Resurrected People

"RESURRECTIONS FROM THE DEAD"
Accounts of human resurrections throughout the centuries

In this “Resurrection Season” or “Easter Season”, which is also a “Season of Faith”, there is no better way to strengthen our Faith than to look at the numerous miraculous resurrections that God has performed through His saints over the centuries ― whether it be in the Old Testament, or by the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ in the New Testament, or over the course of the centuries since those times. Follow these “Resurrection Season” accounts of some wonderful Faith strengthening manifestations of the power of God working through His saints.

PART 1
OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT RESURRECTIONS

BELOW: Elias raises from the dead the son of the widow of Sarephta

While Jesus is the only person ever to rise from the dead through His own power, there were other persons in the Bible who were miraculously brought back to life by God. These resurrections foreshadow that final resurrection of all persons at the end of time, giving us hope that death will be no more and our tears will finally be wiped away.

Before we embark on an examination of these Biblical resurrections, here is a list of these miraculous resurrections, both from the Old Testament and the four Gospels.

(1) The Dead Son of the Widow of Sarephta is brought back to life by Elias [Elijah] (3 Kings 17:17-24).
(2) The Dead Son of the Sunamite Woman is brought back to life by Eliseus [Elisha] (4 Kings 4:17-38).
(3) A Man is brought back to life at the Tomb of the Prophet Eliseus [Elisha] (4 Kings 13:20–21).
(4) The Widow of Nain’s Dead Son is brought back to life by Jesus (Luke 7:11-16).
(5) The Dead Daughter of Jairus is brought back to life by Jesus (Luke 8:52-55)
(6) Lazarus, the Dead Brother of Martha and Mary, is raised from the dead and brought back life by Jesus (John 11:1-45).
(7) Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) was raised from the dead and brought back to life by St. Peter (Acts 9:36–42).
(8) Eutychus is raised from the dead and brought back to life by St. Paul (Acts 20:6–12).
(9) Many bodies were raised from the dead and brought back to life after the death and resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 27:50-53).

(1) The Dead Son of the Widow of Sarephta is brought back to life by Elias [Elijah]
(3 Kings 17:17-24).

“And it came to pass after this that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick, and the sickness was very grievous, so that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elias [Elijah]: ‘What have I to do with thee, thou man of God?’ Art thou come to me that my iniquities should be remembered, and that thou shouldst kill my son?’ And Elias said to her: ‘Give me thy son!’ And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him into the upper chamber where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried to the Lord, and said: ‘O Lord my God! Hast thou afflicted also the widow, with whom I am after a so maintained, so as to kill her son?’ And he stretched and measured himself upon the child three times, and cried to the Lord, and said: ‘O Lord my God! Let the soul of this child, I beseech thee, return into his body!’ And the Lord heard the voice of Elias and the soul of the child returned into him, and he revived. And Elias took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber to the house below, and delivered him to his mother, and said to her: ‘Behold thy son liveth!’ And the woman said to Elias: ‘Now, by this, I know that thou art a man of God, and the word of the Lord in thy mouth is true!’” (1 Kings 17:17-24).

(2) The Dead Son of the Sunamite Woman is brought back to life by Eliseus [Elisha]
(4 Kings 4:17-38).

“And there was a day when Eliseus passed by Sunam. Now there was a great woman there, who detained him to eat bread―and, as he passed often that way, he turned into her house to eat bread. And she said to her husband: ‘I perceive that this is a holy man of God, who often passeth by us! Let us therefore make him a little chamber, and put a little bed in it for him, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick, that when he cometh to us, he may abide there!’

“Now there was a certain day when he came and turned in to the chamber, and rested there. And he said to Giezi his servant ‘Call this Sunamitess!’ And when he had called her, and she stood before him, he said to his servant: ‘Say to her: “Behold thou hast diligently served us in all things, what wilt thou have me to do for thee? Hast thou any business, and wilt thou that I speak to the king, or to the general of the army?”’ And she answered: ‘I dwell in the midst of my own people!’ And he said: ‘What will she then that I do for her?’ And Giezi said: ‘Do not ask, for she hath no son, and her husband is old!’ Then he bid him call her. And when she was called, and stood before the door, he said to her: ‘At this time, and this same hour, if life accompany, thou shalt have a son in thy womb!’ But she answered: ‘Do not, I beseech thee, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie to thy handmaid!’

“And the woman conceived, and brought forth a son in the time, and at the same hour, that Eliseus had said. And the child grew. And on a certain day, when he went out to his father to the reapers, he said to his father: ‘My head acheth, my head acheth!’ But he said to his servant: ‘Take him, and carry him to his mother!’ And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, she set him on her knees until noon, and then he died. And she went up and laid him upon the bed of the man of God, and shut the door: and going out, she called her husband, and said: ‘Send with me, I beseech thee, one of thy servants, and an ass―so that I may run to the man of God, and come again!’ And he said to her: ‘Why dost thou go to him? Today is neither new moon nor Sabbath!’ She answered: ‘I will go!’ And she saddled an ass, and commanded her servant: ‘Drive, and make haste, make no stay in going. And do that which I bid thee!’

“So she went forward, and came to the man of God to mount Carmel. And when the man of God saw her coming towards, he said to Giezi his servant: ‘Behold that Sunamitess!’ Go therefore to meet her, and say to her: ‘Is all well with thee, and with thy husband, and with thy son?’ And she answered: ‘Well!’ And when she came to the man of God to the mount, she caught hold on his feet: and Giezi came to remove her. And the man of God said: ‘Let her alone for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me!’ And she said to him: Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say to thee: “Do not deceive me?”’

“Then he said to Giezi: ‘Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go. If any man meet thee, salute him not! And if any man salute thee, answer him not! And lay my staff upon the face of the child!’ But the mother of the child said: ‘As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee!’ He arose, therefore, and followed her. But Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child, and there was no voice, nor sense. And he returned to meet him and told him, saying: ‘The child is not risen!’

“Eliseus therefore went into the house, and behold the child lay dead on his bed. And going in he shut the door upon him, and upon the child, and prayed to the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the child: and he put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he bowed himself upon him, and the child’s flesh grew warm. Then he returned and walked in the house, once to and fro: and he went up, and lay upon him. And the child gaped seven times and opened his eyes. And he called Giezi and said to him: ‘Call this Sunamitess!’ And she being called, went in to him and he said: ‘Take up thy son!’ She came and fell at his feet, and worshiped upon the ground, and took up her son, and went out. And Eliseus returned to Galgal” (4 Kings 4:8-38).

(3) A Man is brought back to life at the Tomb of the Prophet Eliseus [Elisha]
(4 Kings 13:20–21).

“And Eliseus died, and they buried him. And the rovers from Moab came into the land the same year. And some that were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the body into the sepulcher of Eliseus. And when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man came to life, and stood upon his feet” (4 Kings 13:20–21).

(4) The Widow of Nain’s Dead Son is raised from the dead and brought back to life by Jesus (Luke 7:11-16).

“And it came to pass afterwards, that Jesus went into a city that is called Naim. And there went with Him His disciples, and a great multitude. And when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother―and she was a widow and a great multitude of the city was with her. Whom, when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her, He said to her: ‘Weep not!’ And He came near and touched the bier. And they that carried it, stood still. And He said: ‘Young man! I say to thee, arise!’ And he that was dead, sat up, and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother. And there came a fear on them all. And they glorified God, saying: ‘A great prophet is risen up among us!’ and, ‘God hath visited His people!’ And this rumor of Him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the country round about” (Luke 7:11-16).

(5) The Dead Daughter of Jairus is raised from the dead and brought back to life by Jesus (Luke 8:52-55)

“Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at [Jesus], knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. (Luke 8:52-55)

(6) Lazarus, the Dead Brother of Martha and Mary, is raised from the dead and brought back life by Jesus (John 11:1-45).

“Now there was a certain man sick, named Lazarus, of Bethania, of the town of Mary and Martha her sister. And Mary was she that anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair―whose brother Lazarus was sick. His sisters therefore sent to Him, saying: ‘Lord! Behold! He whom Thou lovest is sick!’

“And Jesus hearing it, said to them: ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God―that the Son of God may be glorified by it!’ Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary, and Lazarus. When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He still remained in the same place two days. Then after that, He said to His disciples: ‘Let us go into Judea again!’ The disciples say to Him: ‘Rabbi, the Jews but now sought to stone Thee! And goest Thou there again?’ Jesus answered: ‘Are there not twelve hours of the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world! But if he walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him!’

“These things He said―and after that He said to them: ‘Lazarus our friend sleepet―but I go that I may awake him out of sleep!’ His disciples therefore said: ‘Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well!’ But Jesus spoke of his death―and they thought that He spoke of the repose of sleep. Then, therefore, Jesus said to them plainly: ‘Lazarus is dead! And I am glad―for your sakes―that I was not there, that you may believe! But let us go to him!’ Thomas, therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples: ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him!’ Jesus therefore came and found that he had already been in the grave four days.

“Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off (furlong = 200 yards, therefore 15 furlongs or 3,000 yards, is about one and three quarters of a mile, 1.75 miles). And many of the Jews were come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, as soon as she heard that Jesus had come, went to meet Him―but Mary sat at home. Martha therefore said to Jesus: ‘Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died. But now also I know that whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee!’ Jesus saith to her: ‘Thy brother shall rise again!’ Martha saith to Him: ‘I know that he shall rise again―in the resurrection at the last day!’ Jesus said to her: ‘I am the resurrection and the life! He that believeth in Me, although he be dead, shall live! And every one that liveth and believeth in Me, shall not die for ever! Believest thou this?’ She saith to Him: ‘Yes, Lord! I have believed that thou art Christ―the Son of the living God, Who art come into this world!’

“And when she had said these things, she went, and called her sister Mary, secretly, saying: ‘The Master is come, and calleth for thee!’ She, as soon as she heard this, riseth quickly, and cometh to Him. For Jesus was not yet come into the town: but He was still in that place where Martha had met Him. The Jews therefore, who were with her in the house and comforted her, when they saw Mary that she rose up speedily and went out, followed her, saying: ‘She goeth to the grave to weep there!’ When Mary, therefore, was come where Jesus was―seeing Him, she fell down at His feet and saith to Him: ‘Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died!’ Jesus, therefore, when He saw her weeping―and the Jews that were come with her―weeping, groaned in the spirit, and troubled Himself, and said: ‘Where have you laid him?’ They say to Him: ‘Lord, come and see!’ And Jesus wept.

“The Jews therefore said: ‘Behold how He loved him!’ But some of them said: ‘Could not He, that opened the eyes of the man born blind, have caused that this man should not die?’ Jesus, therefore, again groaning in Himself, cometh to the sepulcher. Now it was a cave and a stone was laid over it. Jesus saith: ‘Take away the stone!’ Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to Him: ‘Lord, by this time he stinketh―for he is now four days dead!’ Jesus saith to her: ‘Did not I say to thee, that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?’ Therefore, they took the stone away.

“And Jesus lifting up His eyes said: ‘Father, I give Thee thanks that thou hast heard Me! And I knew that Thou hearest Me always! But because of the people, who stand about, have I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me!’ When He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice: ‘Lazarus! Come forth!’ And presently, he, that had been dead, came forth, bound feet and hands with winding bands; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them: ‘Loose him, and let him go!’ Many therefore of the Jews, who were come to Mary and Martha, and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in Him” (John 11:1-45).

(7) Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) was raised from the dead and brought back to life by St. Peter (Acts 9:36–42).

“And in Joppe there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days that she was sick, and died. Whom, when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And, forasmuch as Lydda was near to Joppe, the disciples hearing that Peter was there, sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not be slack to come unto them. And Peter, rising up, went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood about him weeping and showing him the coats and garments which Dorcas made them. And they all being put forth, Peter kneeling down prayed. And turning to the body, he said: ‘Tabitha! Arise!’ And she opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, she sat up. And giving her his hand, he lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and the widows, he presented her alive. And it was made known throughout all Joppe and many believed in the Lord” (Acts 9:36–42).

(8) Eutychus is raised from the dead and brought back to life by St. Paul
(Acts 20:6–12).

“We sailed from Philippi after the days of the Azymes, and came to them to Troas in five days, where we abode seven days. And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, being to depart on the morrow. And he continued his speech until midnight. And there were a great number of lamps in the upper chamber where we were assembled. And a certain young man, named Eutychus, sitting on the window, being oppressed with a deep sleep―as Paul was long preaching―by occasion of his sleep, fell from the third loft down, and was taken up dead. To whom, when Paul had gone down, he laid himself upon him, and embracing him, said: ‘Be not troubled! For his soul is in him!’ Then, going up and breaking bread and tasting, and having talked a long time to them, until daylight, so he departed. And they brought the youth alive, and were not a little comforted” (Acts 20:6–12).

(9) Many bodies were raised from the dead and brought back to life after the death and resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 27:50-53).

“And Jesus, again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent. And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, came into the holy city, and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:50-53).