Joseph of Arimathea

 Joseph of Arimathea in Judea

In the aftermath of the crucifixion the apostles, led by Peter, began to actively seek converts. 

What followed is related in the bible;-

"There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison." - Acts 5: 16-18

"In AD 38 a centralised Nazarene authority was well established in Jerusalem.. 'The Early Church' .. It's most famous member was of course Peter. It's official head, however, conspicuously neglected by later tradition, was Jesus' brother Jacob, known subsequently as Saint James, or James the Just. ***** By this time, the Magdalene, the Virgin and others of those close to Jesus had disappeared, and there is no further mention of them in scriptural accounts. It is certainly reasonable to suppose that later assertions are correct and that they sought refuge in exile. ****** What is significant, however, is that it is not Peter, but Jesus' brother James who presides over the 'Church' in Jerusalem. Quite clearly, some principle of dynastic succession is at work". from 'The Messianic Legacy'

At this time there were also a series of missions expanding along the Hebrew - Phoenician trade routes.

'The main theory is of Hebrew or Hebrew- Phoenician missions extending from Palestine to all the old Phoenician colonies in the very earliest years of Christendom of missions conducted by the inner circle of disciples who were brought into immediate contact with Jesus at Capernaum and Jerusalem: men and women who were well known to have been the followers of Jesus, and who therefore, in common with Lazarus (John 12:10-11) and with Saul (Acts 9:23), went about in danger of their lives, and were forced to escape from Jerusalem at the earliest opportunity.' from the coming of the saints p15. 

'But rumour, which is swifter than the wind, swiftly brought the news to the Jews, who were by no means delighted but rather were deeply dejected. Among themselves they held a council in order to banish Joseph and expel him from the land, and they informed him at once that he must depart because of his crime, he and all his friends, and also Nicodemus, who was a marvellously wise man, and a sister of his.' from Perceval

Herod Herod Agrippa I began his crackdown on the early church when the Jewish Christians in Antioch sent assistance to Jews in Judea beleaguered by the Romans.

"And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John [not James the Righteous] with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. " - Acts 11:27-03, 12:1-3

Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Restitutus must all have known each other in Jerusalem and been known to and known Jesus &c.

'St. Barnabas, Aristobulus his brother, and Joseph were members of the Jerusalem church - they were of the one hundred and twenty which constituted it prior to the day of Pentecost.' from Paul in Britain. 

'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in [or 'into' see Acts 8:16; 19:5; Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 1:13; 10:2 and Galatians 3:27] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' - Matthew 28:19-20

If we accept, and there seems no reason to doubt, the existence of the historical Jesus then there is every reason to believe that the people who knew him and cared for him, would honour his memory after they fled from the continuing persecution by the Romans. There can be no denying that when the gospels were written it was necessary to play down the role of Rome in the death of Jesus. This was accomplished by blaming it on his fellow Jews and whitewashing the Roman administration. The Jewish people had been fighting for their independence in a war which only partially ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the forcible removal of the majority of the Jewish people (early 60s AD).

By AD 54-5, militant activity had again assumed epidemic proportions. ***** At last, around AD 62-5, James, head of the Nazarene party in Jerusalem, was seized and executed.... Once again, a dynastic principle of succession seems to have obtained among the Nazarenes. On James' death his place was taken by Simeon, who is identified as a cousin of Jesus.... Around AD 65, Simeon led the Nazarenes out of the Holy City. They are said to have established their headquarters at the town of Pella, north of Jerusalem. (Eisenman suggests Sela an unidentified location.) .....In the Spring of AD 66 serious fighting broke out in Caesera. Shortly after, Roman troops ran amok in Jerusalem, murdering all Jews they could find including women and children .rendered open war inevitable ... from 'The Messianic Legacy'

from Eusebius 'there still survived of the Lord's family the grandson's of Jude, who was said to be His brother, humanly speaking......' Eusebius also reports that the Desposyni - the descendants of Jesus' family and possibly of Jesus' himself - survived to become leaders of various Christian churches, ...a strict dynastic succession.' from 'The Messianic Legacy'

'By the second century, Nazarene thought was already being branded as a form of heresy ...... despite being repudiated, condemned and persecuted, Nazarene teachings continued to survive, for much longer than is generally suspected ... from 'The Messianic Legacy'

 ....talking of early texts ... 'it appears to reflect a tradition dating, without a break, back to the original Nazarene hierarchy which fled Jerusalem immediately prior to the revolt of AD 66.' from 'The Messianic Legacy'

Joseph of Arimathea disappears from the Gospels after AD 35-36, not only Joseph but Mary Magdalene and the others who are all mentioned as having been close to Jesus

"It is certainly reasonable to suppose that later assertions are correct and that they sought refuge in exile." from 'The Messianic Legacy'