Joseph went boldly to Pilate, and begged from him the body of Jesus for burial. His prayer was speedily granted by Pilate, who firmly believed Jesus to have been innocent. Pilate now for the first time heard from Joseph that Jesus was really dead. The knowledge had been purposely kept from him, although various conflicting reports had reached his ears concerning the strange events attending the crucifixion. Now he learned that the Saviour died at the very moment when the mysterious darkness that enshrouded the earth had passed away. Pilate was surprised that Jesus had died so soon; for those who were crucified frequently lingered days upon the cross. The account which Pilate now received of the death of Jesus caused him more firmly to believe that he was no ordinary man. The Roman governor was strangely agitated, and regretted most keenly the part he had taken in the condemnation of the Saviour. {3SP 173.3}

Josef gik frimodig til Pilatus og bad om, han måtte nedtage Jesu legeme og begrave det. Pilatus gav ham straks tilladelse dertil; thi han troede bestemt, at Jesus var uskyldig. Pilatus erfarede nu først, at Jesus virkelig var død. Man havde med forsæt holdt ham i uvidenhed derom, skønt ham havde hørt forskellige modstridende beretninger angående de mærkværdige begivenheder, som fulgte med korsfæstelsen. Han erfarede nu, at Frelseren var død i samme øjeblik, da det hemmelighedsfulde mørke, som (174) dækkede jorden, var forsvundet. Pilatus undrede sig over, at Jesus døde så hurtigt: thi de, som blev korsfæstede, hensmægtede undertiden på korset flere dage. Den beretning, som Pilatus nu fik angående Jesu død, bestyrtede ham endnu mere i troen på, at Jesus ikke var noget almindeligt menneske. Den romerske landshøvding blev mærkværdig oprørt i sit sind og beklagede dybt, at han havde deltaget i at fordømme Frelseren.