Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
They both (oi duo). "The two" (Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved).
Ran together (etrexon omou). Imperfect active of trexw. It was a race in eagerness to reach the tomb of Jesus.
Outran Peter (proedramen taxeion tou Petrou). Second aorist active indicative of protrexw, old verb, in N.T. only here and Luke 19:4, to run on before (ahead). "He ran ahead more swiftly (see John 13:27) than Peter" (ablative case after comparative adverb taxeion, Koin‚ for older qasson).
First (prwtov). Predicative nominative (not adverb proton) and superlative used where only two involved. John won the race.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing John 20:4:
Mark 16:5
John 1:15
John 4:36
John 8:7
John 13:27
Acts 1:1
Hebrews 13:19
1 John 4:19
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