The Roman Soldiers’ Lie

Commentary

While the women were running to find the disciples and tell them that Jesus had resurrected from the dead, another group was plotting to destroy the truth of the resurrection (vv. 11-12). By now the soldiers who had been guarding the tomb realized that they were in deep trouble. For a Roman soldier to fail in his duty was an offense punishable by death (Acts 12:19). Because of this they did not report the happenings to Pilate or to their superior officers but instead they reported to the Jewish Chief priests.  They knew that these men would be as anxious to cover up the miracle as the soldiers were themselves.
Between the chief priests, the elders and the soldiers, they put together a story that would explain the empty tomb. The fabricated lie was that the disciples   had come during the night and stolen away the body of Jesus while the soldiers were asleep (vv. 13-15). Of course, such a story would not be well received by the Roman officials. For this reason, the Sanhedrin also voted to give the soldiers a handsome bribe to spread this story.
As a part of the bargain they promised to make things right with their superiors by whatever means it took. This probably would involve the payment of another large sum of money. As a result, the lie was widely circulated among the Jews. What an incredible story! How could the soldiers know what happened while they were asleep? What honorable Roman soldier would have admitted to “sleeping on the job?” That would have been suicide. But temple police could be easily bribed, even though it took a large sum of money, and could more easily be protected from Pilate’s anger. The big concern of the Jewish leaders was the people’s reaction and not the truth.

Application

Often it is harder for a person to believe the truth than it is for him to believe a lie. It is so easy for me to be guilty of listening to something about someone and learning later that it was not true? The Bible makes it plain that gossip is sin.