Luke 24:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

NIV: Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

NASB: Nevertheless, Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and when he stooped and looked in, he *saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.

CSB: Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened.

NLT: However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

KJV: Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

NKJV: But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

It appears that Peter—and John—go to the tomb because of Mary Magdalene's first report. She was with the women who had come to bring spices to cover Jesus' body. When they saw the stone rolled away from the entrance and the tomb empty, she left immediately. She ran to Peter and John to tell them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him" (John 20:1–2).

Peter and John run to the tomb; John surges ahead of Peter, but Peter goes into the tomb first. They see the grave clothes but no corpse. The face cloth, which had been coiled around Jesus' head, is folded neatly. At this point, John says, he "saw and believed," but he doesn't say what he believed. That Jesus' body was gone? Or that Jesus had risen from the dead? We don't know (John 20:3–9).

While Peter and John return to the men, Mary stays at the tomb. At that point, she finally sees the angels and Jesus. He sends her back to the disciples to tell them He's alive (John 20:10–18). Around the same time, the women who had stayed when Mary ran off also arrive to tell the men they have seen Jesus (Matthew 28:8–10).

When the text says "home," it doesn't mean Peter returned to Capernaum in Galilee. The eleven remaining apostles and other disciples have been hiding in a locked room for fear of the Jewish leaders (John 20:19). There's every reason to think Peter returns to this room and is there when Jesus appears later that night (Luke 24:36).

This verse seems to challenge this proposed timeline, but it doesn't really. Luke just tells the women's whole story, before transitioning to the men with Peter. It's unclear why Luke doesn't mention John; perhaps Theophilus only knew Peter.

Luke 24:1–12 reports that the women who had prepared spices find Jesus' tomb empty. Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas, Salome, Joanna, and possibly others saw where Jesus was buried and gathered spices before the Sabbath began. Early Sunday morning, they return but the stone is rolled away. Two angels remind them Jesus had promised to rise from the dead. They tell Peter who also finds the tomb empty. Mark 16:1–8 gives a similar account. Matthew 28:1–10 and John 20:1–18 say that the women meet Jesus and John is with Peter.

After Jesus is executed and buried (Luke 23:52–53), the women who had followed Him from Galilee come to improve His burial condition. They find an open, empty tomb and angels. The disciples are informed. Two of them spend time speaking with a stranger while walking, only to realize it was Jesus Himself. Jesus appears to His followers, eating fish and explaining how His role as Messiah was predicted in Scripture. Jesus then ascends to heaven while His disciples worship.

Luke 24 describes how Jesus' followers learned of His resurrection. Luke 23 recorded His legal trials, crucifixion, death, and burial. Acts chapter 1, also written by Luke, explains how Jesus' followers prepare for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. Luke 24's theme is the fulfillment of prophecy from Jesus and the Old Testament prophets. Once Jesus' followers understand, He returns to heaven. Matthew 28 includes how the Sanhedrin bribed the guards. John chapter 20 adds Thomas coming to believe while chapter 21 records Peter's reconciliation with Jesus.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.