Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 20:10

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

10. Then the disciples ] The disciples therefore; because nothing more could be done at the sepulchre.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 10. Unto their own home.] Either to their own houses, if they still had any; or to those of their friends, or to those where they had a hired lodging, and where they met together for religious purposes. See Joh 20:19.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Peter and John, when they had been within the sepulchre, and seen that the body was not there, went home; believing verily that what the women at first told them was true, that somebody had removed the body out of the sepulchre; whither, they knew not.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

3-10. Peter therefore went forth,and that other disciple, and came first to the sepulchreTheseparticulars have a singular air of artless truth about them. Mary, inher grief, runs to the two apostles who were soon to be so closelyassociated in proclaiming the Saviour’s resurrection, and they,followed by Mary, hasten to see with their own eyes. The youngerdisciple outruns the older; love haply supplying swifter wings. Hestoops, he gazes in, but enters not the open sepulchre, held backprobably by a reverential fear. The bolder Peter, coming up, goes inat once, and is rewarded with bright evidence of what had happened.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Then the disciples,…. Peter and John, after they had seen and examined things, and satisfied themselves as much as they could:

went away again unto their own home; or “to themselves”, as in the original text, and so the Vulgate Latin reads it; not that the meaning is, that they had been out of their minds, and proper exercise of them, and now came to themselves; but they returned to their own company, to the rest of the disciples they left at home, who were as themselves. The Syriac renders it, , “to their own place”, and so the Arabic and Persic versions; the place from whence they came, and where the rest were assembled together, to pray, converse, and consult together, what was to be done at this juncture.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Unto their own home ( ). “To themselves.” Luke (Lu 24:12) has about Peter (“to his home”). This use of the reflective pronoun for home (literally, “to themselves”), like the French chez eux, occurs in Josephus (Ant. VII. 4, 6). John had taken the mother of Jesus to his home (19:27) and so he now hurried home to tell her the glorious news as he believed.

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

1) “Then the disciples went away again,” (apelthon oun hoi mathetai palin) “Then the disciples (Peter and John) went away again,” away from the tomb, left it:

2) “Unto their own home.” (pros hautous) “Directly to their own home or residence,” satisfied or resigned to the fact that He had truly risen, Joh 21:3.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

10. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. It is possible that their minds were still in a state of doubt and uncertainty, when they returned home; for, though John says that they believed, yet their faith was not strong, but was only some confused remembrance of the miracle and resembled a trance, until it was more fully confirmed; and indeed, a strong faith could not be produced merely by the sight which they had beheld. Besides, Christ did not present himself to their view, until they had been more fully awakened from their carnal stupidity. They had indeed given a praise worthy demonstration of their zeal, in hastening to the sepulcher; yet Christ hid himself from them, because they sought him with too great superstition.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

(10) Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.More exactly, of course, to their lodgings in Jerusalem. They had accomplished the object of their visit to the sepulchre. One, at least, had realised, and he must have told his thoughts to his friend, that the Lord was not to be looked for in the empty grave, and that Marys fears (Joh. 20:2) were groundless. No enemies had taken the body away. They return, then, with hearts filled with this truth, to ponder over its meaning, or to tell it to others of the Eleven, or to wonder and to wait until He should come again to them, as He had promised.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

10. Went their own home It might not have been safe for them to remain long at the sepulchre. Their own home may have been the abode of John and the blessed mother, and we have Peter in the western margin of Jerusalem.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

‘So the disciples went away again to their own.’

The two then went back to the other disciples and spoke of what had happened. ‘To their own’ is a neutral phrase which could mean to their own lodgings or tent (compare Luk 24:12) where the other disciples would be.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Joh 20:10. Then the disciples went away The disciples; that is, Peter and John: to their own home, is in the original, , which seems evidently to signify “to their companions.” Accordingly, soon after this, the women found the eleven and the rest together. Luk 24:9. It probably appeared prudent to Peter and John to retire immediately, lest they should have been questioned by the rulers, if found near the sepulchre; and it was certainly necessary for them to acquaint the rest of the disciples with this important circumstance as soon as possible, and to collect their sentiments upon it. Mary Magdalene, however, who it seems had followed Peter and John to the sepulchre, did not return home with them, being anxious to find the body. See the next verse.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Ver. 10. Went again to their own home ] Waiting till God should further enlighten both organ and object, as Mary also did,Luk 2:19Luk 2:19 ; Luk 2:51 .

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

10. ] Luke has the very same expression, . This is remarkable, as he evidently has a fragment of the same incident.

., to their lodging.

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament

Joh 20:10 . Satisfied in their own minds . or or = home; “chez eux,” Segond’s French version; , modern Greek. Kypke gives examples of a phrase which he says is “trita profanis”.

Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson

unto. Greek. pros. App-104.

their own home = their lodging. Not the same words as in Joh 19:27. Galilean fishermen, constantly moving about with their Rabbi since the Feast of Tabernacles, six months before, could have had no settled home, as we understand it, in Jerusalem. They had not been there since their Master left it (See Joh 10:40), till the last few days.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

10.] Luke has the very same expression, . This is remarkable, as he evidently has a fragment of the same incident.

., to their lodging.

Fuente: The Greek Testament

Joh 20:10. ) went away; as if nothing more remained now to be done in this business.-, again) as before. Comp. ch. Joh 16:32, Ye shall be scattered every man to his own; Mat 26:56.- , to their own homes) Joh 20:2, She cometh to Simon Peter, i.e. to his house. Comp. Wolfii Curae on this passage.- , the disciples) viz. Peter and John, being about to bring the tidings to the rest.

Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament

Joh 20:10

Joh 20:10

So the disciples went away again unto their own home.-Finding the tomb empty, the body gone, these two disciples went away to their places of abode in Jerusalem.

Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary

went: Joh 7:53, Joh 16:32

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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The disciples means Peter and John who had run to the sepulchre.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

Joh 20:10. The disciples therefore went away again unto their own home. We are not told why or in what frame of mind they thus returned to their own homes. One thing is clear: they believed that Jesus was risen, and that it was vain to search for Him in the tomb.

Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Here we have a description of the great love of Mary Magdalene, which she expressed towards Christ, after his resurrection; she went to his sepulchre early, when it was yet dark; she hastily calls the disciples Peter and John, to the sepulchre; and she stays behind weeping at the sepulchre when they were gone away to their own home. And as Mary first sought him, and longest sought him, so she first found him.

Here note, 1. Mary’s carriage and behaviour towards her Saviour: that is discovered by her patient attendance, She stood without at the sepulchre; by her passionate mourning, she stood at the sepulchre weeping; by her unwearied diligence, She stooped down and looked into the sepulchre. Here was great love indeed in this poor woman; a love stronger than death; a love which did outstrip and go beyond the greatest apostles.

Learn thence, 1. That true love to Christ suffers not itself to be stinted or limited, no not by the greatest examples; the weakest woman that truly loves Christ, may piously strive with the greatest apostle in this point; though he be learneder, wiser, more useful, and more eminent than any of us, yet it is holy and wise not to suffer ourselves to be exceeded by any in our love to Christ’ every Christian may strive to exceed any one in grace, and to attain the highest place in the kingdom of heaven.

Learn, 2. That strong love is valient and undaunted, it will grapple and encounter with the stongest opposition; Mary fears nothing in seeking of her Lord, neither the darkness of the night, nor the terror of the soldiers, nor the malice of the Jews; love is as strong as death, and the flames thereof are vehement.

Note farther, the success of Mary Magdalene’s love to Christ, and unwearied attendance on his sepulchre; she found not the dead body of Christ, and it is well she did not; for if death could have held him, it would not have let him go.

But though she found not her Lord in the grave, she found two of his servants there, two angels. Of all things in the world, one would have least expected to find an angel in the grave, spirits in the place of dead bodies, and immortality in the place of corruption.

But from hence we learn, that such as sincerely seek the Lord, shall certainly find, if not the very thing which they seek, yet that which is much fitter and better for them; Mary did not find Christ’s dead body, but she finds that which is more comfortable for her to find, namely, two angels, to testify that he was risen.

Where note, the posture of these angels described; the one sitting at the head, the other at the feet. It is a matter of comfort to the members of Christ, that angels do not wait upon the head only; but upon the feet also; and it ought to be matter of imitation also.

Let us imitate our blessed Saviour in having an angel not at our head only, but at our feet also. Many have an ambition to have an angel at their head, a great measure of light and knowledge there, but they care not for an angel at their feet, they delight not to walk answerably to their light and knowledge, they have an angelical understanding and a diabolical conversation; it is sad for a man to have all his religion in his brain and tongue, and nothing in his heart and life.

Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament

Joh 20:10-13. Then the disciples (Peter and John) went away again unto their own home Went to their companions in the city, as the original expression, , seems evidently to signify. Accordingly, soon after this the women found the eleven and the rest together. It was very prudent in Peter and John to retire immediately, lest they should have been questioned by the rulers, if found near the sepulchre. But Mary stood without It seems she had followed Peter and John to the sepulchre, but did not return to the city with them, being anxious to find the body of her Lord; but after they were gone, she stood without at the sepulchre weeping Being in great perplexity at her not knowing what was become of it. And as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre To examine it afresh; and seeth To her great surprise; two angels In the form of men; in white That is, clothed in white habits; the one at the head, and the other at the feet, &c. The sepulchre seems to have been a square room hewn out of a rock, partly above ground, its roof being as high as the top of the door, which formed its entrance. This door opened upon a stair which ran down straight to the bottom of the sepulchre, along with the side of its left wall. Having carried the body down with its feet foremost, they would naturally place it length-ways, by the right-side wall of the sepulchre, with its feet to the back wall. This description is agreeable to the accounts which travellers give us of the Jewish sepulchres, particularly Mr. Maundrell, who was on the spot and saw several of them. They were generally caves, or rooms hewn out of rocks. And as the Jews did not make use of coffins, they placed their dead separately in niches, or little cells cut into the sides of these caves. But Josephs sepulchre, being a new one, was in all probability unfinished; and might have no niches cut into its sides, where they could deposite the dead; for which reason they laid Jesus on the floor, in the manner described, intending when the sabbath was passed to remove him to some finished burying-place. Macknight. And they say unto her With a tender regard; Woman, why weepest thou? This question was only designed to give occasion to inform her of that which would turn her mourning into rejoicing. She saith, Because they have taken away my Lord The blessed body which I came to embalm; and I know not where they have laid him That is, laid it; or how the sacred corpse may be neglected or abused.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Joh 20:10-18. Jesus and Mary.Mary has apparently followed the two disciples back to the tomb. After their departure she looks in, and sees a vision of angels (cf. Luk 24:4 ff.). Her thoughts are still full of the removal of the body, as her answer to the supposed gardener also shows. As usual, there is no expectation of the event that follows. It is only the pronunciation of her own name that reveals Jesus identity. Her attempt to offer worship is forbidden on the ground that He has not yet entered into His glory (cf. Mat 28:9). Perhaps Joh 20:17 means that the old relations are no longer possible, and the time for the newer and more spiritual communion is not yet. The message to the brethren is so worded as to emphasize the difference between His and their relationship to the Father.

Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible

2. The discovery of Mary Magdalene 20:10-18 (cf. Mark 16:9-11)

This is the first of four of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances that John included in his Gospel. It is very difficult to place these appearances in exact chronological order. The New Testament simply does not give enough detailed information to do so. Consequently the major value of the chart below is that it places the post-resurrection appearances that the New Testament writers mentioned in general chronological order.

Jesus’ Post-resurrection Appearances

Easter morning

to Mary Magdalene (Mar 16:9-11; Joh 20:10-18)

to other women (Mat 28:9-10)

to Peter (Luk 24:34; 1Co 15:5)

Easter afternoon

to two disciples on the Emmaus road (Luk 24:13-32)

Jesus’ Post-resurrection Appearances (cont.)

Easter evening

to about 12 disciples excluding Thomas (Mar 16:14; Luk 24:36-43; Joh 20:19 –        23)

The following Sunday

to 11 disciples including Thomas (Joh 20:26-28)

The following 32 days

to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee (Joh 21:1-23)

to 500 people including the Eleven at a mountain in Galilee (Mat 28:16-20; 1Co 15:6)

to His half-brother James (1Co 15:7)

to His disciples in Jerusalem (Luk 24:44-49; Act 1:3-8; 1Co 15:7)

to His disciples on Mount Olivet (Mar 16:19-20; Luk 24:50-53; Act 1:9-12)

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)

This is a transitional verse. The NASB joins it to Joh 20:1-9 whereas the NIV connects it with Joh 20:11-18. Since Joh 20:11 begins with "but," it seems natural to view Joh 20:10 as beginning a new paragraph.

The translation "to their homes" implies that Peter and John had permanent residences in Jerusalem. That seems unlikely. The Greek phrase eis ta idia literally means "to their own" (cf. Joh 1:11). Since the gender is neuter, John may have meant that these disciples returned to their own friends or temporary lodgings (cf. Act 12:12).

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)