It was Hebrew custom to bury their dead in natural or hand carved cavernous tombs, some simple, containing only 2 or 3 bodies, while others more elaborate, such as the Tombs of the Kings still present in Christ's day (Acts 2:29), and seen even today. For practical purposes, they were carved high up on a bluff, or cliff, with their entrances usually whitewashed, or at ground level with a carved track for a heavy stone seal. These tombs were usually apart from the city, but occasionally within, and sometimes in a garden area associated with a residence. The latter of the above types and locations seems to be the case here. (Whether attached to a dwelling it is not known.) (Antiq.VII.15.3, Mt.23:27, Mk.15:46, 19:41, 20:15)

Public burial places, such as the potters' fields, were used for the poor and strangers. It was a potter's field (likely land where potters obtained their clay) purchased by Judas' own 30 pieces of silver in which he himself was probably buried. Also called, Aceldama = "FIELD OF BLOOD." Compare: Mt.27:6-10 & Acts 1:18-19. All this to fulfill Scripture. Compare: Jer.18:1-8; 32:7,14-15; Zec.11:10-14.

However, it was not to be in a common grave our Lord would be lain. As God had prepared an upper room for His last meal without the twelve's prior knowledge, He had also prepared a temporary earthly resting place for His Son's tortured body. Joseph of Arimathaea was probably not known to the disciples, as implied by the ones following at a distance to His burial without communication. Compare Mt.27:55-61; Mk.15:46-47; Lk.23:55-56.

It is a great irony that a secret disciple of Jesus, a member of the very Council who condemned Him, would come forward, seeing to a burial befitting one of their own order, even in his own newly prepared tomb. How this must have really stuck in the craw of those hypocrites! Betrayed not by one, as Jesus, but by two of their very own! This act, most likely, later cost Joseph and Nicodemus their Council seat. ( Lk.23:51)

The 3rd prophetic Jewish day had finally arrived since Jesus' sacrificial body had been placed within the tomb. It was the first day of the week (Sunday). The Sabbath had passed which prohibited any Jew from: (1) Walking more than a Sabbath Day's journey (1/2 mile); and (2) contact with the dead, or the women would have gone on Saturday!

It is interesting to note that it was the guilty Council and not the disciples who best remembered Jesus' prophecy of His 3rd day resurrection, and therefore set a watch over the tomb.

These certainly were tumultuous times, with many cataclysmic natural and supernatural events occurring, e.g., the darkest of darkness, earthquakes, and finally dead loved ones reappearing in their streets and homes. The whole city must have been abuzz with excited confusion and terror. The announcement of the angel at Jesus' birth of Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men had been silenced by the recent betrayal cry of a bloodthirsty mob, "CRUCIFY, CRUCIFY!" Peace had taken her leave this day!

The disciples were hiding in fear for their very lives. Peace was far from their hearts at this dark hour. But those often heard words of that familiar voice, "PEACE BE UNTO YOU," will soon break the deadly silence of their hearts to sound reassurance in their ears once again!