Peter and John at the grave: V. 3. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. V. 4. So they ran both together; and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. V. 5. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. V. 6. Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie, V. 7. and the napkin that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
The message of Mary Magdalene stirred both Peter and John to quick action. They immediately made up their minds to find out the truth of this most astounding matter. At first the two disciples ran together, side by side. Soon, however, the younger and nimbler John outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first.
But here he hesitated. He may have had some presentiment of the miracles which the disciples were soon to witness. He could not quite make up his mind to investigate more closely. He merely stooped down and peered into the semidarkness or the tomb. He could make out the linen grave-cloths with which the body had been wound, but nothing more; and he could not make up his mind to enter.
But when impulsive Peter came along, there was not a moment's hesitation. He went into the tomb; he viewed closely the gravecloths, assuring himself of their identity; he noted also the sudary, or napkin, which had been wrapped about the head of the Master. It struck him that this cloth was lying apart from the other linen wrappings, in a place by itself, and that it was folded or rolled together.