John 20

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.

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

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 follower, the one Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb. We do not know where they put him."

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

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

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

4Both men ran together. The other follower 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 linen cloths 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. He went right into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there.

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

7The cloth that had been around Jesus' head was not with them. It was rolled up in a place by itself.

NoteThe KJV calls it a "napkin." It means a cloth wrapped around the head of someone who has died, not a dinner napkin.

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

8Then the other follower went in too, the one who got there first. 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. God's book said that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

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

10Then the two followers went back to their homes.

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 cried, she bent down and looked 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.

12She saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus' body had been. One sat where his head had been. The other sat where his feet had been.

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. I do not 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.

14Then she turned around. She saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know it was him.

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 asked 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. Then I will go and 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 to him and said in Hebrew, "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 to her, "Do not hold on to me. I have not yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them this: I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

NoteThe KJV says "Touch me not." The words mean "stop holding on to me." Later in this chapter Jesus tells Thomas to touch him.

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

18Mary Magdalene went and told the followers, "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them everything 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 evening, the same first day of the week, the followers were together. The doors were 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.

20Then he showed them his hands and his side. The followers were full of joy to see 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. My Father sent me. Now I am 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. He said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

NoteThe KJV says "Holy Ghost." In 1611 "Ghost" meant spirit. It means the Holy Spirit, not a scary ghost.

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

23"If you forgive people their sins, their 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 was one of the twelve close followers. He was also called Didymus. He was not there when Jesus came.

Note"Didymus" is a Greek word that means "twin." It was Thomas's other name.

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.

25The other followers told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said, "I must see the nail marks in his hands. I must put my finger where the nails were. I must put my hand into his side. Until then I will not believe."

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.

26Eight days later the followers were inside again. Thomas was with them this time. The doors were locked. Jesus came and stood among them. He said, "Peace be with you."

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, "Thomas, you believe because you have seen me. God blesses the people who believe without seeing me."

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

30Jesus did many other signs, amazing things, while his followers watched. Those are not written 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 you will believe this. Jesus is the Christ, the king God promised to send. He is the Son of God. And by believing you will have life through him.