He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus is word-for-word the same as the Lukan text (23.52). Mark is similar to this point, but he adds an incident not included in the other accounts (15.44-45a).

The response to Joseph’s request is stated in a concise and straightforward manner: Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. In the Greek text neither the direct object it nor the indirect object to him is expressed, though for English readers it is necessary to provide both. For some languages it may be obligatory to be even more precise and supply “the body of Jesus” where Revised Standard Version has it, and “to Joseph” in place of to him. For another example of Matthew’s conciseness of style, see verse 31. It was customary for the Romans to leave a crucified body on the cross until it rotted, but on occasion a corpse would be granted to relatives or friends upon request.

The construction ordered it to be given to him may better be “gave orders that they should give it to him.”

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 .