Matthew 27:50-56

27:50 Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 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.) 27:54 Now when the centurion ⁶  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!” 27:55 Many ⁷  women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support ⁸  were also there, watching from a distance. 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Mark 15:37-41

15:37 But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last. 15:38 And the temple curtain ⁹  was torn in two, from top to bottom. 15:39 Now when the centurion, ¹⁰  who stood in front of him, saw how he died, ¹¹  he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 15:40 There were also women, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, ¹²  and Salome. 15:41 When he was in Galilee, they had followed him and given him support. ¹³  Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem ¹⁴  were there too.

John 19:30

19:30 When ¹⁵  he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” ¹⁶  Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. ¹⁷ 

[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.

[27:54]  ⁶ sn See the note on the word centurion in Matt 8:5.

[27:55]  ⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:55]  ⁸ tn Grk “and ministered to him.”

[15:38]  ⁹ 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.

[15:39]  ¹⁰ sn A centurion was a noncommissioned officer in the Roman army or one of the auxiliary territorial armies, commanding a centuria of (nominally) 100 men. The responsibilities of centurions were broadly similar to modern junior officers, but there was a wide gap in social status between them and officers, and relatively few were promoted beyond the rank of senior centurion. The Roman troops stationed in Judea were auxiliaries, who would normally be rewarded with Roman citizenship after 25 years of service. Some of the centurions may have served originally in the Roman legions (regular army) and thus gained their citizenship at enlistment. Others may have inherited it, like Paul.

[15:39]  ¹¹ tn Grk “the way he breathed his last”; or “the way he expired”; or “that he thus breathed no more.”

[15:40]  ¹² sn In Matt 27:56 the name Joses is written as Joseph.

[15:41]  ¹³ tn Grk “and ministered to him.”

[15:41]  ¹⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[19:30]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “Then when.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated for stylistic reasons.

[19:30]  ¹⁶ tn Or “It is accomplished,” “It is finished,” or “It is ended.” See tn on John 13:1.

[19:30]  ¹⁷ tn Or “he bowed his head and died”; Grk “he bowed his head and gave over the spirit.”