Answer: The soldiers were given a large sum of money by
the chief priests and elders to say "His disciples came
during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep,"
(Matthew 28:11-15).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Matthew 27:62-64: "The next day,
the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees
went to Pilate. "Sir,' they said, "we
remember that while He was still alive that deceiver said,
"After three days I will rise again." So give the
order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day.
Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal the body and tell the
people that He has been raised from the dead. This last deception
will be worse than the first.'"
Comments
from Word Pictures in the New Testament by A. T.
Robertson:
These Roman soldiers had been placed at the disposal of the
Sanhedrin [that's why they reported back to the chief priests
everything that had happened]. They were probably afraid also
to report to Pilate and tell him what had happened. They
apparently told a truthful account as far as they understood
it. But were the Sanhedrin convinced of the resurrection of
Jesus?...The religious leaders knew full well the power of
bribes. They make a contract with the Roman soldiers to tell
a lie about the resurrection of Jesus [just] as they paid Judas
money to betray Him...If they [the soldiers] were asleep they
would not know anything about it [that His disciples came during
the night and stole Him away]...They [chief priests and
elders] would try money also on Pilate and assume all
responsibility. The soldiers lived up to their bargain and
this lie lives on through the ages.
