6.3 The force of the Roman guard:A Roman guard unit was a 4-to- 16 - man security force. Each man was trained to protect a two metre square
piece of ground. The sixteen men in a square of four on each side were supposed to be able to protect
twelve metres against an entire battalion and hold it.
6.4 High priest offers bribe:
Even Matthew records that it was a multi-man force when he wrote, ―Now when they were going, behold,
some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.‖ (Matt
28:11)
They came to the high priest because he had influence with the Roman authority and because it was the
only possible way to save their necks. Normally, they would receive the death penalty because the story was
to be that they had fallen asleep while guarding the tomb.
Security precaution # 7 – The Roman sealMatthew records that, ―So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.‘‖
(Matt 27:66)
This could be placed on the stone only in the presence of the Roman guard who were left in charge. After
the guard inspected the tomb and rolled the stone in place, a cord was stretched across the rock. This was
fastened at either end with sealing clay. Finally, the clay packs were stamped with the official signet of the
Roman governor. A parallel in this is seen in Daniel.
7.1 Purpose of the seal:
Seals in antiquity were actually considered as a mode of authentication. This seal on Y‘shua‘s tomb was a
public testimony that Y‘shua body was actually there. In addition, because the seal was Roman, it verified
the fact that his body was protected from vandals by nothing less than the power and authority of the Roman
Empire.
Anyone trying to move the stone from the tomb‘s entrance would have broken the seal, and thus incurred the
wrath of Roman law and power.
Summary of what we‘ve covered:
Numerous religious fears and political motives caused both Jews and the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, to
kill Y‘shua. To make sure he remained dead and buried, seven important security precautions were taken:
Y‘shua went through 6 trials: 3 Jewish and 3 Roman trials.
Y‘shua was put to death by crucifixion – one of the most effective, cruel and hideous methods of execution
ever devised.
The body of Y‘shua was buried in a solid rock tomb.
Y‘shua was wrapped with more than 50kg of spices and linen according to precise Jewish burial custom.
The stone rolled in front of the tomb entrance weighed about 2 tons.
A Roman security guard, one of the most effective fighting units devised, was positioned to guard the tomb.
The tomb was sealed shut with official authority and signage of Rome.
Summary of Y‟shua being crucified on the Passover―And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he [Pilate] said to the Jews,
Behold your King! But they cried out, Away, Away! Crucify him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King?
The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore to them to be
crucified. And they [the solders and the Priests] took Jesus, and led him away". (John 19:14-16 KJV)
These verses are extremely important because they document that Y‘shua would be executed on the same
day that Passover lambs were being sacrificed.
On the Crucifixion Stake:
While Y‘shua hung on the crucifixion stake and the people watched, there were a number of prophecies
concerning the Messiah as the Lamb of YHWH that were fulfilled (Only a few will be detailed here):
(33) ―And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the
malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.