John 20:24

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus^[a] ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

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John 20:24 in Other Translations

KJV

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

ESV

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

NLT

24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came.

MSG

24 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

CSB

24 But one of the Twelve, Thomas (called "Twin"), was not with them when Jesus came.

John 20:24 Meaning and Commentary

John 20:24

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus
The person here spoken of, is described by his Hebrew name Thomas, and his Greek one Didymus, which both signify a twin; and perhaps he was one. It was common with the Jews to have two names, a Jewish and a Gentile one; by the one they went in the land of Israel, and by the other when without the land ^F17; nay, they often went by one name in Judea, and by another in Galilee ^F18; where Thomas might go by the name of Didymus with the Greeks, that might live with the Jews in some of those parts: he is also said to be "one of the twelve" apostles, which was their number at first, though Judas now was gone off from them, and therefore are sometimes only called the "eleven"; but this having been their complement, it is still retained; but what is observed of him to his disadvantage and discredit is, that he

was not with them when Jesus came:
Beza's ancient copy reads, "he was not there with them"; and so read the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions; he either had not returned to the rest after their scattering one from another upon the apprehending of Christ; or did not choose to assemble with the rest, for fear of the Jews; or was taken up with some business and affair of life; however, he was not with the rest of the disciples, when they were assembled together, and Jesus appeared among them: as it is of good consequence to attend the assemblies of Christ's disciples and followers, so it is of bad consequence to neglect or forsake them: it is frequently to good purpose that persons attend them; here God comes and blesses his people, Jesus grants his presence, the graces of the Spirit are increased, and drawn forth into exercise; souls that have lost sight of Christ find him, disconsolate ones are comforted, weak ones strengthened, and hungry ones fed: on the other hand, not to attend is of bad consequence; neglect of assembling together exposes to many snares and temptations; brings on a spiritual leanness; leads to an indifference and lukewarmness: issues in a low degree of grace, and a non-exercise of it, and in a loss of Christ's presence.

FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Hieros. Gittin, fol. 43. 2.
F18 T. Hieros. Gittin, fol. 45. 3.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

John 20:24 In-Context

22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”