀργύρια ἱκανά). Argyria refers to silver coins, and hikana means "sufficient," "ample," or "considerable." This implies that the bribe was significant enough to motivate the Roman soldiers, who faced severe penalties for dereliction of duty (like sleeping on guard), to risk their lives and reputations by spreading a false story.

Practical Application

Matthew 28:12 serves as a timeless reminder that truth often faces fierce opposition, especially when it challenges established power structures or comfortable beliefs. It calls believers to discern truth from falsehood and to stand firm in the face of deception. Just as the Jewish leaders sought to discredit the resurrection, there will always be attempts to undermine the core truths of the Christian faith. This verse encourages us to trust in God's ultimate triumph and the unstoppable power of His truth, which no amount of bribery or cover-up can ultimately suppress.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 27:62

    Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

  • Matthew 27:64

    Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

  • Matthew 27:1

    ¶ When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

  • Matthew 27:2

    And when they had bound him, they led [him] away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

  • Matthew 26:3

    Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

  • Matthew 26:4

    And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill [him].

  • Acts 4:5

    ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
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