Peter and John Run to the Tomb (John 20:3–10; Luke 24:12)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 121 (on John 20:1–9) Source: trans. John Gibb and James Innes, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 7. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf107.iii.cxxi.html

On the beloved disciple, who tells of his own outrunning of Peter as though he spoke of another:

The repetition here is worthy of notice and of commendation for the way in which a return is made to what had previously been omitted, and yet is added just as if it followed in due order. For after having already said, "they came to the sepulchre," he goes back to tell us how they came, and says, "so they ran both together," etc. Where he shows that, by outrunning his companion, there came first to the sepulchre that other disciple, by whom he means himself

On the one who reached the tomb first and yet yielded the entrance:

He came first, and entered last.

On what "he saw, and believed" can mean, since as yet they knew not the scripture:

Here some, by not giving due attention, suppose that John believed that Jesus had risen again; but there is no indication of this from the words that follow. ... What then did he see? what was it that he believed? What but this, that he saw the sepulchre empty, and believed what the woman had said, that He had been taken away from the tomb?

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of John, Homily 85 (on John 20:1–9) Source: trans. G. T. Stupart, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 14. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf114.iv.lxxxvii.html

On the linen clothes lying as a sign of the Resurrection, for no thief would strip and fold:

and see the linen clothes lying, which was a sign of the Resurrection. For neither, if any persons had removed the body, would they before doing so have stripped it; nor if any had stolen it, would they have taken the trouble to remove the napkin, and roll it up, and lay it in a place by itself; but how? they would have taken the body as it was.

On the napkin wrapped by itself, proof of an act done without haste or confusion:

But why do the clothes lie apart, while the napkin was wrapped together by itself? That thou mayest learn that it was not the action of men in confusion or haste, the placing some in one place, some in another, and the wrapping them together. From this they believed in the Resurrection.

On the Evangelist's freedom from boasting, who yields the closer search to Peter:

Observe too here again the absence of boastfulness in the Evangelist, how he witnesses to the exactness of Peter's search. For he himself having gotten before Peter, and having seen the linen clothes, enquired not farther, but withdrew; but that fervent one passing farther in, looked at everything carefully, and saw somewhat more, and then the other too was summoned to the sight.

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St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book XII (on John 20:1–9) Source: trans. T. Randell, Library of Fathers, 1885. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_john_12_book12.htm

On the two disciples who ran and came as competent witnesses, being two in number as the Law enjoined:

When these men (I mean Peter, and John the writer of this book, for he gives himself the name of the other disciple) heard these tidings from the woman's mouth, they ran with all the speed they could, and came to the sepulchre in haste, and saw the marvel with their own eyes, being in themselves competent to testify to the event, for they were two in number, as the Law enjoined.

On inferring the Resurrection from the linen clothes, before ever they met the risen Lord:

As yet they did not meet Christ risen from the dead, but infer His Resurrection from the bundle of linen clothes, and henceforth believed that He had burst asunder the bonds of death, as Holy Writ had long ago proclaimed that He would do.

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Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of John (on John 20:3–8) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CAJohn.htm

On Peter the prompt and John the contemplative, and which of them saw first into the mystery:

Peter is practical and prompt, John contemplative and intelligent, and learned in divine things. Now the contemplative man is generally beforehand in knowledge and intelligence, but the practical by his fervour and activity gets the advance of the other's perception, and sees first into the divine mystery.

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St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

Forty Gospel Homilies (on John 20:3–8) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on John. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CAJohn.htm

On why Peter and John outran the rest to the sepulchre:

But Peter and John before the others, for they loved most; Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

On the napkin found apart and wrapped together, a figure of the hidden things of God:

The napkin about our Lord's head is not found with the linen clothes, i. e. God, the Head of Christ, and the incomprehensible mysteries of the Godhead are removed from our poor knowledge; His power transcends the nature of the creature.