Which graves were opened when Jesus died in Matthew 27:52?
The graves opened were some of those in the area of Jerusalem, not all graves. They contained many bodies of the saints—Jewish believers who had been buried near Jerusalem. The context notes they came out of the graves after His resurrection, not before, preserving Christ as the firstfruits of resurrection.
Les explains that at the crucifixion, verse 51 describes the veil of the temple being rent, the earth quaking, and the rocks being rent, as all of nature responded convulsively to Christ's death on Calvary. Then verse 52 says the graves in the area of Jerusalem were opened—not all of them, but some of them—and many bodies of the saints came forth. Les points out that "saints" is a general term for believers in any age: believing Israelites, believers during Christ's earthly ministry, believers during the Acts period, Church-period believers, and those saved during the tribulation. Here, they were Jewish believers buried in the area of Jerusalem. Les emphasizes that they came out of the graves after His resurrection, because if they had come out before Christ was resurrected, it would have disrupted the whole plan of God that Christ was the firstfruits of resurrection.
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
More Questions
When did the saints rise from their graves in Matthew 27?
The saints whose graves opened around the crucifixion did not come out until after Jesus' resurrection, because He had to be the first to be resurrected.
Who are the 'saints' mentioned in Matthew 27:52?
The 'saints' whose bodies came out of the graves in Matthew 27:52 are not a special class but a general term for believers of any age, including believing Israelites, believers in Christ's earthly ministry, Acts-period believers, Church-period believers, and tribulation believers.