John 20:3
So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just a simple "they went to the tomb" – the Greek word used for their journey emphasizes they were actively moving toward it, captured in the ongoing action of their travel. It highlights not a single event, but the journey itself, filled with their shared urgency and unspoken questions as they headed toward the unknown.
Mary Magdalene has just run from the empty tomb, telling Peter and John that Jesus' body is missing. In response, the two disciples immediately set out from wherever they were staying, eager to see the tomb for themselves and understand what had happened. The narrative emphasizes their urgency as they head towards the garden.
When Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty, she ran immediately to tell the disciples. But the story doesn't end there. What propelled Peter and John to the tomb with such haste?
Driven by Emotion
The moment Mary discovered the unthinkable – the stone rolled away and the body gone – she didn't hesitate. Her grief propelled her to seek out the leaders, Peter and John. The text emphasizes that 'they were going toward the tomb,' using a verb tense that highlights the continuous action of their journey.
This wasn't a casual stroll. It was a response fueled by profound emotion, a mixture of shock, confusion, and an urgent need to understand. Peter and John, hearing Mary's report, immediately set out. The ancient commentaries suggest they went 'forth' from the city, underscoring their swift departure.
One disciple outran the other to the tomb. Who was it, and what does this detail reveal about the disciples' hearts?
Love Outpaces Reason
The narrative provides a vivid detail: the 'other disciple' – understood to be John – outran Peter. This wasn't just about physical speed; it was a reflection of a heart moved by love and perhaps a deeper, more intuitive understanding.
Ancient commentators suggest that 'love supplied swifter wings.' John, perhaps younger and propelled by the fervor of his affection for Jesus, arrived first. While Peter, the bolder disciple, rushed in, John paused. This detail isn't about John boasting; it's a humble acknowledgment of how love can drive us to seek the truth with intense passion.
This narrative unfolds in the immediate aftermath of Jesus' resurrection, capturing the raw, urgent reactions of his closest followers as they race to verify the astonishing reports of the empty tomb.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Crucified and Buried
Following his arrest and trial, Jesus is crucified and his body is placed in a tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea. This event is the immediate catalyst for the subsequent actions described.
c. AD 30-33
Women Visit the Empty Tomb
Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and other women go to Jesus' tomb to anoint his body. They discover the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, prompting them to seek out Peter and the other disciple.
c. AD 30-33
Disciples Race to the Tomb
Upon hearing the women's report, Peter and the 'other disciple' (traditionally John) immediately set out from the city to the tomb, with the younger disciple arriving first.
c. AD 30-33
Peter and John Examine the Tomb
Peter enters the tomb first, followed by the other disciple, who observes the burial cloths left behind. They witness the evidence of the resurrection but do not yet fully comprehend its meaning.
This passage provides a parallel account of Peter's solo rush to the tomb, highlighting his immediate and bold reaction to the news of the resurrection.
John 11:16Thomas's reaction ('Let us also go, that we may die with him') mirrors Peter's willingness to face the unknown, showing a shared courageous spirit in the face of death and resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8This passage lists Peter (Cephas) as one of the first witnesses to the risen Christ, underscoring the significance of Peter's personal investigation at the tomb.
Galatians 1:18-19Paul mentions meeting Peter (Cephas) in Jerusalem after his conversion, indicating Peter's prominent apostolic role, which makes his immediate response to the resurrection news historically important.
vincentJohn 20:3: "Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre."
Came to (ἤρχοντο εἰς)Wrong. The tense is the imperfect; they were coming. Rev., they went toward.
cambridgeJohn 20:3: "Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre."
3 . and that … sepulcher ] Better, and the other disciple, and they were coming towards the sepulcher .
This isn't just a simple "they went to the tomb" – the Greek word used for their journey emphasizes they were actively moving toward it, captured in the ongoing action of their travel. It highlights not a single event, but the journey itself, filled with their shared urgency and unspoken questions as they headed toward the unknown.
Mary Magdalene has just run from the empty tomb, telling Peter and John that Jesus' body is missing. In response, the two disciples immediately set out from wherever they were staying, eager to see the tomb for themselves and understand what had happened. The narrative emphasizes their urgency as they head towards the garden.
Mary Magdalene has just run from the empty tomb, telling Peter and John that Jesus' body is missing. In response, the two disciples immediately set out from wherever they were staying, eager to see the tomb for themselves and understand what had happened. The narrative emphasizes their urgency as they head towards the garden.
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c. AD 30-33
Disciples Return and Reflect
After examining the tomb, the disciples return, likely to where the other disciples are gathered, still puzzling over the events and the implications of Jesus' resurrection.
"So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb." — This isn't just a simple "they went to the tomb" – the Greek word used for their journey emphasizes they were actively moving toward it, captured in the ongoing action of their travel. It highlight…
