Mat 27:52 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 52. And the graves were opened . Graves , or sepulchres, were most commonly made, among the Jews, in solid rocks, or in caves of rocks. The rending of the rocks, therefore, would lay them open. The graves were opened by this earthquake, but the dead in them did not rise till after his resurrection. And many bodies of the saints --arose. Of course it is not known who these were, nor what became of them. It is probable that they were persons who had recently died, and they appear to have been known in Jerusalem. At least, had the ancient saints risen, they would not have been known, and would not so soon have been credited as those who had recently died. Which slept . Which had died. The death of saints is often called sleep , . (r) "And the graves" (s) "which slept"

Matthew 27:52

Verse 52. And the graves were opened. Graves, or sepulchres, were most commonly made, among the Jews, in solid rocks, or in caves of rocks. The rending of the rocks, therefore, would lay them open. The graves were opened by this earthquake, but the dead in them did not rise till after his resurrection.

And many bodies of the saints--arose. Of course it is not known who these were, nor what became of them. It is probable that they were persons who had recently died, and they appear to have been known in Jerusalem. At least, had the ancient saints risen, they would not have been known, and would not so soon have been credited as those who had recently died.

Which slept. Which had died. The death of saints is often called sleep, Dan 12:2, 1Cor 15:18, 1Thes 4:15.

(r) "And the graves" Isa 25:8, 26:19, Hoss 13:14, Jn 5:25,28 (s) "which slept" Dan 12:2, 1Thes 4:14