Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days. If he died on the day that the tidings came of his illness; if he was, according to the Jewish custom, buried the same day (see the note at Luke 7:12; and Acts 5:5-6; Acts 5:10); and if Jesus, after two days' further stay in Peraea, set out on the day following for Bethany (some ten hours' journey) - that would make out the four days, the first and last being incomplete. (So Meyer.)