"Come and See": A Web Commentary on the Gospel of John: Section 14.2 Jesus and Thomas (Jn 20.19-31)

¹⁹When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were closed where the disciples were for fear of 'the authorities', Jesus came and stood in their midst and he said to them, "Peace be upon you." ²⁰And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹Then he said to them again, "Peace be upon you. Just as the Father has sent me forth, so I am sending you." ²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said, ²³"Receive a holy spirit! If you forgive anyone's guilt, then is is forgiven; if you retain it, it is retained."

²⁴But Thomas, one of the Twelve, called "Twin", was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the impression of the nails and put my finger into the impression of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it¹. ²⁶And a week later the disciples were inside there again and Thomas was with them. Jesus came in, although the doors were closed, and said, "Peace be upon you." ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands and put out your hand and put it into my side. And do not be unbelieving, but faithful." ²⁸Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" ²⁹Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you put your trust in me - happy are the ones who do not see and yet put their trust in me."

³⁰Now then Jesus performed many other signs in the disciples' presence that are not written in this book. ³¹But the ones here are written so that you might trust that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and so that because you trust in him you will have life in his name.

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