ACC ~ Matthew 27 v53 - 54

COMING OUT OF THE TOMBS

APOLLINARIS: The raising up of the saints’ bodies was announcing that the death of Christ was actually the cause of life. They certainly were not made visible prior to the Lord’s resurrection, since it was necessary that the resurrection of the Savior first be made known. Then those raised through him were seen. It is plain that they have died again, having risen from the dead in order to be a sign. For it was not possible for only some of the firstborn from the dead to be raised to the life of the age to come, but the remainder [must be raised] in the same manner. Now Luke says that the crowd passing by “beat their breasts and went away.” [1] Thus the divine superiority did not escape the notice of the Jews, either in the Passion itself or in the obscurity of the Savior. But habitual human forgetfulness held them fast, and the deceit of the teachers led many astray. FRAGMENT 144. [2]

[1] Lk 23:48.

[2] MKGK 51.

TRULY THE SON OF GOD

JEROME: Another Gospel [1] demonstrates more clearly the cause of the centurion’s astonishment after the shaking of the earth. It wasn’t until after he had seen Christ give up the spirit that he said, “Truly this was the Son of God,” for no one has the power to give up the spirit except he who is the Creator of souls. Here we can understand “soul” for “spirit” because the soul animates the body and makes it spiritual and because the spirit is the substance of the soul itself, as it is written: “You take away their spirits and they cease to be.” [2] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 4.27.54. [3]

[1] Lk 23:47.

[2] Ps 104:29 (103:29 LXX).

[3] CCL 77:276.