Matthew 27:53

Matthew 27:53

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

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

b. NIV:  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and  went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

c. YLT: and having come forth out of the tombs after his rising, they went into the holy city, and appeared to many.

d. Amplified Bible: And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

e. A.S. Worrell Translation: and, coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.

1. “And came out of the graves after his resurrection…”

a. came [1831 * exerchomai; ek-out; erchomai-to go or come] [Strong: to issue (literally or figuratively):--come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad.]

b. out of [1537 * ek] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.]

c. graves [3419 * mnemeion] [Strong: a remembrance, i.e. cenotaph (place of interment):--grave, sepulchre, tomb.]

d. resurrection [1454 * egersis] [Strong: a resurgence (from death):--resurrection.]

2. “…and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”

a. went [1525 * eiserchomai] [Strong: to enter (literally or figuratively):--X arise, come (in, into), enter in(-to), go in (through).]

b. holy [40 * hagios] [Strong: sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.]

c. city [4172 * polis] [Strong:  a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size):--city.]

d. appeared [1718 * ] [Strong: to exhibit (in person) or disclose (by words):--appear, declare (plainly), inform, (will) manifest, shew, signify.]

e. many [4183 * polys] [Strong: including the forms from the alternate pollos; (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely:--abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly.]

1). Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown Commentary: “and appeared unto many--that there might be undeniable evidence of their own resurrection first, and through it of their Lord's. Thus, while it was not deemed fitting that He Himself should appear again in Jerusalem, save to the disciples, provision was made that the fact of His resurrection should be left in no doubt. It must be observed, however, that the resurrection of these sleeping saints was not like those of the widow of Nain's son, of Jairus' daughter, of Lazarus, and of the man who "revived and stood upon his feet," on his dead body touching the bones of Elisha (2 Kings 13:21) --which were mere temporary recallings of the departed spirit to the mortal body, to be followed by a final departure of it "till the trumpet shall sound." But this was a resurrection once for all, to life everlasting; and so there is no room to doubt that they went to glory with their Lord, as bright trophies of His victory over death.”

2). What a testimony to the people in Jerusalem. The previous verse said many came out of the ground and this verse says “appeared unto many”. There were many people in Jerusalem who encountered dead friends and relatives who had been raised from the dead when Jesus was raised from the dead. Remember our verse in Isaiah.

a). Isaiah 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they rise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

3). Think about that powerful moment for a while. You are walking down the streets of Jerusalem and you begin to see friends and family members who had died, some recently and some perhaps not. You and others are encountering these previously deceased persons and these raised persons are declaring that they came out of the grave because of the Messiah Jesus was raised first. Glory to God! What probably happened to these persons is that 40 days later, when Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9, 10). They ascended with Him.