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Matthew 27 · a question people ask

When Jesus died, "many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" (27:52). Who were they, and what became of them?

In the text

Matthew tells it in a few words and no more: "The earth quaked and the rocks were split" (27:51). "The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" (27:52), "and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many" (27:53). Matthew doesn't name them, say how many they were, or say what became of them after they appeared. These notes give no explanation of these verses and set no other passage beside them.

The verses

“Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.”
Matthew 27:51-53 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 27

Matthew 27: Innocent blood

Judas said, "I betrayed innocent blood" (27:4), and Pilate said, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person" (27:24). In the Greek the WEB translates, innocent is the same word in both, and the New Testament has it nowhere else. Then the centurion and those with him said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (27:54).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions