Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 20:1

"Now on the first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb." — John 20:1 (ASV)

“The first day of the week” was the day after the Sabbath. In the Jewish method of reckoning time, it began with sundown on Saturday and continued until sundown on Sunday. The text indicates that the visit of the women to the tomb occurred early on that Sunday morning. Only Mary Magdalene is mentioned by name, but others are listed in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1). Likely Mary Magdalene, noticing that the stone had been rolled away from the door of the tomb, ran to warn the disciples while the others investigated further.