midnight
The lantern would not cast any suspicion upon him . But he had done well to refrain from closing the sepulchre with the stone , for the story of the resurrection would rise out of the empty tomb , and though there were many among the Jews who would not believe the story , few would have the courage to inquire into the truth of a miracle . A faint smile gathered on his lips , and he began to wonder what the expression would be on the faces of Martha and Mary when they came to him on the morrow with the news that Jesus had risen from the dead . He said to himself that they would start at dawn , and getting to the sepulchre soon after three , and finding it empty , would come running to him , and , so that himself might open the gate to them , he ordered his watch -LRB- it should have ended by midnight -RRB- to continue till four o'clock . And , sitting by the sick man 's side , he listened expectant for the hush that comes at the end of night . At last it fell upon his ear . The women are on their way to the sepulchre , he said , and in about an hour and a half I 'll hear the bell clang .