Matthew 28:12

12 And [after they] had assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a rather large sum of money to the soldiers,

Matthew 28:12 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 28:12

And when they were assembled with the elders
Upon this the grand sanhedrim was convened together, which consisted of the chief priests, Scribes, and elders;

and had taken counsel
among themselves what steps to take to stifle this matter, that it might not spread and be believed by the people; they agreed upon this, as the best expedient, to bribe the soldiers to give a false account of it, as they did:

they gave large money unto the soldiers,
or "sufficient money"; they gave large sums of money, as were enough to satisfy the soldiers; they gave them whatever they would have; for though these men were very covetous, yet upon this occasion gave liberally; and that perhaps which were for the sacrifices, or for the repair of the temple, or for the supply of the poor.

Matthew 28:12 In-Context

10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid! Go tell my brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

11 And [while] they were going, behold, some of the guard of soldiers went into the city [and] reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.

12 And [after they] had assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a rather large sum of money to the soldiers,

13 telling [them], "Say 'His disciples came during the night [and] stole him [while] we were sleeping.'

14 And if this [matter] is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and {keep you out of trouble}."

Footnotes

• [a] *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had assembled") which is understood as temporal