Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 20:12

"and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain." — John 20:12 (ASV)

No description is given of the angels, except that they were clothed in white (cf. Acts 1:10). When angels appear in the Bible, they are usually recognized by their powers rather than by any significant difference from human form. Mary did not respond to them in any unusual way, possibly because her eyes were clouded with tears or because she was preoccupied with the loss of Jesus’ body.