Worship Restored at Jerusalem

And when the (A)seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. Then [a]Jeshua the son of (B)Jozadak[b] and his brethren the priests, (C)and Zerubbabel the son of (D)Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is (E)written in the Law of Moses the man of God. Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its [c]bases; and they offered (F)burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. (G)They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, (H)as it is written, and (I)offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. Afterwards they offered the (J)regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for all the appointed feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the Lord. From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, although the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid. They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and (K)food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to (L)Joppa, (M)according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

Restoration of the Temple Begins

Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, (N)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of [d]Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work (O)and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the Lord. Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of [e]Judah, arose as one to oversee those working on the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, (P)the[f] priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the (Q)ordinance[g] of David king of Israel. 11 (R)And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord:

(S)“For He is good,
(T)For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.”

Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and (U)heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off.

Resistance to Rebuilding the Temple

Now when (V)the [h]adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him (W)since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, (X)“You may do nothing with us to build a [i]house for our God; but we alone will build to the Lord God of Israel, as (Y)King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” Then (Z)the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of (AA)Darius king of Persia.

Rebuilding of Jerusalem Opposed

In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

In the days of (AB)Artaxerxes also, [j]Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of their companions wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the letter was written in (AC)Aramaic script, and translated into the Aramaic language. [k]Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes in this fashion:

[l]From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions—representatives of (AD)the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the people of Persia and Erech and Babylon and [m]Shushan, the Dehavites, the Elamites, 10 (AE)and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond [n]the River—(AF)and[o] so forth.

11 (This is a copy of the letter that they sent him.)

To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River, [p]and so forth:

12 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the (AG)rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its (AH)walls and repairing the foundations. 13 Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay (AI)tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished. 14 Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king, 15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. And you will find in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, and that they have incited sedition within the city in former times, for which cause this city was destroyed.

16 We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion beyond the River.

17 The king sent an answer:

To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River:

Peace, [q]and so forth.

18 The letter which you sent to us has been clearly read before me. 19 And [r]I gave the command, and a search has been made, and it was found that this city in former times has revolted against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been fostered in it. 20 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem, who have (AJ)ruled over all the region (AK)beyond the River; and tax, tribute, and custom were paid to them. 21 Now [s]give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me.

22 Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?

23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Restoration of the Temple Resumed(AL)

Then the prophet (AM)Haggai and (AN)Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. So (AO)Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of [t]Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and (AP)the prophets of God were with them, helping them.

At the same time (AQ)Tattenai the governor of the region beyond [u]the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: (AR)“Who has commanded you to build this [v]temple and finish this wall?” (AS)Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building. But (AT)the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a (AU)written answer was returned concerning this matter. This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai sent:

The governor of the region beyond the River, and Shethar-Boznai, (AV)and his companions, the Persians who were in the region beyond the River, to Darius the king.

(They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus.)

To Darius the king:

All peace.

Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the [w]temple of the great God, which is being built with [x]heavy stones, and timber is being laid in the walls; and this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.

Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: (AW)“Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?” 10 We also asked them their names to inform you, that we might write the names of the men who were chief among them.

11 And thus they returned us an answer, saying: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the [y]temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built (AX)and completed. 12 But (AY)because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of (AZ)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and (BA)carried the people away to Babylon. 13 However, in the first year of (BB)Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to build this [z]house of God. 14 Also, (BC)the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple that was in Jerusalem and carried into the temple of Babylon—those King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon, and they were given to (BD)one named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor. 15 And he said to him, ‘Take these articles; go, carry them to the temple site that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its former site.’ 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came and (BE)laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem; but from that time even until now it has been under construction, and (BF)it is not finished.”

17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, (BG)let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 3:2 Or Joshua
  2. Ezra 3:2 Jehozadak, 1 Chr. 6:14
  3. Ezra 3:3 foundations
  4. Ezra 3:8 Jehozadak, 1 Chr. 6:14
  5. Ezra 3:9 Hodaviah, Ezra 2:40
  6. Ezra 3:10 So with LXX, Syr., Vg.; MT they stationed the priests
  7. Ezra 3:10 Lit. hands
  8. Ezra 4:1 enemies
  9. Ezra 4:3 Temple
  10. Ezra 4:7 Or in peace
  11. Ezra 4:8 The original language of Ezra 4:8 through 6:18 is Aramaic.
  12. Ezra 4:9 Lit. Then
  13. Ezra 4:9 Or Susa
  14. Ezra 4:10 The Euphrates
  15. Ezra 4:10 Lit. and now
  16. Ezra 4:11 Lit. and now
  17. Ezra 4:17 Lit. and now
  18. Ezra 4:19 Lit. by me a decree has been put forth
  19. Ezra 4:21 put forth a decree
  20. Ezra 5:2 Jehozadak, 1 Chr. 6:14
  21. Ezra 5:3 The Euphrates
  22. Ezra 5:3 Lit. house
  23. Ezra 5:8 Lit. house
  24. Ezra 5:8 Lit. stones of rolling, stones too heavy to be carried
  25. Ezra 5:11 Lit. house
  26. Ezra 5:13 Temple

Rebuilding the Altar

When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,(A) the people assembled(B) together as one in Jerusalem. Then Joshua(C) son of Jozadak(D) and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel(E) and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses(F) the man of God. Despite their fear(G) of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.(H) Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles(I) with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day. After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon(J) sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred festivals of the Lord,(K) as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the Lord. On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid.

Rebuilding the Temple

Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters,(L) and gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs(M) by sea from Lebanon(N) to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus(O) king of Persia.

In the second month(P) of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel(Q) son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty(R) years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord. Joshua(S) and his sons and brothers and Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Hodaviah[a]) and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together in supervising those working on the house of God.

10 When the builders laid(T) the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets,(U) and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise(V) the Lord, as prescribed by David(W) king of Israel.(X) 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:

“He is good;
    his love toward Israel endures forever.”(Y)

And all the people gave a great shout(Z) of praise to the Lord, because the foundation(AA) of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple,(AB) wept(AC) aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy(AD) from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

Opposition to the Rebuilding

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building(AE) a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon(AF) king of Assyria, who brought us here.”(AG)

But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”(AH)

Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.[b](AI) They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Later Opposition Under Xerxes and Artaxerxes

At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes,[c](AJ) they lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.(AK)

And in the days of Artaxerxes(AL) king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. The letter was written in Aramaic script and in the Aramaic(AM) language.[d][e]

Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:

Rehum the commanding officer and Shimshai the secretary, together with the rest of their associates(AN)—the judges, officials and administrators over the people from Persia, Uruk(AO) and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,(AP) 10 and the other people whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal(AQ) deported and settled in the city of Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates.(AR)

11 (This is a copy of the letter they sent him.)

To King Artaxerxes,

From your servants in Trans-Euphrates:

12 The king should know that the people who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations.(AS)

13 Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty(AT) will be paid, and eventually the royal revenues will suffer.[f] 14 Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, 15 so that a search may be made in the archives(AU) of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed.(AV) 16 We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

17 The king sent this reply:

To Rehum the commanding officer, Shimshai the secretary and the rest of their associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in Trans-Euphrates:(AW)

Greetings.

18 The letter you sent us has been read and translated in my presence. 19 I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt(AX) against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition. 20 Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates,(AY) and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. 21 Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. 22 Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests?(AZ)

23 As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates,(BA) they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.

24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius(BB) king of Persia.

Tattenai’s Letter to Darius

Now Haggai(BC) the prophet and Zechariah(BD) the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied(BE) to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel(BF) son of Shealtiel and Joshua(BG) son of Jozadak set to work(BH) to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

At that time Tattenai,(BI) governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai(BJ) and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”(BK) They[g] also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” But the eye of their God(BL) was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius. The report they sent him read as follows:

To King Darius:

Cordial greetings.

The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work(BM) is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.

We questioned the elders and asked them, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”(BN) 10 We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

11 This is the answer they gave us:

“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple(BO) that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But because our ancestors angered(BP) the God of heaven, he gave them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.(BQ)

13 “However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree(BR) to rebuild this house of God. 14 He even removed from the temple[h] of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple[i] in Babylon.(BS) Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar,(BT) whom he had appointed governor, 15 and he told him, ‘Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.’

16 “So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God(BU) in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.”

17 Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives(BV) of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

Footnotes

  1. Ezra 3:9 Hebrew Yehudah, a variant of Hodaviah
  2. Ezra 4:4 Or and troubled them as they built
  3. Ezra 4:6 Hebrew Ahasuerus
  4. Ezra 4:7 Or written in Aramaic and translated
  5. Ezra 4:7 The text of 4:8–6:18 is in Aramaic.
  6. Ezra 4:13 The meaning of the Aramaic for this clause is uncertain.
  7. Ezra 5:4 See Septuagint; Aramaic We.
  8. Ezra 5:14 Or palace
  9. Ezra 5:14 Or palace

The Empty Tomb(A)

20 Now the (B)first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the (C)stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the (D)other disciple, (E)whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

(F)Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw (G)the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and (H)the [a]handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the (I)other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not [b]know the (J)Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord

11 (K)But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

14 (L)Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and (M)did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

16 Jesus said to her, (N)“Mary!”

She turned and said to [c]Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet (O)ascended to My Father; but go to (P)My brethren and say to them, (Q)‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to (R)My God and your God.’ ”

18 (S)Mary Magdalene came and told the [d]disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

The Apostles Commissioned(T)

19 (U)Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were [e]assembled, for (V)fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, (W)“Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He (X)showed them His hands and His side. (Y)Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! (Z)As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 (AA)If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Seeing and Believing

24 Now Thomas, (AB)called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and (AC)reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be (AD)unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, [f]“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. (AE)Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

That You May Believe

30 And (AF)truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 (AG)but these are written that (AH)you may believe that Jesus (AI)is the Christ, the Son of God, (AJ)and that believing you may have life in His name.

Footnotes

  1. John 20:7 face cloth
  2. John 20:9 understand
  3. John 20:16 NU adds in Hebrew
  4. John 20:18 NU disciples, “I have seen the Lord,”
  5. John 20:19 NU omits assembled
  6. John 20:29 NU, M omit Thomas

The Empty Tomb(A)

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene(B) went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.(C) So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved,(D) and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”(E)

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.(F) Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in(G) at the strips of linen(H) lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head.(I) The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first,(J) also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture(K) that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)(L) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb(M) 12 and saw two angels in white,(N) seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”(O)

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”(P) 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,(Q) but she did not realize that it was Jesus.(R)

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?(S) Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic,(T) “Rabboni!”(U) (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers(V) and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father(W) and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene(X) went to the disciples(Y) with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,(Z) Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace(AA) be with you!”(AB) 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.(AC) The disciples were overjoyed(AD) when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!(AE) As the Father has sent me,(AF) I am sending you.”(AG) 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.(AH) 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”(AI)

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas(AJ) (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side,(AK) I will not believe.”(AL)

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace(AM) be with you!”(AN) 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”(AO)

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;(AP) blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(AQ)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

30 Jesus performed many other signs(AR) in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.(AS) 31 But these are written that you may believe[b](AT) that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,(AU) and that by believing you may have life in his name.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. John 20:24 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
  2. John 20:31 Or may continue to believe