What did Jesus do at nain?

Answer 1

The gospel of Luke chapter 7 verses 11 through 17 tells us what He did in Nain:

11) And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12) Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13) And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14) And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15) And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

16) And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

17) And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

So to answer the question, Jesus raised a young man to life again.

Answer 2

Luke 7:10-17 tells of Jesus entering Nain at the city gate, when he saw a grieving widow accompanying her dead son being carried out. Jesus had compassion on the widow and touched the coffin, calling on the son to rise up, and he delivered him to his mother.

Scholars say there are too many parallels between this account and a similar account in 1 Kings, in which Elijah raised the widow's son from the dead. They conclude that the account of Jesus in Nain was inspired by the story of Elijah, in which case Jesus did not really raise the young man from the dead, and probably did not even visit Nain.

Some parallels between the two narratives:

• Both stories mention the “city gate” (1 Kings 17:10; Luke 7:12)
  
• Both stories concern raising the dead son of a widow (1 Kings 17:10,21-2; Luke 7:12)
  
• Both stories use the same introductory phrase, “And it came to pass” (1 Kings 17:17; Luke 7:11)
  
• Both stories use the phrase,“delivered him to his mother” (1 Kings 17:23; Luke 7:15)
  
• As a result of these miracles, Elijah and Jesus were both declared to be prophets (1 Kings 17:24; Luke 7:16)
  

Rex Weyler says in The Jesus Sayings that the evidence that Luke copies from the earlier story is confirmed because no wall or city gate appears in the archaeological record of Nain, which was only a small village in Galilee, and villages did not have defensive walls and city gates. He says the author was unfamiliar with Galilee and simply unaware of this.