More people read the Bible this Easter Sunday compared to last year as the COVID-19 pandemic forced churches to close their buildings and kept people in their homes.

According to Christian Today, YouVersion data showed a 54% increase in Bible engagement during Holy Week. This year, 40.6 million completed Bible Plan days of Easter, compared to 26.4 million people in the same period in 2019. The Bible reading app also reported that during Holy Week, 14.1 million verses were shared, a 30% increase from last year; and the Bible App for Kids had 5.2 million Bible stories completed.

Easter looked different this year, but it didn’t stop the global church from celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. —Rachel Feuerborn, spokesperson for Life.Church

“Easter looked different this year, but it didn’t stop the global church from celebrating Jesus’ resurrection,” said Rachel Feuerborn, spokesperson for Life.Church, the Oklahoma-based church behind YouVersion.

Some of the most shared Bible verses on Easter included:

• Mark 16:6 – “‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.'”
• Psalms 30:5 – “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

The coronavirus lockdown guidelines have shifted the way American Christians worship and spend time for fellowships.

While other businesses have stalled operations, the Bible publishing industry is seeing a small boom during the pandemic.

Tyndale House Publishers of Carol Stream, Illinois reported an increase in Bible sales in March. Tyndale said Life Application Study Bible sales went up 44 percent and sales of the Immerse Bible went up 60 percent, compared to the same period the year before.

In an interview with Christian Post, Jim Jewell, communications director for Tyndale Bibles, said, “It’s not surprising that people turn to the comfort and clarity of the Bible in times of trouble and uncertainty.”

Alabaster Co., creators of visually-stunning standalone Bible books, reported a 143% hike in sales, reports Relevant Magazine.

“We believe people are buying Bibles because there’s a longing to connect with God, find meaning, and experience peace,” said Alabaster co-founder Brian Chung.