John 20:17-19

20:17 Jesus replied, ¹  “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them ²  what ³  Jesus ⁴  had said to her. ⁵ 

Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples

20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together ⁶  and locked the doors ⁷  of the place ⁸  because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. ⁹  Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

[20:17]  ¹ tn Grk “Jesus said to her.”

[20:18]  ² tn The words “she told them” are repeated from the first part of the same verse to improve clarity.

[20:18]  ³ tn Grk “the things.”

[20:18]  ⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) is specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:18]  ⁵ tn The first part of Mary’s statement, introduced by ὅτι (Joti), is direct discourse (ἑώρακα τὸν κύριον, Jewraka ton kurion), while the second clause switches to indirect discourse (καὶ ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ, kai tauta eipen auth). This has the effect of heightening the emphasis on the first part of the statement.

[20:19]  ³ tn Although the words “had gathered together” are omitted in some of the earliest and best mss, they are nevertheless implied, and have thus been included in the translation.

[20:19]  ⁴ tn Grk “the doors were shut”; “locked” conveys a more appropriate idea for the modern English reader.

[20:19]  ⁵ tn Grk “where they were.”

[20:19]  ⁶ tn Or “the Jewish authorities”; Grk “the Jews.” In NT usage the term ᾿Ιουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) may refer to the entire Jewish people, the residents of Jerusalem and surrounding territory, the authorities in Jerusalem, or merely those who were hostile to Jesus. (For further information see R. G. Bratcher, “‘The Jews’ in the Gospel of John,” BT 26 [1975]: 401-9.) Here the phrase refers to the Jewish leaders.