Easton's Bible Dictionary A "city of the Jews" (Luke 23:51), the birth-place of Joseph in whose sepulchre our Lord was laid (Matthew 27:57, 60; John 19:38). It is probably the same place as Ramathaim in Ephraim, and the birth-place of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1, 19). Others identify it with Ramleh in Dan, or Rama (q.v.) in Benjamin (Matthew 2:18). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ARIMATHAEA ar-i-ma-the'-a (Arimathaia): "A city of the Jews," the home of Joseph in whose sepulchre the body of Jesus was laid. Its identity is the subject of much conjecture. The Onomasticon of Eusebius and Jerome identifies it with Ramathaim-Zophim in the hill-country of Ephraim (1 Samuel 11), which is Ramah the birthplace and burial-place of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:19; 1 Samuel 25:1), and places it near Timnah on the borders of Judah and Dan. G. A. Smith thinks it may be the modern Beit Rima, a village on an eminence 2 miles North of Timnah. Others incline to Ramallah, 8 miles North of Jerusalem and 3 miles from Bethel (Matthew 27:57 Mark 15:43 Luke 23:51 John 19:38). S. F. Hunter JOSEPH OF ARIMATHAEA (A Arimathaias; for etymology, etc., of Joseph, see general article on JOSEPH): Joseph of Arimathea-a place the locality of which is doubtful, but lying probably to the Northwest of Jerusalem-was a "rich man" (Matthew 27:57), "a councilor of honorable estate," or member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43 Luke 23:50), "a good and righteous man.... who was looking for the kingdom of God" (Luke 23:50 Mark 15:43), and "himself was Jesus' disciple" (Matthew 27:57 John 19:38). Although he kept his discipleship secret "for fear of the Jews" (John 19:38), he was yet faithful to his allegiance in that he absented himself from the meeting which found Jesus guilty of death (compare Luke 23:51 Mark 14:64). But the condemnation of his Lord awakened the courage and revealed the true faith of Joseph. On the evening after the crucifixion he went "boldly" to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. There is a fine touch in that he himself took down the body from the cross. With the assistance of Nicodemus he wound it in fine linen with spices (compare Matthew 27:57, Joseph was a "rich man") and brought it to the new sepulcher in the garden near the place of His crucifixion. There they "laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain" and `rolled a stone against the door of the tomb' (compare Matthew 27:57-60 Mark 15:42-46 Luke 23:50-53 John 19:38-42). In this was held to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9. The Gospel of Peter, written probably in Syria about the middle of the 2nd century, gives a slightly different account. According to this Joseph, "the friend of Pilate and the Lord," was present at the trial of Jesus, and immediately upon its conclusion besought of Pilate that he might have the body for burial. This was granted, and after the crucifixion the Jews handed the body over to Joseph (compare Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 27-30). Legends of a later origin record that Joseph was sent by Philip from Gaul to Britain along with 11 other disciples in 63 A.D., and built an oratory at Glastonbury (compare PHILIP, the Apostle), that he brought the Holy Grail to England, and that he freed Ireland from snakes. C. M. Kerr

Multi-Version Concordance Arimathea (4 Occurrences) Matthew 27:57 When the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. (WBS YLT NAS NIV) Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly to Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. (WBS YLT NAS NIV) Luke 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews; who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. (WBS YLT NAS NIV) John 19:38 And after this, Joseph of Arimathea (being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore and took the body of Jesus. (WBS YLT NAS NIV)