Nevertheless, many, even among the authorities, believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not acknowledge it openly in order not to be expelled from the synagogue.
Whom did you dread and fear, that you told lies, And me you did not remember nor take to heart? Am I to keep silent and conceal, while you show no fear of me?
Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word! Your kin who hate you and cast you out because of my name say, “May the Lord show his glory, that we may see your joy”; but they shall be put to shame.
King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judahites who have deserted to the Chaldeans; I could be handed over to them, and they will mistreat me.”
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.”
But many of the crowd began to believe in him, and said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man has done?” Officers Sent to Arrest Jesus.
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue.