And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
he gave.
Matthew 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
John 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Pilate had already expressed surprise that Jesus had died so quickly, and he summoned the centurion to verify the report. The centurion had supervised the crucifixion and could certify Jesus’ death under Roman authority. This official confirmation established that Jesus truly died, not merely that He appeared lifeless. His death was a real sacrifice, fulfilling the suffering foretold for the Servant of the Lord.
Jhn 19:33-35 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead…
Luk 23:47 When the centurion saw what had happened,…
Mat 27:54 When the centurion and those with him saw the earthquake…
he granted the body to Joseph.
Pilate’s permission allowed Joseph of Arimathea, a respected and wealthy member of the council, to remove Jesus’ body before the Sabbath began at sundown. Joseph’s bold request identified him publicly with the crucified Jesus at a moment when many disciples had fled. By placing Jesus in his own new tomb, Joseph fulfilled Isaiah 53:9: the suffering Messiah was assigned a grave with the wicked, yet was with a rich man in His death. The honorable burial also prepared the setting for the empty tomb and the resurrection.
Jhn 19:38 Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus…
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus,…
Luk 23:52-53 He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.…
• “When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion” (Mark 15:45) stresses that Rome’s governor required official verification of Jesus’ death.
• The centurion, an experienced executioner, had already exclaimed, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39). His witness rules out any notion that Jesus merely fainted; the Lord’s death was real and final (John 19:33-35).
• Legal confirmation fulfilled Scripture that declared the Messiah would genuinely die for sin (Isaiah 53:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:3).
• Jewish law demanded bodies be removed before sundown (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). By ensuring Jesus was dead, Pilate unknowingly advanced God’s timetable for the burial before the Sabbath began (Mark 15:42).
• This Roman authentication also undergirds the certainty of the resurrection: only a genuinely dead Savior could rise again (Acts 2:23-24).
• Having received proof, “he granted the body to Joseph” (Mark 15:45). The word “granted” emphasizes a deliberate act of permission, not mere indifference.
• Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council “waiting for the kingdom of God” (Mark 15:43), bravely asked for Jesus’ body (John 19:38). His courage risked ceremonial defilement and political backlash, yet love for Christ overrode fear.
• Isaiah 53:9 foretold that the Suffering Servant would be buried “with a rich man.” Joseph’s tomb, cut in rock and never used (Matthew 27:57-60), fulfilled that prophecy precisely.
• The transfer of the body to a known, honored tomb refutes later rumors of a misplaced corpse (Matthew 27:62-66).
• Practical acts followed: Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped the body in linen with spices (John 19:39-40), set the stone, and departed before sundown (Luke 23:54-56). Every step highlighted God’s providence and prepared the stage for the empty tomb.
Pilate’s formal confirmation established the indisputable reality of Jesus’ death, satisfying both Roman law and divine prophecy. Granting the body to Joseph fulfilled Isaiah 53:9, displayed courageous discipleship, and located the Lord’s corpse in a secure, identifiable tomb. Together, these details anchor the certainty of Christ’s death, burial, and forthcoming resurrection, revealing God’s meticulous governance over every moment of redemption history.
Verse 45. - And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted (ἐδωρήσατο) the corpse (τὸ πτῶμα) to Joseph.Mark 15:45 NIV
Mark 15:45 NLT
Mark 15:45 ESV
Mark 15:45 NASB
Mark 15:45 KJV
Mark 15:45 Study Bible
Mark 15:45 Biblia Paralela
Mark 15:45 Chinese Bible
Mark 15:45 French Bible
Mark 15:45 Catholic Bible
NT Gospels: Mark 15:45 When he found out from the centurion (Mar Mk Mr)