John 20 24

John 20:24 kjv

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

John 20:24 nkjv

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

John 20:24 niv

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

John 20:24 esv

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

John 20:24 nlt

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

John 20 verses

John 20 24 Meaning

John 20:24 concisely establishes the narrative context for the significant encounter between the resurrected Jesus and Thomas. It specifies Thomas's absence during Jesus's first post-resurrection appearance to the other apostles. This seemingly simple statement is crucial, as it sets the stage for Thomas's well-known doubt and Jesus's subsequent intervention, ultimately providing a powerful testimony to the resurrection's reality for future generations who would believe without seeing.

John 20 24 Context

John 20 begins on the first day of the week, depicting Mary Magdalene's discovery of the empty tomb and her report to Peter and the Beloved Disciple. After they too inspect the tomb, Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene, commissioning her to tell His brothers. Immediately following this, on the same day, Jesus appears to the assembled disciples in a locked room, conferring peace, commissioning them with the Holy Spirit, and giving them authority. This specific appearance, where Jesus shows His hands and side, is the pivotal event that Thomas misses. The absence of Thomas is not a casual detail but carefully highlighted by John to prepare for the profound spiritual lesson that follows in the account of "Doubting Thomas." Historically, the immediate aftermath of Jesus's resurrection was a period of both confusion and burgeoning faith among His followers. Jesus's multiple appearances served to confirm the reality of His triumph over death, solidify the apostles' witness, and prepare them for their future mission. Thomas's absence during the initial appearance underscores that he missed crucial direct confirmation available to others, leading to his unique struggle with belief.

John 20 24 Word analysis

• Now (Δὲ - De): A particle often used to mark a transition, drawing attention to a new character or a shift in the narrative focus. It smoothly shifts the scene from the collective disciples' experience to a specific individual.
• Thomas (Θωμᾶς - Thōmas): This is his Aramaic name (from Hebrew Tĕ'ōm), meaning "twin."
• called Didymus (ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος - ho legomenos Didymos): "Didymus" is the Greek translation for "twin." John often includes these explanatory names (e.g., Cephas/Peter in Jn 1:42) for his broader, potentially Hellenistic, readership who may not be familiar with Aramaic. It reiterates his distinct identity and hints at his possibly singular nature or pairing in the eyes of his peers.
• one of the twelve (εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα - heis ek tōn dōdeka): This phrase underscores Thomas's authoritative status as a chosen apostle, a member of the inner circle appointed by Jesus. It highlights the weight and significance of his personal struggle with belief. His doubt is not that of a mere bystander but of one called to be a foundational witness. The "twelve" represents the new Israel, commissioned to spread the Gospel.
• was not with them (οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν - ouk ēn met' autōn): This is the critical piece of information. Thomas's absence is crucial for the subsequent narrative. It raises the question of why he was not with them, setting up his later unique challenge to their testimony. It implies that the disciples, in their shared fear and confinement, had found unity and perhaps mutual reinforcement of their experience, which Thomas missed.
• when Jesus came (ὅτε ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς - hote ēlthen Iēsous): Refers directly to the dramatic scene in John 20:19-23, where Jesus miraculously appears in the locked room and imparts peace and the Holy Spirit. This phrase grounds Thomas's absence in a specific, crucial event of post-resurrection appearances, ensuring the reader understands the exact moment of missed opportunity.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve": This phrase serves as a triple identification of the individual. His common name, its Greek translation for clarity, and his authoritative position within the core group of Jesus's disciples. It signals to the reader that this individual's story is particularly important, as his subsequent actions and interactions with Jesus will carry significant theological weight due to his standing. It contrasts his position of close proximity to Jesus with his ultimate inability to accept the eyewitness accounts of his fellow apostles.
• "was not with them when Jesus came": This clause directly explains the circumstance leading to Thomas's famous doubt. His physical absence at this critical moment meant he missed the communal experience of the Lord's presence and the collective joy and reassurance. This isolation contributes to his skepticism, as he relies only on secondary reports. The narrative implies divine orchestration or human failing allowed for this absence, paving the way for Jesus to teach a deeper lesson on belief for all future generations who would not physically see Him.

John 20 24 Bonus section

The deliberate mentioning of Thomas's dual name, Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek), is a common characteristic of John's Gospel, indicating its intended audience extended beyond Aramaic speakers, providing cultural bridges for Gentile Christians. This detail contributes to the universality of John's message. Furthermore, Thomas's absence in John 20:24 implies the vulnerability of individual disciples when isolated from the community of believers, underscoring the importance of communal gathering and mutual support in faith. His subsequent demand for physical proof (Jn 20:25) is sometimes seen not just as a lack of faith, but also a representation of humanity's natural inclination towards sensory confirmation, which Jesus graciously meets before inviting a higher form of belief. This detail also serves to confirm the actual physical resurrection of Christ against any Gnostic-like heresies that might propose Jesus's post-resurrection appearance was merely spiritual or illusory.

John 20 24 Commentary

John 20:24 is not merely an incidental detail; it is the pivot around which Thomas's famous encounter with the resurrected Christ turns. By stating Thomas's absence from the initial post-resurrection gathering, the Gospel writer subtly foregrounds the reason for Thomas's later skepticism, thereby making his eventual belief all the more compelling. Thomas, portrayed earlier as both courageous and prone to practical questioning, embodies the rational, empirical mindset that demands tangible evidence. His absence from the intimate, spirit-filled communion where Jesus revealed Himself to the others set him apart, highlighting the challenge of believing a transformative truth through only secondary testimony. This verse thus lays the foundation for Jesus's pivotal pronouncement in John 20:29, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed," which extends the scope of faith beyond eyewitness accounts to encompass all future generations of believers. Thomas's initial lack of belief serves a pedagogical purpose: it validates the resurrection for all who come after, showing that even a most skeptical Apostle eventually received undeniable proof.