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

MATTHEW 27:62KJV
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Matthew 27:62 (KJV)

What does Matthew 27:62 mean?

Matthew 27:62 describes how, on the day after Jesus’ crucifixion (which was the day following the Jewish day of preparation), the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together and went to speak with the Roman governor Pilate. This sets the stage for their request regarding Jesus’ tomb.

The verse takes place after Jesus has been crucified and buried. The “day of preparation” refers to the day before the Sabbath, when Jewish people made ready for the day of rest. The chief priests and Pharisees, who were Jewish religious leaders, approach Pilate, the Roman authority, showing their continued concern about Jesus even after his death.

The Greek behind Matthew 27:62

  • The word for “preparation” is παρασκευή (paraskeuē), which specifically refers to the day before the Sabbath, when preparations were made for rest. This detail helps clarify the timeline and the urgency of the leaders’ actions.
  • The phrase “came together” uses the Greek word συνάγω (synagō), often meaning to assemble or gather with a purpose. Here, it highlights the coordinated effort of the religious leaders.
  • The word for “Pharisees” is Φαρισαῖος (Pharisaios), identifying a particular group of Jewish leaders who were especially concerned with religious law and tradition.

Why Matthew 27:62 matters

  • This verse shows that the religious leaders remained worried about Jesus’ influence even after his death, which sets up the events surrounding the guarding of the tomb.
  • The mention of both chief priests and Pharisees emphasizes a rare cooperation between different Jewish factions, united by their concern over Jesus.
  • The timing (“the next day, that followed the day of the preparation”) helps readers understand the sequence of events leading up to the resurrection narrative, anchoring the story in the Jewish calendar.

Where else these words appear

“preparation” Greek G3904 · used in 6 verses

  • Mark 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
  • Luke 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
  • John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day,(for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

“day” Greek G1887 · used in 17 verses

  • Mark 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
  • John 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
  • Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

“Pilate” Greek G4091 · used in 53 verses

  • Matthew 27:2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
  • Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
  • John 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

“together” Greek G4863 · used in 62 verses

  • Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
  • Matthew 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
  • John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.