Jesus was dead and in the grave. Some wonder if Jesus went to visit a place called hell based on Psalm 16:10, "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (Hebrew word sheol, Strong's 7592))…" That certainly sounds like Jesus was in hell. But the Bible explains that hell (sheol) is a condition of unconsciousness.
Eccl. 9:5, 10, "For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not any thing…there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave (sheol)…" Yes, the same word sheol is translated as grave, hell, and pit by the translators. It confuses the issue, because all people, good and bad, go to sheol in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, when Lazarus died, Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth,…" What did Jesus mean by sleeping? A few verses later Jesus explained, "Lazarus is dead." John 11:11, 14. Therefore, both Old and New Testaments agree that the state of death is unconsciousness.
All the dead are in the grave waiting for the resurrection. Jesus received His resurrection and is now King of kings and Lord of Lords!
Some also wonder about I Peter 3:18, 19, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison." How did Jesus preach unto the fallen angels? By the testimony of His life. He preached, healed, prophesied, died, and was raised to the divine nature. All this testified to God's plan.
