It was not unguarded. It was guarded by an elite Roman military unit.
> It was not unguarded. It was guarded by an elite Roman military unit.
Indeed? OK, let's see what Matthew has to say:
28:11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
28:12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
28:13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
Now, if'n I'm reading this correctly, these *elite* Roman soldiers are being told to claim to have been bribed to say that the disciples of Christ swiped his corpse while they SLEPT.
Ummm... what was the punishment for sleeping at your post in the Roman military? Much less admitting to it and/or admitting to taking bribes?
Second: WHEN were these soliders posted? Again, calling on Matthew:
27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
27:61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Note 27:62: Now the next day....
NEXT DAY. In other words, unguarded for a night.
So, again: what's impossible about swiping a body from an unguarded tomb? Especially when the "elite" guards could have been bought off and apparently didn't think to much to admitting to beign asleep on the job.