Desert Berean writing " It even says in Mark that Pilate sent for the centurion to confirm that Jesus was dead. Is the centurion going to lie to the one who could have him punished for lying to him?" is answered in Mark 15:45 that says" after he confirmed, Pilate gave his body:
Nowhere Mark mentions that he confirmed he was dead. All Mark 15:45 says is "after he confirmed." What he confirmed is unmentioned by the Centurion.
The answer to your question "And what about the Jews asking him for a guard on the tomb? Why didn't he say, "Don't be silly" if he didn't believe Jesus was dead?" is that Jews asked for a guard after Jesus tomb was unguarded for a day as Mathhew 27:62 says " The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate."
Nowhere Mark mentions that he confirmed he was dead. All Mark 15:45 says is "after he confirmed." What he confirmed is unmentioned by the Centurion.
The answer to your question "And what about the Jews asking him for a guard on the tomb? Why didn't he say, "Don't be silly" if he didn't believe Jesus was dead?" is that Jews asked for a guard after Jesus tomb was unguarded for a day as Mathhew 27:62 says " The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate."
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