He went to Pilate
To his house where he lived, and went in, as Mark says, (
Mark 15:43 ) ,
boldly; not being ashamed of Christ crucified, or afraid to own
him, and show his respect to him as dead, though he knew he
should incur the displeasure, reproach, and persecution of the
Jews:
and begged the body of Jesus;
which could not be taken down and interred, without the leave of
the Roman governor; and which was generally granted to the
friends of the deceased, when asked; otherwise they were buried
in places F12 appointed for such persons; (See
Gill on Matthew
27:33). And this would have been the case of Christ, had
not Joseph craved his body; and which he did, to prevent its
being abused by the Jews, and interred in such an ignominious
manner:
then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered;
to Joseph, after he had understood by the centurion that Jesus
was dead, which he at first could not tell how to believe, and
marvelled at it, ( Mark 15:44 Mark 15:45 ) . Joseph
might the more easily obtain his request, as he was a person of
character and riches; and because Pilate himself had a good
opinion of Jesus, and of his innocence, as well as his wife was
much in his favour: so that Joseph had no difficulty to obtain
the body of Christ; but as soon as he asked, he had the favour
granted, and orders were given to the centurion and his soldiers,
to deliver it to him.
F12 See Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 6. sect. 5, 6. Maimon. Hilch. Sanhedrin, c. 14. sect. 9.