John 20:12

12 She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot.

John 20:12 Meaning and Commentary

John 20:12

And seeth two angels in white
Matthew and Mark speak but of one, but Luke of two, as here; whom he calls men, because they appeared in an human form, and in shining garments, or white apparel; and which appearance is entirely agreeable to the received notion of the Jews, that as evil angels or devils are clothed in black, so good angels, or ministering spirits, (Mynbl yvwbl) , "are clothed in white" ^F12, expressive of their spotless purity and innocence:

sitting the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the
body of Jesus had lain;
in what position the body of Christ was laid, whether from west to east, as some, or from north to south, as others, is not certain; since the Jews observed no rule in this matter, as appears from the form of their sepulchres, and the disposition of the graves in them; some lying one way, and some another, in the same vault; (See Gill on Luke 24:12).

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Gloss. in T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 72. 1.

John 20:12 In-Context

10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.

11 Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb.

12 She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot.

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

14 As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn't know it was Jesus.