| 6. Venit ergo Simon Petrus sequens eum, et introivit in monumentum, et vidit linteamina posita. | 6. Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulchre, and saw the linen cloths lying. |
6. St. John had arrived first at the tomb, but (deterred by some feeling of fear or awe) he did not enter, as he takes care to record. Then Peter arrived less fleet but more brave, and, apparently, without pausing to look in, at once enters the tomb.
And saw (seeth). In the original we have here the verb θεωρέι, denoting an intent and searching gaze, as distinct from St. John's simple look (βλέπει) described in the preceding verse.
| 7. Et sudarium quod fuerat super caput eius, non cum linteaminibus positum, sed separatim involutum in unum locum. | 7. And the napkin that had been about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapt up into one place. |
7. And the napkin. St. Peter's more searching examination discovered what had been unnoticed by St. John. The presence of the linen swathes, and the napkin folded and laid apart, are doubtless mentioned as proof that Christ was truly risen. Had His body been simply taken away to some other tomb, those taking it, whether friends or enemies, would not have gone to the useless trouble of removing the spice-covered bandages and the napkin. And, certainly, if it had been hurriedly stolen, such nice care would not have been taken to fold the napkin and place it apart. So, substantially, St. Chrysostom on this verse.
| 8. Tunc ergo introivit et ille discipulus qui venerat primus ad monumentum, et vidit, et credidit: | 8. Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulchre: and he saw and believed. |
8. St. John now followed Peter into the cave.
And he saw and believed. St. Augustine understands this to mean that John believed what Magdalen had said (verse 2), namely that the body of Jesus had been removed. We prefer to understand that he believed what St. Luke's company of women had told him, namely, that Jesus was risen from the dead; for when our Evangelist speaks of belief absolutely, as here, he usually means faith.
| 9. Nondum enim sciebant scripturam, quia oportebat eum a mortuis resurgere. | 9. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. |
9. For as yet. We take the meaning to be, that as yet until now they knew not the Scripture, that it was necessary Jesus should rise from the dead. Even now St. Peter “went away, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass” (Luke xxiv. 12).