Questions

Matthew 28:11-15

[Mat 28:11-15 NIV] 11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Does this sound strange? The guards were placed at the tomb to prevent the disciples from stealing the body of Jesus. Roman soldiers are killed for failure to follow instructions. These soldiers are given money to tell anyone who asked to say that they fell asleep and his body was stolen. It would not be honorable to fail at your post. Looking at Acts 16:16-28, we are told that the jailer is about to kill himself because he thinks the prisoners have escaped. The soldiers are told to spread a false story because everyone knows that Jesus was the Christ