A surgical instrument , comprising: a handle ; a shaft extending from said handle; an end effector , comprising: a first jaw ; a second jaw rotatable relative to said first jaw; an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatable relative to said shaft about said articulation joint; an articulation drive operable to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said articulation drive is in an activated operative state, wherein said articulation drive is placeable in a deactivated inoperative state; a closure drive comprising a closure actuator movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position during a closure stroke to move said second jaw into a closed position; and a releasable closure drive lock configured to: engage said closure actuator when said closure actuator is in said actuated position to hold said second jaw in said closed position, wherein said closure drive deactivates said articulation drive into said deactivated inoperative state when said closure actuator is moved into said actuated position; characterized in that the releasable closure drive lock is further configured to engage said closure actuator when said closure actuator is in an intermediate position which is intermediate said unactuated position and said actuated position to hold said second jaw in a partially-closed position, wherein said articulation drive is in said activated operative state when said closure actuator is in said intermediate position. a handle ; a shaft extending from said handle; an end effector , comprising: a first jaw ; a second jaw rotatable relative to said first jaw; a first jaw ; a second jaw rotatable relative to said first jaw; an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatable relative to said shaft about said articulation joint; an articulation drive operable to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said articulation drive is in an activated operative state, wherein said articulation drive is placeable in a deactivated inoperative state; a closure drive comprising a closure actuator movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position during a closure stroke to move said second jaw into a closed position; and a releasable closure drive lock configured to: engage said closure actuator when said closure actuator is in said actuated position to hold said second jaw in said closed position, wherein said closure drive deactivates said articulation drive into said deactivated inoperative state when said closure actuator is moved into said actuated position; characterized in that the releasable closure drive lock is further configured to engage said closure actuator when said closure actuator is in an intermediate position which is intermediate said unactuated position and said actuated position to hold said second jaw in a partially-closed position, wherein said articulation drive is in said activated operative state when said closure actuator is in said intermediate position. engage said closure actuator when said closure actuator is in said actuated position to hold said second jaw in said closed position, wherein said closure drive deactivates said articulation drive into said deactivated inoperative state when said closure actuator is moved into said actuated position; characterized in that the releasable closure drive lock is further configured to engage said closure actuator when said closure actuator is in an intermediate position which is intermediate said unactuated position and said actuated position to hold said second jaw in a partially-closed position, wherein said articulation drive is in said activated operative state when said closure actuator is in said intermediate position. <EOS>