John

The 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.

1On the first day of the week, very early, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

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.

2So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they put him!"

3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

3So Peter and that other disciple started out for the tomb.

4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

4The two of them ran together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first.

5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

5He bent down and looked in. He saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go inside.

6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

6Then Simon Peter came up behind him and went right into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,

7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

7and he saw the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. It was not with the other cloths but was folded up by itself.

NoteThe KJV says "napkin." It does not mean a table napkin. It means the burial cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head.

8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, went inside too. He saw, and he believed.

9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

9Until then they had not understood what the Scriptures said: that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

10Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

11But Mary stayed outside the tomb, crying. While she was crying, she bent down to look inside,

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.

12and she saw two angels dressed in white. They were sitting where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and one at the feet.

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.

13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" She said, "They have taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they put him."

14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know it was Jesus.

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.

15Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the gardener. She said, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you put him, and I will get him."

16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and said, "Rabboni!" That word means "Teacher."

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.

17Jesus said, "Don't hold on to me. I have not yet gone up to my Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

NoteThe KJV says "Touch me not." The original wording means "stop clinging to me," not "do not touch me at all."

18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

18So Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them what he had said to her.

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.

19That same day, Sunday evening, the disciples were together with the doors locked, because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them. He said, "Peace be with you."

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.

20After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord.

21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. Just as the Father sent me, I am now sending you."

22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

22Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Note"Holy Ghost" in the KJV means the Holy Spirit. "Ghost" was an old word for spirit and does not mean a ghost the way we use the word today.

23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

23If you forgive anyone's sins, those sins are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

24Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, was also called Didymus, which means Twin. He was not with them when Jesus came.

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.

25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said, "I will not believe it unless I see the nail marks in his hands. I must put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side."

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.

26A week later his disciples were inside again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

Note"After eight days" was the normal way of counting back then. It means a week later, from one Sunday to the next.

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.

27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.

28Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

29Jesus said to him, "You believed because you have seen me. Happy are the people who have not seen me and still believe."

30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

30Jesus did many other miracles in front of his disciples. They are not written down in this book.

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.

31But these are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And by believing, you will have life through his name.