John 20

King James Version · 31 verses · 704 cross-references linking it to 238 other chapters

1. 1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.31 cross-references: Mark 16:9, Matthew 27:60, Mark 15:46, John 20:26, John 19:25
2. 2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.18 cross-references: John 13:23, John 20:13, John 21:7, John 19:26, John 21:24
3. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.2 cross-references: Luke 24:12
4. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.7 cross-references: 2 Samuel 18:23, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Corinthians 8:12, Leviticus 13:30
5. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.6 cross-references: John 19:40, John 20:11, John 11:44
6. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,8 cross-references: John 21:15–17, Luke 22:31–32, John 18:25–27, John 21:7, Matthew 16:15–16
7. 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.2 cross-references: John 11:44
8. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.8 cross-references: John 20:25, John 20:4, John 1:50, John 20:29
9. 9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.25 cross-references: Psalms 16:10, Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 53:10–12, Isaiah 26:19, Luke 24:44–46
10. 10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.3 cross-references: John 16:32, John 7:53
11. 11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,8 cross-references: John 20:5
12. 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.16 cross-references: Luke 24:3–7, Mark 16:5–6, Revelation 3:4, Daniel 7:9, Matthew 17:2
13. 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.24 cross-references: John 20:15, Psalms 43:3–5, 1 Samuel 1:8, John 2:4, John 16:20–22
14. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.15 cross-references: Luke 24:16, John 21:4, Mark 16:9, Matthew 28:9, Luke 24:31
15. 15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.22 cross-references: John 20:13, John 18:7, Mark 16:6, 1 Samuel 1:16, Song of Solomon 3:2
16. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.35 cross-references: John 10:3, John 1:38, John 6:25, Acts 10:3, Genesis 22:11
17. 17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.98 cross-references: John 16:28, Ephesians 4:8–10, Galatians 4:6–7, Galatians 3:26, 1 Peter 1:3
18. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.9 cross-references: Luke 24:10, Matthew 28:10, Mark 16:10–13, John 20:1, Luke 24:22–23
19. 19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.52 cross-references: John 20:26, John 14:27, John 20:21, Luke 24:36–49, Ephesians 2:14
20. 20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.16 cross-references: John 16:22, John 16:20, John 20:27, 1 John 1:1, Luke 24:39–41
21. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.48 cross-references: John 17:18–19, John 13:20, John 3:17, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15–18
22. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:25 cross-references: Job 33:4, Genesis 2:7, Acts 8:15, Acts 19:2, Acts 2:38
23. 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.17 cross-references: Matthew 18:18, Matthew 16:19, Mark 2:5–10, Acts 13:38–39, Acts 10:43
24. 24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.11 cross-references: John 11:16, Hebrews 10:25, John 6:66–67, John 21:2, John 14:5
25. 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.32 cross-references: Mark 16:11, John 6:30, Hebrews 3:18 – Hebrews 4:2, Psalms 78:11–22, Psalms 95:8–10
26. 26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.28 cross-references: John 20:19, Isaiah 54:10, John 20:21, Isaiah 26:12, John 14:27
27. 27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.28 cross-references: John 20:25, 1 John 1:1–2, 1 Timothy 1:14–16, John 20:20, Psalms 103:13–14
28. 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.56 cross-references: John 1:1, Isaiah 9:6, 1 Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 14:33
29. 29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.16 cross-references: 1 Peter 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:27, Luke 1:45
30. 30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:12 cross-references: John 21:25, 1 John 5:13, Romans 15:4, Luke 1:3–4, 2 Timothy 3:15–17
31. 31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.84 cross-references: Acts 10:43, John 3:15–16, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 5:20

Explained connections

• Pierced hands and feet Psalms 22:16 and John 20:25

  The KJV reads 'they pierced my hands and my feet', following the Greek Septuagint; the standard Hebrew text is difficult and is sometimes read 'like a lion'. Christians have long linked the verse to crucifixion, and Thomas's demand to see the nail prints in Jesus' hands is one of the clearest echoes.

• The breath of new life Genesis 2:7 and John 20:22

  God breathes into Adam the breath of life. The risen Jesus breathes on his disciples and says 'Receive the Holy Spirit' — John uses the same rare verb as the Greek of Genesis 2:7, signalling new creation.

• Breath into dry bones Ezekiel 37:9 and John 20:22

  Ezekiel prophesies to the wind (or breath, or spirit — one Hebrew word) to enter the slain so they live. Jesus breathing the Spirit into his disciples enacts the same picture.

• Two angels at either end Exodus 25:22 and John 20:12

  God met Israel between two golden cherubim at either end of the mercy seat. Mary sees two angels in white sitting at the head and foot of where Jesus' body had lain — many readers see a deliberate picture of the new mercy seat.

Chapters most linked to John 20

• Luke 2440 links
• Mark 1627 links
• Matthew 2820 links
• John 2120 links
• John 1417 links
• John 115 links
• John 1614 links
• John 1112 links
• John 1912 links
• Matthew 2711 links
• John 610 links
• Matthew 109 links
• John 39 links
• Acts 19 links
• Matthew 168 links
• Luke 18 links

People in John 20

Jesus Christ, Thomas, Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, God, Holy Spirit

Hard questions about John 20

• Which women went to the tomb on Easter morning, and how many were there?
• Whom did the women see at the tomb: one angel or two, men or angels?
• Did the women reach the tomb while it was still dark, or at sunrise?
• Did Jesus first appear to the eleven in Jerusalem or in Galilee?
• Had the stone already been rolled away when the women arrived?
• How many apostles saw the risen Jesus: ten, eleven, or the twelve?
• Did Mary Magdalene know the risen Jesus at once, or take him for the gardener?
• Did Jesus give signs to show who he was, or refuse to give any?
• Was Jesus in paradise on the day he died, though on Easter morning he had not yet ascended?
• Did Jesus ascend on the day he rose, or forty days later?
• Did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them, or at Pentecost?
• Why did the women go to the tomb: to anoint the body, or to see the tomb?
• Were the angels at the tomb sitting or standing?
• Was the angel outside the tomb or inside it when the women arrived?
• Were the women told at the tomb that Jesus had risen, when Mary Magdalene reported only that the body had been taken?
• Was Mary Magdalene full of joy or in tears when she met the risen Jesus?
• Did the risen Jesus send his disciples word to meet him in Galilee, or word that he was ascending to the Father?
• Did Jesus tell his disciples beforehand that he would die and rise again?
• Were the disciples terrified or glad when the risen Jesus appeared to them?
• Was the Holy Spirit given only after Jesus was glorified, when people were filled with the Spirit long before?
• Could the risen Jesus be touched before he ascended?

Archaeology

• Heel bone of Jehohanan 1st century AD, before AD 70
• Megiddo church mosaic 3rd century AD