1.
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Verse 1
Cometh Mary Magdalene. It would seem that she came before the party mentioned in Luke 24:1-10; or else, if she came with them, that she left them, and went back to call Peter and John, before the events took place which Luke records.
2.
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
Verse 2
To Simon Peter; to his house in the city.
3.
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
Verse 3
And came to the sepulchre; after the party mentioned by Luke had gone away.
4.
So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5.
And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6.
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7.
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8.
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9.
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10.
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12.
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14.
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Verse 14
Turned herself back; to go home.
15.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18.
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Verse 18
As has already been remarked, several hypotheses have been framed, by ingenious scholars, to combine the various incidents related by the different evangelists, as having occurred in the vicinity of the sepulchre on the morning of the resurrection, into one harmonious narrative. These hypotheses are all framed on the supposition that the scene was one of great excitement; that many persons must have been going and returning in different groups and parties,--some, perhaps visiting the sepulchre several times,--and that, consequently, a considerable number and variety of incidents would occur there; and that each of the evangelists, instead of describing fully what took place, has only related such incidents as were particularly reported to him. On this view of the subject, it has not been found difficult to frame hypotheses by which the various incidents related are combined into one connected narrative, the seeming omissions and connecting links being supplied by conjecture. These hypotheses are, however, of little value, except to show that the accounts can be reconciled, and so are not inconsistent. Farther than this, there can be no valuable end attained by framing hypotheses, which rest, of course, wholly on conjecture.
19.
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Verse 19
Came Jesus. Just before he appeared, however, the disciples from Emmaus came into the assembly, giving an account of what they had seen. (Luke 24:33.)
20.
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Verse 21
Again; after supping with them. (Luke 24:41.)
22.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23.
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27.
Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Verse 28
My Lord and my God. It cannot be doubted that these terms were both applied by Thomas personally to the Savior. The attempts to give some other construction to such expressions are now generally abandoned by those who are unwilling to admit, on any evidence, the inference which flows from them. They find it to be easier to take the ground that the apostles themselves were in error, than to force unnatural constructions upon language so unequivocal as that which they often used.
29.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30.
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
Verse 30
Signs; proofs of the reality of his resurrection.
31.
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.