Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 20:5

"and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in." — John 20:5 (ASV)

Both Peter and John “ran” to the tomb (cf. the women “running” in Mt 28:6). Their running shows they were activated by a powerful emotion, possibly either consternation, as in the case of Mary, or joy, as with the women. Peter, perhaps being the older and heavier of the two, was unable to maintain as swift a pace as his companion. John arrived first but did not venture to enter the tomb. Having seen that the graveclothes were still within, he probably concluded that the body was also there and so refrained from entering. Either he felt that he should not enter the tomb out of respect for the dead, or he feared the ceremonial defilement of touching a corpse.