Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 27:63

"saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again." — Matthew 27:63 (ASV)

On the Sabbath day, some members of the Sanhedrin paid a visit to Pilate, politely addressing him as “Sir” (GK 3261). For discussion on the phrase “after three days,” see comment on 12:40. The enemies of Jesus certainly do not believe Jesus’ prediction; they are merely afraid of fraud. Their fears were really unfounded, because the disciples themselves disbelieved Jesus’ words about rising again, not because they could not understand the plain words, but because they had no frame of reference capable of integrating a dying and rising Messiah into their own messianic expectations. The only thing they knew was the terrible fact that their Messiah had been crucified.