After the chief priests had met with the elders, and worked out a plan, they bribed the soldiers with a great deal of money.
“Say that his disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping,” they told the soldiers. “And if the governor hears about this, we'll talk to him and you won't have to worry.”
So the soldiers took the money and did what they were told. This story has been spread among the Jewish people to this very day.