Matthew 28:13 (ASV)

Passage

saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

Nearby Context

Matthew 28:11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass.

Matthew 28:12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers,

Matthew 28:13 saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

Matthew 28:14 And if this come to the governor`s ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care.

Matthew 28:15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, [and continueth] until this day.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "saying", "disciples", "came", "night", "stole", "away", and "slept". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "saying" and "disciples", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "And when they were assembled with the..." into verse 14's "And if this come to the governor...", so "saying" and "disciples" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "saying" and "disciples" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.