They is translated “The guards” by Good News Translation, a technique adopted also by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant, and Bijbel in Gewone Taal.

As they were directed (Good News Translation “what they were told to do”) is transformed into a nonpersonal construction by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch: “as one had told them to do.” One may also translate by supplying the agent of the passive verb: “what the chief priests had told them to do.”

This story has been spread among the Jews to this day refers to the events of verses 11b-14. One must avoid the implication that this story includes as well the information that the soldiers took the money and did as they were told (verse 15a). In some cases it is helpful to say “this story about Jesus’ disciples stealing his body” or “this story they told.”

Spread is the same verb used in 9.31.

Among the Jews: Revised Standard Version translates the Greek prepositional phrase as indicating location, but it may also carry the meaning of instrument (Good News Translation “by the Jews”); in the final analysis the meaning is the same.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .