He was bold with a praiseworthy boldness; for he did not consider within himself, I shall fall from my rich estate, and I shall be expelled by the Jews, if I beg for the body of Him, who was condemned as a blasphemer.
It goes on: “And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead.” For he thought that He should continue long alive upon the cross, as also the thieves used to live long, upon the instrument of their execution.
It goes on: “And calling unto him the centurion, he asked him if he had been any while dead;” that is, before the time when other executed persons usually died.
There follows: “And when he knew it of the centurion, (that is, that He was dead,) he gave the body to Joseph.”
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).