Wrapped together in a place by itself - The providence of God ordered these very little matters, so that they became the fullest proofs against the lie of the chief priests, that the body had been stolen away by the disciples. If the body had been stolen away, those who took it would not have stopped to strip the clothes from it, and to wrap them up, and lay them by in separate places. read more
That other disciple - John. Saw - That the body was not there. And believed - That it had been taken away, as Mary had said; but he did not believe that he was risen from the dead. See what follows. read more
Verse 5 5.And seeth the linen clothes lying. The linen clothes might be regarded as the spoils, intended to lead to the belief of Christ’s resurrection; for it was not probable that his body had been stripped naked, in order that it might be removed to another place. This would not have been done by a friend, nor even by an enemy. read more
Verse 7 7.And the napkin which was about his head. When the Evangelist says, that a napkin was wrapped about his head, this refutes the falsehood of the Papists, who pretend that the whole body was sewed up in one linen garment, which they hold out to the wretched populace, calling it “the holy winding-sheet.” (194) I say nothing about their gross ignorance of the Latin language, which led them to suppose that the word napkin — denoting what was used for wiping the sweat from the face, such as... read more
Verse 8 8.And he saw and believed. It is a poor exposition which some give of these words, that John believed what he had heard Mary say, namely, that Christ’s body had been carried away; for there is no passage in which the word believe bears this meaning, especially when it is used simply and without any addition. Nor is this inconsistent with the fact, that Peter and John return home, while they are still in doubt and perplexity; for in some passages John had employed this phraseology, when... read more
(1) The process of John's own personal conviction, by the discovery that the sepulcher was deserted. read more
The Resurrection: Peter and John at the sepulcher. We approach an event which bespeaks a new life for Christ and a new life for man. I. IT IS A WOMAN WHO IS FIRST AT THE TOMB ON THE RESURRECTION MORN . "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher." 1. She evidently was not alone during the whole scene , but she seems to have reached the sepulcher before... read more
2. The complete glorification of Jesus in his resurrection. The record pauses for the awful day of that great sabbath, and resumes the marvelous recital when the greatest event in the history of the world is assumed and asserted to have taken place. Heathen and foes admit the fact of the death of Jesus; the evidence is overwhelming, multiform, sufficient to establish itself to the ordinary reason of mankind. It is a matter of indubitable history. The proof was given to all the world; but... read more
Peter therefore went forth ( ἐξῆλθεν , aorist). This is a fact affirmed also by Luke ( Luke 24:12 ), "But Peter arose and ran to the sepulcher." John adds, and the other disciple joined Peter, filled with a common amazement, and ( ἤρχοντο , imperfect) they went on their way toward the sepulcher. Now they were running ( ἔτρεχον , imperfect) both of them together: and the other disciple did outrun —or, literally, ran in advance, more quickly than— Peter, and came first to... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 20:6
Seeth the linen clothes lie - Θεωπει : from θεαομαι , to behold, and ὁραω , to see - to look steadily at any thing, so as to discover what it is, and to be satisfied with viewing it. read more