Following the resurrection of Jesus, the Chief Priest and elders took counsel and bribed the guards to

Following the resurrection of Jesus, the Chief Priest and elders took counsel and bribed the guards to say that the disciples stole the body of Jesus. According to the Gospel of Matthew, after the resurrection of Jesus, the guards who were guarding His tomb reported to the Chief Priests and elders that an angel had come and rolled away the stone from the tomb, and that Jesus had risen. The Chief Priests and elders then bribed the guards with a large sum of money, telling them to say that the disciples had come and stolen the body while they were asleep. This was an attempt to cover up the miracle of Jesus' resurrection and discredit His followers.