John 20:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 20:1-10

There was no one thing of which the apostles were more concerned to produce substantial proof than the resurrection of their Master, 1. Because it was that which he himself appealed to as the last and most cogent proof of his being the Messiah. Those that would not believe other signs were referred to this sign of the prophet Jonas. And therefore enemies were most solicitous to stifle the notice of this, because it was put on this issue, and, if he be risen, they are not only murderers, but... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 20:1-10

20:1-10 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary from Magdala came to the tomb; and she saw the stone taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them: "They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they set out for the tomb. The two were running together. The other disciple ran... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 20:1-10

One of the illuminating things in this story is that Peter was still the acknowledged leader of the apostolic band. It was to him that Mary went. In spite of his denial of Jesus--and a story like that would not be long in being broadcast--Peter was still the leader. We often talk of Peter's weakness and instability, but there must have been something outstanding about a man who could face his fellow-men after that disastrous crash into cowardice; there must have been something about a man whom... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 20:5

And he stooping down and looking in ,.... That is, John; when he came to the sepulchre, stooped down to look into it, and see what he could see; he only went into the court, or stood upon the floor, where the bearers used to set down the bier, before they put the corpse into one of the graves in the sepulchre, which were four cubits lower; See Gill on Mark 16:5 . Hence he was obliged to stoop down, ere he could see anything within: when he saw the linen clothes lying ; in which the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 20:5

Went he not in - Why? Because he was fully satisfied that the body was not there. But why did he not seize upon the linen clothes, and keep them as a most precious relic? Because he had too much religion and too much sense; and the time of superstition and nonsense was not yet arrived, in which bits of rotten wood, rags of rotten cloth, decayed bones (to whom originally belonging no one knows) and bramble bushes, should become objects of religious adoration. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 20:5

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 20:1-10

(1) The process of John's own personal conviction, by the discovery that the sepulcher was deserted. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 20:1-10

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 20:1-31

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 20:5

And having stooped down . παρακύπτω is the verb used in Luke 24:12 to describe Peter's conduct and gesture. It was a necessary preliminary of the subsequent act of Peter, though Luke does not refer to it. Peter himself uses the same word ( 1 Peter 1:12 ). It means literally "bending on one side," with a desire to gaze intently on an object (Ec Luke 14:23 ; Luke 21:23 ; James 1:25 ). He seeth the linen clothes lying (see John 19:40 ), untenanted and unused, those very... read more

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