Matthew 27:51-53

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 27:50-56

We have here, at length, an account of the death of Christ, and several remarkable passages that attended it. I. The manner how he breathed his last (Matt. 27:50); between the third and the sixth hour, that is, between nine and twelve o?clock, as we reckon, he was nailed to the cross, and soon after the ninth hour, that is, between three and four o?clock in the afternoon, he died. That was the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, and the time when the paschal lamb was killed; and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 27:51-56

27:51-56 And, look you, the veil of the Temple was rent in two from top to bottom, and the earth was shaken, and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened, and the bodies of many of God's dedicated ones were raised, and they came out of the tombs after his resurrection and came into the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and those who were watching Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, and they were exceedingly afraid. "Truly," they said, "this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:51

And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain ,.... Just at the time that Christ spake with so loud a voice, and expired, and which was at the time of the offering up of the evening incense; and so must be seen by the priest that was then offering, and those that assisted him, for the incense altar was near the vail; and which must be a very astonishing sight unto them: the vail was of a very great thickness; it was made of fine twined linen, Exodus 26:31 , and it is a rule with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:52

And the graves were opened ,.... Which were near the city of Jerusalem: this was a proof of Christ's power over death and the grave, by dying; when he through death, destroyed him that had the power of it, and abolished death itself; and became the plague of death and the destruction of the grave, taking into his hands the keys of hell and death: and many bodies of saints which slept, arose : not that they arose at the time of Christ's death: the graves were opened then, when the earth... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:53

And came out of the graves after his resurrection ,.... The resurrection of Christ; for he rose as the first fruits, as the first begotten of the dead, and the firstborn from the dead; for he was the first that was raised to an immortal life; for though others were raised before him, by himself, and in the times of the prophets, yet to a mortal life; but these saints came forth to the resurrection of life, and therefore it was necessary that Christ the first fruits, should rise first. The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:51

The veil of the temple was rent - That is, the veil which separated the holy place, where the priests ministered, from the holy of holies, into which the high priest only entered, and that once a year, to make a general expiation for the sins of the people. This rending of the veil was emblematical, and pointed out that the separation between Jews and Gentiles was now abolished, and that the privilege of the high priest was now communicated to all mankind: All might henceforth have access to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:52

And the graves were opened - By the earthquake; and many bodies of saints which slept, i.e. were dead, sleep being a common expression for death in the Scriptures. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:53

And came out of the graves after his resurrection - Not Before, as some have thought, for Christ was himself the First Fruits of them who slept, 1 Corinthians 15:20 . The graves were opened at his death, by the earthquake, and the bodies came out at his resurrection. And appeared unto many - Thus establishing the truth of our Lord's resurrection in particular, and of the resurrection of the body in general, by many witnesses. Quesnel's reflections on these passages may be very useful. ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:51

Verse 51 51.And, lo, the veil of the temple was rent. When Luke blends the rending of the veil with the eclipse of the sun, he inverts the order; for the Evangelists, as we have frequently seen, are not careful to mark every hour with exactness. Nor was it proper that the veil should be rent, until the sacrifice of expiation had been completed; for then Christ, the true and everlasting Priest, having abolished the figures of the law, opened up for us by his blood the way to the heavenly... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:52

Verse 52 52And graves were opened. This was also a striking miracle, by which God declared that his Son entered into the prison of death, not to continue to be shut up there, but to bring out all who were held captive. For at the very time when the despicable weakness of the flesh was beheld in the person of Christ, the magnificent and divine energy of his death penetrated even to hell. This is the reason why, when he was about to be shut up in a sepulcher, other sepulchers were opened by him.... read more

Group of Brands