Matthew 27:50-56
New English Translation
50 Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 51 Just then[a] the temple curtain[b] was torn in two, from top to bottom. The[c] earth shook and the rocks were split apart. 52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died[d] were raised. 53 (They[e] came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.) 54 Now when the centurion[f] and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!” 55 Many[g] women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support[h] were also there, watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 27:51 tn Grk “And behold.”
- Matthew 27:51 tn The referent of this term, καταπέτασμα (katapetasma), is not entirely clear. It could refer to the curtain separating the holy of holies from the holy place (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.5 [5.219]), or it could refer to one at the entrance of the temple court (Josephus, J. W. 5.5.4 [5.212]). Many argue that the inner curtain is meant because another term, κάλυμμα (kalumma), is also used for the outer curtain. Others see a reference to the outer curtain as more likely because of the public nature of this sign. Either way, the symbolism means that access to God has been opened up.
- Matthew 27:51 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Matthew 27:52 tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaō) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer.
- Matthew 27:53 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Matthew 27:54 sn See the note on the word centurion in Matt 8:5.
- Matthew 27:55 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 27:55 tn Grk “and ministered to him.”sn Cf. Luke 8:3.
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