What is the significance of the dead saints rising from the dead?

In Matthew 27:52-53 we see in the middle of the events surrounding the death of Christ that saints that were dead rose again and went throughout Jerusalem and appeared to many people.  While this event is described at this point, it actually took place after the resurrection of Christ.  In verse 53 we see the phrase “after his resurrection,” indicating that this happened after Christ rose from the dead.  This is important because these were witnesses that Christ is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead.  This was another sign to the leaders of Israel that Jesus was the Son of God, which was ignored just like all the others.