When Jesus had died, a rich man went to Pilate and asked for his body. Matthew says he “came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple”. Mark calls him an honourable counsellor who “waited for the kingdom of God”, and Luke adds that he had not agreed with the council’s deed. John says his discipleship was a secret, kept “for fear of the Jews”. Yet in the hour when others scattered, he went in boldly. Arimathea is named only as the place Joseph came from, so all four Gospels each add a small piece.
4 verses
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
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.
Matthew George Easton, 1897
A “city of the Jews” (Luke 23:51), the birth-place of Joseph in whose sepulchre our Lord was laid (Matt. 27:57, 60; John 19:38). It is probably the same place as Ramathaim in Ephraim, and the birth-place of Samuel (1 Sam. 1:1, 19). Others identify it with Ramleh in Dan, or Rama (q.v.) in Benjamin (Matt. 2:18).
William Smith, 1884
(heights). (Matthew 27:57; Luke 23:51; John 19:38) St. Luke calls it "a city of Judea." It is identified by many with the modern Ramleh .