Matthew 27:66

Sealing the stone and setting a watch [σ φ ρ α γ ι σ α ν τ ε ς τ ο ν λ ι θ ο ν, μ ε τ α τ η ς κ ο υ σ τ ω δ ι α ς]. Lit., having sealed the stone with the watch. Rev., Sealing the stone, the guard being with them. This is rather awkward, but the rendering rightly corrects the A. V. The idea is that they sealed the stone in the presence of the guard, and then left them to keep watch. It would be important that the guard should witness the sealing. The sealing was performed by stretching a cord across the stone and fastening it to the rock at either end by means of sealing clay. Or, if the stone at the door happened to be fastened with a cross beam, this latter was sealed to the rock.