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
Arabic version indeed reads, "after their own resurrection"; and
the Ethiopic version, "after they were raised"; both wrong, and
scarcely sense:
and went into the holy city;
the city of Jerusalem, which though now a very wicked city, was
so called, because of the temple, and the worship of God, and his
residence in it: the burying places of the Jews were without the
city F1, and therefore these risen saints,
are said to go into it:
and appeared unto many;
of their friends and acquaintance, who had personally known them,
and conversed with them in their lifetime. These saints, I
apprehend, continued on earth until our Lord's ascension, and
then joining the retinue of angels, went triumphantly with him to
heaven, as trophies of his victory over sin, Satan, death, and
the grave.