Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 20:6
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
6. Then cometh, &c.] Better, Simon Peter therefore also cometh; because S. John has remained standing there in awe and meditation. S. Peter with his natural impulsiveness goes in at once. Both Apostles act characteristically.
seeth ] Or, beholdeth ( therei). He takes a complete survey, and hence sees the ‘napkin,’ which S. John in his short look had not observed.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 6. Seeth the linen clothes lie] : from , to behold, and , to see – to look steadily at any thing, so as to discover what it is, and to be satisfied with viewing it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
But Peter, who all along the Gospel appears to have been the boldest spirit, goeth into the cave, and seeth all the linen clothes lying there, and the napkin that was about his head lying by itself.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6-7. seeth the linen clotheslielying.
And the napkin, that wasabout his head, not lying with the linen clothesnot loosely,as if hastily thrown down, and indicative of a hurried and disorderlyremoval.
but wrappedfolded.
together in a place byitselfshowing with what grand tranquillity “the LivingOne” had walked forth from “the dead” (Lu24:5). “Doubtless the two attendant angels (Joh20:12) did this service for the Rising One, the one disposing ofthe linen clothes, the other of the napkin” [BENGEL].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then cometh Simon Peter following him,…. In a very little time after him:
and went into the sepulchre; itself, though not without first stooping down, as John did; see Lu 24:12.
And seeth the linen clothes lie; as John did; and as by the mouth of two or three witnesses everything is confirmed, so was this; both saw the linen in which the body was wrapped, but that was gone; and which was a sign that the body was not stolen away, otherwise the linen would not have been left; and besides, it would have taken up some time, and given a good deal of trouble, to have unwrapped the body, when it is considered how many foldings the Jews used to wind up their corpse in.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Entered and beholdeth ( ). Aorist active and present active indicative. Peter impulsively went on in and beholds (, vivid term again, but of careful notice, , not a mere glance such as John gave in verse 5).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Then cometh Simon Peter following him,” (erchetai oun kai Simon Petros akolouthon auto) “Then comes (arrives) Simon Peter, following him,” close behind.
2) “And went into the sepulchre,” (kai eiselthen eis to mnemeion) “And he entered directly into the tomb,” from which the stone had been rolled away: His natural impulsiveness drove him on as he went inside at once.
3) “And seeth the linen clothes lie,” (kai theorei ta othonia keimena) “And he also sees the sheets lying,” the ones with which Jesus had been wrapped for burial, in an orderly arrangement, a thing that made him wonder at what had happened, Luk 24:12. On what he saw he could draw first hand conclusions.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(6) And went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie.Better, . . . beholdeth the linen clothes lie. The word is not the same as that in Joh. 20:5, but expresses the close observation of the linen clothes by St. Peter, while St. John did but see them from without.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘Simon Peter also therefore comes, following him, and went into the tomb, and he sees the linen cloths lying there, and the napkin that was on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple also therefore went into the tomb, he who had come first to the tomb, and he saw and believed, for as yet they knew not the Scripture that he would arise from the dead.’
It was typical of Peter that he rushed into the tomb without thought. Not for him the hesitancy of the other, but he had not had the same strict upbringing. Then the other followed him in. And they saw the grave cloths lying just where they had been when the body was there, with the napkin where the head had been, rolled as though it were still round the head.
‘He saw and believed’. In one moment of illumination John realised the significance of what he was seeing. The fact that the cloths were still there was evidence against the body having been removed, for why would any people responsible have removed the cloths from the body on removing it? And had they done so, why would they have arranged them so carefully? Even the chief priests and their minions would have reverenced those, and grave robbers would have wanted them for their value. Besides had they stripped them off they would have cast them to one side not laid them out neatly.
‘For as yet they knew not the Scripture that he would arise from the dead.’ Up to this point they had not accepted in their hearts the Scripture testimony to the resurrection of the Coming One. They had not ‘known’, the Scripture that Jesus would rise from the dead (see for example Psa 16:10-11; Psa 110:1-4; Psa 118:22-24; Isa 53:11-12 and compare 1Co 15:4; Mar 8:31; Mar 9:31; Mar 10:34), but now he ‘knew’ and believed. It is quite probable that the writer saw the tradition of Jesus as Scripture, as well as the Old Testament.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 20:6-7. Simon Peterwent into the sepulchre, and seeth, &c. These circumstances were very awakening, and very proper to prepare the minds of the disciples for something extraordinary, since nothing but the resurrection of Jesus could in right reason be concluded from them. The body they saw was gone; but by whom could it be taken away, and for what purpose? Not by friends; for then, in all probability, they would have known something about it. Not by the Jews; for they had nothing to do with it. Pilate, to whom alone the disposal of it belonged, as the body of a supposed malefactor executedby his orders, had given it to Joseph of Arimathea, a friend and secret disciple of Christ, who laid it in the sepulchre but two days before. And wherefore should they remove it again so soon?Not to bury it; for in that case they would not have left the winding-sheet, and the napkin folded up, behind them. Whoever therefore had removed the body, they could not have done it with a design to bury it; and yet no other purpose for the removal of it can be imagined. Besides, it must have been removed in the night by stealth, and consequently in a hurry. How then came the winding-sheet and napkin to be folded up and disposed in so orderly a manner, in the sepulchre? Add to this that the stone was very large, and therefore many people must have been concerned in this transaction; not one of whom was there to give an answer to any such questions. These and such like reflections could not but rise in their minds, and these difficulties could not but dispose them to expect some extraordinary event. They knew the life of Jesus was a life of miracles, and his death was attended with prodigies and wonders; all which could not but come crowding into their memories; and yet none of them at that time believed that he was risen from the dead; (See on Joh 20:8.) for, as yet, the evangelist assures us, Joh 20:9. They knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead; that is, they did not understand from the prophets, that the Messiah was to rise again from the dead; being on the contrary persuaded, that these very prophets had foretold, that the Messiah should not die, but abide for ever. And, as they did not know from the scripture, nor yet from our Lord’s own predictions, that he was to rise again; so neither could they collect it from any thing which Mary Magdalene hadtold them; for she herself had not the least notion of it, even when Jesus appeared to her; as is plain from what she says in the 13th and 15th verses. See the note on Mat 28:11; Mat 28:20.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
Ver. 6. Following him and went in ] John came first; Peter entered first: “soft and fair goes far:” soft fire makes sweet malt: leap Christians are not much to be liked; such as quickly step out of profaneness into profession. Hot at hand seldom holds out. The stony ground immediately received the seed with joy, and started up suddenly, ; but the good ground brings forth fruit with patience or tarriance, , Luk 8:15 . Walk deliberately, and ponder the paths of thy feet, as Solomon bids,Pro 4:26Pro 4:26 . A Christian’s progress is as the sun, which shines more and more to the perfect day, Pro 4:18 ; and as the trumpet in Mount Sion, Exo 20:18 , which sounded louder and louder till it was heard all the country over.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 20:6 . Peter is not so withheld. He enters . is probably used here in its stricter sense of seeing so as to draw conclusions.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
into. Greek. eis. App-104.
seeth = intently beholdeth. Greek. theoreo. App-133.,
lie = lying.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 20:6. , the linen clothes lying) , lying, is put before in Joh 20:5; but , the linen clothes, is put first in this passage, in antithesis to the napkin. The same participle, employed thrice, signifies, that these were not in a confused and hasty manner cast away. The angels without doubt ministered to Him at His resurrection; and one of them laid in order the linen clothes, the other the napkin. Comp. Joh 20:12, One angel at the head (where the sudarium had been), the other at the feet. For it is probable that the angels had already been there, although Peter and John had not seen them. Comp. Mat 28:2, The angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it [which must have been before any disciple came to the tomb].
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 20:6
Joh 20:6
Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying,-[How characteristic this is of Peter who twice plunged into the sea to meet Jesus. He hesitates not a moment, like the timid John, but springs at once into the tomb.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Joh 6:67-69, Joh 18:17, Joh 18:25-27, Joh 21:7, Joh 21:15-17, Mat 16:15, Mat 16:16, Luk 22:31, Luk 22:32
Reciprocal: Luk 24:3 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE TESTIMONY OF THE GRAVE-CLOTHES
He beholdeth the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, that was upon His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
Joh 20:6-7 (R.V.)
The two Apostles went in great haste to the tomb, on the startling report of Mary Magdalene that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, and, as her fears at once suggested to her, that the holy body had been borne away, whither she knew not. The Apostles run with anxious speed to the tomb. The younger man arrives there first, finds the stone removed, and, as the carefully-chosen Greek word seems to imply, merely looks in, and sees that the linen cloths were plainly lying unremoved. St. Peter soon comes up, and with characteristic impetuosity enters the tomb, andas we are reminded by the change in the Greek verb and in the order of the wordsbeholds, or gazes on, the linen cloths as they were lying before him.
I. St. Peter arrives at the conviction that the holy body had not been borne away, but, in some inexplicable manner, had left the linen cloths, and also left the napkin that had been placed on the sacred head still folded, but lying apartit may be on the ledge whereon the head may have rested during the hours of interment. John now enters the tomb, and not only arrived at the same conviction as St. Peter, but believed, namely, that what they beheld (the linen cloths and the enfolded napkin) bore silent testimony to that of which their Lord had spoken to them, but which they had never rightly understood or realised, the rising again from the dead.
II. What was the exact appearance of the grave-clothes on which the gaze of the Apostles had anxiously rested?Two opinions there are, one of which may perhaps be regarded as the general opinion entertained by those who have dwelt reverently upon the details which John has been moved to record of the tomb, and of what it contained. And the opinion is this, that the two holy angels whom Mary Magdalene had been permitted to behold, sitting one at the head and one at the feet where the holy body of the Lord had lain, that these two holy watchers had the blessed privilege of ministering to their Lord when His spirit re-entered His crucified body, and that it is to their ministry that we must attribute the carefully ordered position of the things within the tomb, as they were seen and noted by the two Apostles. Such, very distinctly, was the opinion of the thoughtful and spiritual expositor Bengel, one of the very few interpreters who have noticed the matter at all. Such also was my own opinion till quite recently. But the publication a year or two ago of a singularly persuasive and carefully thought-out volume, entitled The Risen Master, written by Dr. Latham, then Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, has led me to reconsider the whole profoundly interesting question. This reconsideration has led me to give up my former opinion, always felt by me to involve difficulty in its prosaic homeliness, and to accept the more lofty and in many respects more suggestive view entertained by Dr. Latham, viz., that all things remained in the tomb just as they had been placed in it by the pious hands of Joseph of Arimatha and Nicodemus until the mysterious moment of the return of the Lords spirit to the body from which it had been parted on the Cross. When that return took place it seemed clear to me that the holy body would at once be endued with new powers and properties, and that the opinion that the holy body passed of itself out of its surroundings could be fully justified. Under such a conception the linen cloths and swathing bands would remain unremoved and unchanged, save that their form would indicate that a body had been within them, which now had been withdrawn, and had left only the trace of its former presence, the napkin, which before had been with them, being now separated from them and put apart in a place by itself. It was on this strange but self-revealing appearance that the gaze of St. Peter rested so earnestly. It was seen (another verb here is used) by the other Apostle, and at a glance all became clear; memories of what their dear Lord had said to them on the Mount of the Transfiguration came back to his mind, and he realised that what he was looking on was the silent outward witness to the Lords Resurrection from the dead.
III. But this suggestive mystery was not designed simply to reassure the Apostles or those to whom the declarations of the holy women had seemed to be but idle tales; it was designed for all who, when the strange tidings had spread through Jerusalem and its Passover multitudes, doubtless went up to see with their own eyes the spot of which such wonders were told. And that the story had spread we have the testimony of the two that were journeying to Emmaus, who marvelled that one apparently coming from Jerusalem should not have heard of these things.
Joseph of Arimathas tomb I cannot doubt was visited by many, and I cannot also doubt that this silent witness of the Resurrection created in many and many a heart a kind of persuasion, which, when the great address of St. Peter at Pentecost was heard by them, deepened into belief and conviction.
We may here close our meditations on what we may rightly term the testimony of the opened tomb to the reality of the Lords Resurrection.
Bishop Ellicott.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
6
Peter reached the sepulchre, and when he did, he did not pause on the outside as did John. Went into the sepulchre. This phrase will be better understood by reading the notes at Mat 27:60 on the description of tombs.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 20:6-7. Simon Peter therefore also cometh following him; and he went into the sepulchre, and beholdeth the linen cloths lying, and the napkin that was upon his head not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled together in a place by itself. Peter, ever bold and daring, is less overcome by awe than his companion. He goes into the sepulchre, and when within sees not only that the linen cloths are lying there, but also, what John had not observed (Joh 20:5), that the covering placed upon the head of Jesus had been carefully (for this idea is clearly implied in the word) rolled up, and laid in a place by itself,in all likelihood where the head had lain, try the mention of these circumstances, the Evangelist appears to indicate the calm and orderly manner in which Jesus had left the sepulchre. They were inconsistent with the idea, either of a hasty flight, or of a violent removal of the body: and it is probable that John would hint at the dawning consciousness of this in Peters mind by changing the verb seeth, used in his own case, into beholdeth in the case of his companion. The effect produced upon John by Peters entrance into the sepulchre was what might have been expected. He takes courage, and also enters.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
When Peter arrived at the tomb, he barged right in, probably because he wanted to know exactly how things stood regardless of the consequences. He also beheld (Gr. theopei, beheld intently) the linen burial clothes (Gr. ta othonia) but also the cloth that had covered Jesus’ face (Gr. soudarion, cf. Joh 11:44). Evidently John could not see this from his vantage point. It’s distance from the other clothes and the care with which someone had positioned it were unusual. Jesus was obviously not there, but someone had been there. That person had apparently been the resurrected Jesus. A grave robber would not have taken the time to fold the head covering neatly but would have left it lying in a heap. It is not clear whether the head covering lay where Jesus’ head had lain. What is clear is that someone had folded it up carefully.