5 And stooping down, he saw the linen clothes 6 lying; yet he went not in. Then Simon Peter who followed him, came up and went into the sepulchre, and saw the linen clothes lie; 7 and the napkin which was about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped to8 gether in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came first to the sepulchre, went 9 in also, and he saw and believ ed. (For as yet they knew not the scripture that he must rise 10 again from the dead.*) Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11

But Mary stood without the sepulchre weeping:† and as she wept, she stooped down, 12 and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white, sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of 13 Jesus had laid and they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I 14 know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, but knew not 15 that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? Supposing him to be the gardener, she saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I

* The disciples of Jesus had no predisposition to believe in the resurrection of their Master. They had no expectation of any such event.

Mary then must have returned to the sepulchre, with the two apostles, or soon after, while they were there.

16 will take him away.*

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, 17 Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jésus 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 18 and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19

Then 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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 31 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be unto you as the Father hath sent me, even so I 22 send you. And when he had said this, he

:

breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive 23 ye the Holy Spirit. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.§

* It will be remembered that Mary and others had provided spices to embalm the dead body of Jesus.

† Or, detain me not. No doubt, in her joy and surprise, she was ready to fall down at his feet and embrace him. That is I do not immediately ascend therefore do not now detain me but inform the apostles that though I shall soon ascend to heaven, I will first see them.

This power was given only to the apostles. They. had supernatural powers, and therefore knew who was sincerely penitent.

24

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The 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.

26

After eight days again his disciples were within,† and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the 27 midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then he said to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side and be not faith28 less, but believe. And Thomas answered,

and said unto him, My Lord, and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed.‡

30 And indeed many other signs Jesus did in

* Where he was pierced with a spear.

Jesus rose from the grave on the first day of the week, and appeared to his disciples. Eight days after, that is, on the next Sunday, or first day of the week, they were again assembled, when Jesus came to them. And it appears that after this, the disciples observed the first day of the week to commemorate the resurretion of Christ, and for religious worship.

All cannot see Jesus, nor have personal knowledge of his miracles: There is, however, sufficient evidence of the miracles and resurrection of Christ to convince the candid and well disposed: and they who believe and obey him, will be blessed by partaking of the hopes and promises of his gospel.

the presence of his disciples, which are not 31 written in this book. But 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.

I

CHAP. XXI.

AFTER these things, Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples: It was at the sea of Tiberias, and in this manner that he appeared. 2 There were there Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other 3 of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go to fish. They said unto him, We also will go with thee. And they went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; but that 4 night they caught nothing. And when the

morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye 6 any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. Then they cast it, and were not able to draw it for the 7 multitude of fishes. Then that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt on a fisher's coat (for he was naked) and 8 cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in the boat (for they were not far. from land, but as it were two hundred cubits)

9 dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of 10 coals and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus

saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye 11 have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and though there were so many, yet the net was not broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And

none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art 13 thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus.

then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth 14 them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead.

15

And when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He said unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. 16 He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. 17 He said unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me ?* Peter was grieved, because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love

* As Peter had lately denied his Lord, it was fitting that he should be questioned in this manner, to remind him of his former weakness; and to put him on his guard against future trials and temptations.