Matthew 27 53

Matthew 27:53 kjv

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Matthew 27:53 nkjv

and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 27:53 niv

They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Matthew 27:53 esv

and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 27:53 nlt

They left the cemetery after Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 53 Meaning

Matthew 27:53 describes an extraordinary event that occurred after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It states that numerous saints, whose bodies had been raised from their tombs following Jesus' crucifixion, then emerged from these tombs subsequent to His own resurrection. These reanimated individuals entered Jerusalem, often referred to as "the holy city," and physically appeared to a considerable number of people, bearing silent witness to the triumph over death initiated by Jesus.

Matthew 27 53 Context

This verse is situated immediately after the description of Jesus' death on the cross and the immediate supernatural phenomena that accompanied it: the tearing of the temple veil, an earthquake, and the splitting of rocks. Matthew 27:52 details that the tombs were opened and bodies of saints were raised at the moment of Jesus' death. Verse 53 clarifies a crucial detail: these newly-reanimated saints did not emerge from their tombs and enter the city until after Jesus Himself had risen from the dead. This specific timing emphasizes the foundational role of Christ's resurrection as the very source and firstfruits of new life, paving the way for any other resurrection. The historical context shows Jerusalem as the spiritual and physical center of Judaism, the place where God's presence was believed to dwell, and where Jesus' crucifixion took place. The appearance of resurrected saints within this city served as an undeniable, public, and profoundly symbolic validation of Jesus' victory over death precisely where His defeat had been outwardly perceived.

Matthew 27 53 Word analysis

• "And coming out" (καὶ ἐξελθόντες - kai exelthontes): An active participle, indicating a distinct action of exit. This emphasizes a physical departure from the graves, not merely a spiritual phenomenon.
• "of the tombs" (ἐκ τῶν μνημείων - ek tōn mnēmeiōn): Literally "out of the memorial places" or "graves." This denotes the physical resting places of the dead, reinforcing the reality of their prior death and burial.
• "after His resurrection" (μετὰ τὴν ἔγερσιν αὐτοῦ - meta tēn egersin autou): This phrase is critical.
  • Meta (μετὰ): "after." Defines the temporal sequence.
  • Ēgersin (ἔγερσιν): "raising, arousal, resurrection." Specifically refers to Jesus' return to life. This explicitly links their coming forth to Christ's prior triumph over death, indicating His resurrection was the cause or prerequisite for theirs.
• "they went" (εἰσῆλθον - eisēlthon): A simple past tense verb, meaning "they entered." This implies purposeful movement and entry.
• "into the holy city" (εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν πόλιν - eis tēn hagian polin):
  • Hagian (ἁγίαν): "holy, sacred." A standard epithet for Jerusalem, signifying its consecrated status as God's chosen city (e.g., Neh 11:1; Isa 52:1).
  • Polin (πόλιν): "city." Referring to Jerusalem, where the crucifixion took place, making the public appearance even more poignant.
• "and appeared" (καὶ ἐνεφανίσθησαν - kai enephanisthēsan): A passive verb, meaning "they were manifested" or "they were made visible." This signifies that their appearance was not a hallucination or mere vision, but a real, discernible, and undeniable presence. It could imply God caused them to be seen, or they intentionally revealed themselves.
• "to many" (πολλοῖς - pollois): Emphasizes that this was not a private or isolated event, but witnessed by a significant number of people, thereby providing ample corroboration.

Words-group analysis:

• "coming out of the tombs after His resurrection": This highlights the immediate, physical consequence of Christ's victory over death. It demonstrates that Jesus' resurrection had real, tangible power over death, breaking its hold on others, and establishes His precedence as the "firstfruits" (1 Cor 15:20) in time.
• "they went into the holy city and appeared to many": The specific choice of Jerusalem ("the holy city") as the place of their appearance carries immense symbolic weight. It signifies a public display of God's power in the very heart of the nation that witnessed and largely rejected Jesus. Their appearing "to many" reinforces the verifiable nature of the miracle, serving as an attestation of Christ's resurrection and God's ultimate plan of new life. It represents a dramatic physical manifestation of spiritual truth.

Matthew 27 53 Bonus section

• This event emphasizes the bodily nature of resurrection; these were "bodies" of the saints that were raised and appeared, reinforcing the New Testament doctrine of physical resurrection.
• Though not explained further in the New Testament, some scholars suggest these resurrected saints might have ascended to heaven with Jesus, symbolizing the breaking of Hades' power and the opening of heaven to believers. Others posit they remained for a period to minister and testify.
• The incident may serve as a "mini-harvest" or "firstfruits" within the larger context of Christ's own "firstfruits" resurrection, showing the immediate redemptive power of the Cross and Empty Tomb.
• The "saints" here represent a class of God's faithful, potentially signifying those who, having died under the Old Covenant, were now experiencing the benefits of the New Covenant's inaugurated power through Christ's work.
• This verse contributes to understanding the dramatic theological significance of the crucifixion-resurrection continuum, demonstrating how Christ's death impacts the living, the dead, and the very fabric of creation.

Matthew 27 53 Commentary

Matthew 27:53 details a singular and profound miracle unique to Matthew's Gospel, immediately following Jesus' crucifixion and His own subsequent resurrection. This event functions as a divine seal upon the cosmic significance of Christ's triumph over death. It vividly illustrates that Jesus' resurrection was not merely a spiritual event, but one with tangible, physical implications for all humanity. The rising of these "saints"—likely pious Old Testament believers—serves as an "earnest," a first installment, of the general resurrection promised for all believers. It acts as irrefutable proof, a dramatic performance by God Himself, showcasing the power that shatters the dominion of death and Hades. Their public appearances in Jerusalem offered direct, physical testimony to the profound reality of Jesus' own victory and the opening of the way to eternal life. This unparalleled occurrence provides a glimpse into the future promise of resurrected bodies and life eternal in the presence of God.