15:43 an honourable counseller. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, but was a believer in Jesus (Luke 23:50-51; John 19:38). He evidently had prepared a nearby tomb ahead of time and was waiting in the tomb himself, in order to be aware of the very moment when Jesus died. His request of Pilate was bold indeed, risking his position and perhaps his life to do it. See notes on parallel passages in the other three gospels.