John 20

1 Mary Magdalen goeth to the grave,which she findes empty,and tells this to Peter and John, 3 who run both to the grave and finde it so. 11 Mary seeth two Angels in the grave. 14 Christ appeareth to her himself,by whose command she declares his resurrection to the Disciples, 19 to whom also Christ appeareth himself at Evening, 21 and giveth them the holy Ghost,and power to forgive sins,and to retain them. 14 Thomas having been with them will not believe. 26 untill eight daies after he himself seeth Christ and confesseth him. 30 John declares why of many other signes,these only are written.

1. And on the first day of the week [Gr.on one of the Sabbaths. See Mat.28.1. Mark 16:2,9. and hereafter v.19.] went Mary Magdalen [an yet some other women with her,Mat.28.1. Luke 24:1,10. but it seemeth that Mary Magdalen went before,and came first to the sepulchre] early [see the annotat. on Mark 16:2.] while it was yet dark,unto the grave : and saw the stone taken away from the grave. [which was done by the Angel before their coming,Mat.28.2.]

2. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter,and to the other Disciple whom Jesus loved,and said unto them,they have taken away the Lord out of the grave,[this she saith because she was not yet informed by the Angel of Christs resurrection ; whom she saw afterward being returned,v.12.] and we [that is,I,and the other women that followed me] know not where they have laid him.

3. Peter therefore went forth and the other Disciple,and they came to the grave?

4. And these two ran together : and the other Disciple ran before swifter then Peter, [Namely,because he was younger then Peter] and came first to the grave.

5. And as he stopped down he saw cloathes ly,[Gr. linnen cloathes,and so in the following,namely,wherein Christs dead body was wrapped : which was a sign that his body was not taken away as the women thought,for then the cloathes also should have been taken away with his body] notwithstanding he went not (there) into.

6. Then Simon Peter came and followed him,and went into the grave and saw the cloathesly.

7. And the handkerchief which had been on his head : [That is,in which his head had been wrapped. See John 11:44.] (he saw) not lying with the cloaths,but apart rolled together in an (other) place.

8. Then went therefore also the other Disciple there into,that was come first to the grave,and saw i and believed.[Namely,that the body of Christ was taken away,as the women had said,v.2.as th following verse shewes. Although others think that John believed that Jesus was risen from the dead,and that the following words must be understood only of the former time.]

9. For they knew [Or understood] not yet the Scripture that he must arise from the dead.

10. Then the Disciples went home again [Gr. unto themselves , i.e. unto theirs,namely,where the Disciples were assembled,as appears v.19.]

11. And Mary stood without by the grave weeping [Namely,being returned to the grave with the other women,to whom altogether the apparition of the Angels happened,Mat.28.5. Mark 16:5 Luke 24:4.]as she wept therefore, she stopped into th grave.

12. And she saw two Angels [Matthew and Mark speak but of one because one had the talk] in white (garment) sitting one at the head [that is,the head end,where the head had lain] and one at the feet,where the body of Jesus had lain.

13. And they [Namely,the Angels,after that they had declared the resurrection to all the women,and the other women were gone away to declare the same to the Disciples as the other Evangelists testifie, and Magdalen remained standing there,and by her weeping and words shewed,that she could not yet well believe the same] said unto her,woman why weepest thou? She said unto them [namely,to the Angels] because they have taken away my Lord, [that is,the dead body of my Lord,as Psa.16.10.] and I know not where they have laid him.

14. And when she had said this, she turned her self backward,and saw Jesus stand,and she knew not that it was Jesus. [Namely,because her eyes were holden and it also happened to Disciples going towards Emaus,Luke 24:16.]

15. Jesus said unto her,woman,why weepest thou? whom seekest thou,she thinking that it was the Gardner,said unto him,Sir,if hast thou carried him (away) tell me where thou hast laid him ,and I will take him away.[namely,to annoint him,and bury him elsewhere,that he may not be in thy way.]

16. Jesus said unto her,Mary.She turning her about [Namely,forasmuch as she knew his voice]said unto him Rabbonni,[this is the same word with Rabbi, John 1 v.39,50. and with Rabboni, Mark 10:51.] which is to say, Master.

17. Jesus said unto her touch me not,[That is,hinder not thy self and me with touching and holding me by the feet] for I am not yet ascended unto my Father,[that is,I shall not yet so speedily ascend and depart from you :thou shalt yet have time enough to see and speak with me,and to do me honour. Others think that he said this unto her,to admonish her that she must not hang too much with her heart on his bodily presence] but go thy way to my brethren [that is,Disciples : the cause wherefore he calls them so,see in the annot.on Mat.28.10.] and say unto them,I ascend [that is,I shall shortly ascend,namely,after that I have firstly informed them of all things] unto my Father [namely,by the grace of adoption to the children,John 1:12.] and (to) my God [namely. because I as Mediator have assumed humane nature for your sake,Heb.1.9.] and your God. [that is,who hath not only created you,but moreover hath also taken you for his owm peculiar ; Heb.8.10.]

18. Mary Magdalen went and told the Disciples that she had seen the Lord , and (that) he had said this unto her.

19. Then when it was evening on that same first day? [Here John followeth the account of daies after the manner of the Romanes. For seeing this apparition hapned late in the Evening,hen now the two Disciples were come unto them from Emmaus,Luke 24:36. and therefore the Sun was gone down long agoe, so should this after the reckoning of the Jews,not have been the first but the second day of the week. See John 19:14.] of the week [Gr. of the Sabbaths. see above : v.1.] and when the doors were shut,where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews,came Jesus and stood in the midst, [how Christ came in is not expressed,neither is it needful to enquire,seeing by his devine power e could do this in divers manners,as may be seen,Acts 12:10.so that from hence cannot be concluded that his body should have gone through or pressed thorow the doors which were shut] and said unto them,peace be unto you. [this was the usual manner of salutation among the Jews,whereby they wished one another all happiness and prosperity.]

20. And having said this,he shewed them his hands and (his) side [Namely,with the scars of the wounds which were in them] then the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21. Then said Jesus unto them again,peace be unto you : like as the Father hath sent me, I also send you? [Namely,to preach the gospel. See Mat.28.19. Mark 16:15. John 17:18.]

22. And when he had said this ,he blew (upon them) [Namely,by his outward sign to represent the working of the holy Ghost. See John 3:8. Acts 2:2.] and said unto them,receive ye the holy Ghost.[that is,the gifts of the Holy Ghost,which are needfull for you for the strengthening of your faith,until the fulness of the same which will be necessary for you for the execution of your Apostleship,shall be given you after my ascension on the day of Pentecost, John 16:7. Acts 2:4,33.]

23. If ye forgive any mans sins,[That is,according to my word and command,testifie as my Ministers that his sins are by God forgiven and retained] they are forgiven him,[namely,in heaven, by God,Mat.16.19. and 18.18. for God only hath power to forgive sins,Isa.43.25. Mat.9.3. Mark 2:7.] if ye retain any ones (sins) they are retained (to him.)

24. And Thomas one of the twelve called Didymus,[See John 11:16.] was not with them when Jesus came (thither.)

25. The other Disciples therefore said unto him,we have seen the Lord. But he said unto them,if I see not in his hands [As Christ had before perswaded the other Disciples to do,Luke 24:39.] the sign of the nailes : [namely,imprinted by the nailes,which the Greek word also imports] and thrust my hand into his side,I will in no wise believe.[namely,that he himself is truly risen from the dead.]

26. And after eight daies,[Which seems to be the second Lords day from his resurrection,after that the whole feast of the passover was ended] his Disciples were within again, [namely,the same house,within Jerusalem,Luke 24:33.] and Thomas with them : (and) Jesus came when the doors were shut,and stood in the midst and said peace be unto you.

27. Afterward he said unto Thomas,bring hither thy fingure,and behold mine hands,and bring thine hand,and thrust it into my side,[Gr. cast it] and be not unbelieving,but believing.

28. And Thomas answered and said unto him,[Then he speaketh the following words to Christ and of Christ,acknowledging him for his Lord and for his God] my Lord and my God.

29. Jesus said unto him,because thou hast seen me Thomas,thou hast believed : Blessed (are they) [That is,truly as happy : because they believe by the word without having seen,which better agrees with the nature of faith. See Heb.11.1. 1 Pet.1.8.] who shall not have seen,and (yet) shall have believed.

30. Now Jesus did yet many other signes in the presence of his Disciples,which are not written in this book. [Namely,of this my Gospel,whereof some also are described by the other Evangelists.]

31. But these are written,that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God,and that ye believing may have life [Namely,eternal life which, begins here,and hereafter in heaven shall be perfect] in his name : [that is,by him,and for his merits.]