John 20
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Empty Tomb
20 On(A) the first day of the week(B) Mary Magdalene(C) came to the tomb(D) early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone(E) had been removed[a] from the tomb. 2 So she ran to Simon Peter(F) and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,(G) and we don’t know where they have put Him!”
3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths(H) lying there, yet he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping(I) that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths(J) but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw, and believed. 9 For they still did not understand the Scripture(K) that He must rise(L) from the dead.(M) 10 Then the disciples went home again.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord
11 But(N) Mary stood outside facing the tomb,(O) crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels(P) in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body(Q) had been lying. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,”(R) she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus.(S)
15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.”
16 Jesus said, “Mary.”
Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”[b]—which means “Teacher.”(T)
17 “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended(U) to the Father.(V) But go to My brothers(W) and tell them that I am ascending to My Father(X) and your Father—to My God(Y) and your God.”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”(Z) And she told them what[c] He had said to her.
The Disciples Commissioned
19 In the evening of that first day of the week,(AA) the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”(AB)
20 Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side.(AC) So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me,(AD) I also send you.”(AE) 22 After saying this, He breathed on them(AF) and said,[d] “Receive the Holy Spirit.(AG) 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”(AH)
Thomas Sees and Believes
24 But one of the Twelve, Thomas(AI) (called “Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails,(AJ) and put my hand into His side,(AK) I will never believe!”(AL)
26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!”
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”(AM)
28 Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed.[e] Those who believe without seeing(AN) are blessed.”
The Purpose of This Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs(AO) in the presence of His disciples that are not written(AP) in this book.(AQ) 31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah,(AR) the Son(AS) of God,[f](AT) and by believing you may have life in His name.(AU)
Footnotes
- John 20:1 Lit She saw the stone removed
- John 20:16 Rabbouni is also used in Mk 10:51
- John 20:18 Lit these things
- John 20:22 Lit He breathed and said to them
- John 20:29 Or have you believed? (as a question)
- John 20:31 Or that the Messiah, the Son of God, is Jesus
John 20
Contemporary English Version
Jesus Is Alive
(Matthew 28.1-10; Mark 16.1-8; Luke 24.1-12)
20 On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus' favorite disciple and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don't know where they have put him.”
3 Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first. 5 He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.
6 When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. 7 He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus' face. It was rolled up and in a place by itself. 8 The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. 9 At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life. 10 So the two of them went back to the other disciples.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
(Mark 16.9-11)
11 Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. She was still weeping, when she stooped down 12 and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus' body had been. One was at the head and the other was at the foot. 13 The angels asked Mary, “Why are you crying?”
She answered, “They have taken away my Lord's body! I don't know where they have put him.”
14 As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was. 15 Jesus asked her, “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener and said, “Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.”
16 Then Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him, “Rabboni.” The Aramaic word “Rabboni” means “Teacher.”
17 Jesus told her, “Don't hold on to me! I have not yet gone to the Father. But tell my disciples I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God.” 18 Mary Magdalene then went and told the disciples she had seen the Lord. She also told them what he had said to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
(Matthew 28.16-20; Mark 16.14-18; Luke 24.36-49)
19 The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. He greeted them 20 and showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy.
21 After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, “I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 (A) If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven.”
Jesus and Thomas
24 Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. 25 So they told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But Thomas said, “First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!”
26 A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples 27 and said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!”
28 Thomas replied, “You are my Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!”
Why John Wrote His Book
30 Jesus worked many other miracles[a] for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in[b] him, you will have true life.
John 20
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
The Empty Tomb
20 On(A) the first day of the week(B) Mary Magdalene(C) came to the tomb(D) early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone(E) had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she went running to Simon Peter(F) and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb,(G) and we don’t know where they’ve put him! ’
3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths(H) lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping(I) that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths(J) but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture(K) that he must rise(L) from the dead.(M) 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord
11 But(N) Mary stood outside the tomb,(O) crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels(P) in white sitting where Jesus’s body(Q) had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? ’
‘Because they’ve taken away my Lord,’(R) she told them, ‘and I don’t know where they’ve put him.’
14 Having said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.(S) 15 ‘Woman,’ Jesus said to her, ‘why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking? ’
Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, ‘Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.’
16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’
Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic,[a] ‘Rabboni! ’ – which means ‘Teacher.’(T)
17 ‘Don’t cling to me,’ Jesus told her, ‘since I have not yet ascended(U) to the Father.(V) But go to my brothers(W) and tell them that I am ascending to my Father(X) and your Father, to my God(Y) and your God.’
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord! ’(Z) And she told them what[b] he had said to her.
The Disciples Commissioned
19 When it was evening on that first day of the week,(AA) the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’(AB)
20 Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side.(AC) So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me,(AD) I also send you.’(AE) 22 After saying this, he breathed on them(AF) and said,[c] ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.(AG) 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’(AH)
Thomas Sees and Believes
24 But Thomas(AI) (called ‘Twin’[d]), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were telling him, ‘We’ve seen the Lord! ’
But he said to them, ‘If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails,(AJ) and put my hand into his side,(AK) I will never believe.’(AL)
26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
27 Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.’(AM)
28 Thomas responded to him, ‘My Lord and my God! ’
29 Jesus said, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed.[e] Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.’(AN)
The Purpose of This Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs(AO) in the presence of his disciples that are not written(AP) in this book.(AQ) 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah,(AR) the Son(AS) of God,[f](AT) and that by believing you may have life in his name.(AU)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.