“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 the holy city and appeared to many.”
— Matthew 27:52–53 (AMP)
These two mysterious verses in Matthew’s Gospel capture an event almost wholly ignored elsewhere in Scripture, a literal resurrection of “many bodies of the saints” after Jesus’ resurrection. Were they physically raised? What kind of bodies did they possess? And where are they now?
“The resurrection of saints after Christ points to the harvest yet to come—the firstfruit reveals the fullness.”
To properly understand this mystery, we must examine the verse in its immediate and prophetic context, explore its Greek roots, compare Scripture with Scripture, and consider its implications in Christ and in us—His body.
A Literal Resurrection? #
The phrase “many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” uses the Greek word for resurrection: ἐγείρω (egeirō), which means “to awaken, raise up from the dead, to cause to stand.” This is not figurative. The word is consistently used for literal bodily resurrection in the New Testament.
Furthermore, these saints were seen: “they entered the holy city and appeared to many.” The Greek word for “appeared” here is ἐμφανίζω (emphanizō), meaning to be plainly seen or manifested visibly. This makes it clear: this was a literal, public event, not a private spiritual encounter.
So yes, there was a literal resurrection of saints at the time of Christ’s resurrection, just as Matthew records.
When Did They Rise? #
Note the timeline carefully:
- The tombs were opened at Christ’s death (Matthew 27:51),
- But the saints only came out after His resurrection (v. 53).
This aligns perfectly with 1 Corinthians 15:20–23:
“But now Christ has indeed been raised from the dead [Greek: egeirō], the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep… each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.”
Here, firstfruits (ἀπαρχή, aparchē) refers to the first of a harvest, presented to God, guaranteeing the full harvest to follow. Christ is the firstfruits. Those saints, raised after Him, were likely part of the same ‘firstfruit offering’—not of the general resurrection at the end, but a unique group representing what is to come.
What Kind of Bodies Did They Receive? #
This question reveals a deeper mystery: were these saints raised with mortal bodies, only to die again, like Lazarus? Or were they glorified?
Scripture gives us clues:
- Jesus is the firstfruits of them that slept, and after Him (not simultaneously), others are raised (1 Corinthians 15:20).
- The term used for them is not “dead,” but “those who had fallen asleep,” a common phrase for those in faith, awaiting resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13–16).
- Hebrews 12 speaks of a “cloud of witnesses,” surrounding us, after listing the faithful of the Old Testament in Hebrews 11.
Could these saints be that cloud of witnesses?
“Christ in us is the hope of glory—not escape from the body, but the glorification of it.”
The Cloud of Witnesses and the Ascension #
Hebrews 12:1 says:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”
These are not angels but human saints, described in the preceding chapter. And they are not “dead” in the dust of the earth. They are surrounding us, witnessing, even as the great race of faith continues.
Now, Daniel 7 shows us a mysterious vision:
“I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.” (Daniel 7:13)
Who are these clouds accompanying the Son to the Father?
Could it be that after His resurrection, Jesus ascended with these raised saints—a prophetic foreshadowing of the future harvest? He, the Head, and they, a firstfruits company—a forerunner of the fullness of resurrection yet to come.
Objection: “Isn’t Christ in Us Enough? Why Expect a Bodily Resurrection?” #
Some today say, “Christ in us is enough—we don’t need a future bodily resurrection. It’s all spiritual.” But Scripture never separates the spiritual from the bodily. Resurrection affirms our full union in Christ—spirit, soul, and body.
Let’s consider this:
| Term | Original Language | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Resurrection | Greek: ἀνάστασις (anastasis) | “A standing up again,” i.e., a physical rising from the dead. |
| Body | Greek: σῶμα (sōma) | The complete physical body, not a spiritual metaphor. |
| Flesh | Hebrew: בָּשָׂר (basar) | Human, bodily substance—what God redeems and glorifies. |
Romans 8:11 makes it clear:
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ… will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit…” (AMP)
And Philippians 3:21:
“The cloud of witnesses are not shadows, but saints who walked with God and now surround us.”
“He will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body…”
So yes, Christ in us is our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)—but that glory includes the transformation of our bodies into the image of His. Union with Christ does not remove the resurrection—it guarantees it.
Why Is Matthew 27:52–53 Not Mentioned Elsewhere? #
This is a fair question. Why doesn’t Mark, Luke, or John mention such a dramatic event?
Because it was prophetic, not programmatic.
Matthew’s Gospel is Jewish in emphasis, written to highlight Jesus as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. By including this event, Matthew shows that Christ’s resurrection triggered the beginning of the end—the start of the harvest.
The other Gospels had different focuses. But the silence of the others does not invalidate Matthew’s testimony. Every Word is established by God.
Summary #
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Event | Saints rose from the dead |
| Timing | After Christ’s resurrection, not before |
| Nature of Body | Glorified, as part of the firstfruit offering |
| Biblical Language | Uses literal Greek terms for bodily resurrection |
| Where They Went | Ascended with Christ to the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13) |
| Spiritual Role | As the “cloud of witnesses” of Hebrews 12:1 |
| Doctrinal Implication | Bodily resurrection is part of our full inheritance in Christ |
Final Thought #
This mysterious resurrection shows us that resurrection is not an abstract doctrine—it is a living promise, already begun in Christ, and extending to all who are His. These saints point us to the hope we share: that our faith is not in vain, our body is not disposable, and our salvation is not just spiritual—it is total.
“As He is, so are we in this world.”
— 1 John 4:17
In Christ,
Shaliach.
