Matthew 28:11-15

11 Meanwhile, the guards had scattered, but a few of them went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened.
12 They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers,
13 bribing them to say, "His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping."
14 They assured them, "If the governor hears about your sleeping on duty, we will make sure you don't get blamed."
15 The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told. That story, cooked up in the Jewish High Council, is still going around.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.