Matthew 27:51-53

27:51 Just then ¹  the temple curtain ²  was torn in two, from top to bottom. The ³  earth shook and the rocks were split apart. 27:52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died ⁴  were raised. 27:53 (They ⁵  came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.)

Acts 16:26

16:26 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds ⁶  of all the prisoners came loose.

Revelation 11:19

11:19 Then ⁷  the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, ⁸  crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. ⁹ 

[27:51]  ¹ tn Grk “And behold.”

[27:51]  ² 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. It also pictures a judgment that includes the sacrifices.

[27:51]  ³ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[27:52]  ⁴ tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaw) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer.

[27:53]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

[16:26]  ⁶ tn Or perhaps, “chains.” The translation of τὰ δεσμά (ta desma) is to some extent affected by the understanding of ξύλον (xulon, “stocks”) in v. 24. It is possible (as mentioned in L&N 18.12) that this does not mean “stocks” but a block of wood (a log or wooden column) in the prison to which prisoners’ feet were chained or tied.

[11:19]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence on events within the vision.

[11:19]  ⁸ tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”

[11:19]  ⁹ tn Although BDAG 1075 s.v. χάλαζα gives the meaning “hail” here, it is not clear whether the adjective μεγάλη (megalh) refers to the intensity of the storm or the size of the individual hailstones, or both.