Mark16
King James Version · Public Domain
1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
9Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ's resurrection made known the women. (1–8). Christ appears to Mary Magdalene and other disciples. (9–13). His commission to the apostles. (14–18). Christ's ascension. (19, 20).
vv1-8
Nicodemus brought a large quantity of spices, but these good women did not think that enough. The respect others show to Christ, should not hinder us from showing our respect. And those who are carried by holy zeal, to seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties in their way speedily vanish. When we put ourselves to trouble and expense, from love to Christ, we shall be accepted, though our endeavours are not successful. The sight of the angel might justly have encouraged them, but they were affrighted. Thus many times that which should be matter of comfort to us, through our own mistake, proves a terror to us. He was crucified, but he is glorified. He is risen, he is not here, not dead, but alive again; hereafter you will see him, but you may here see the place where he was laid. Thus seasonable comforts will be sent to those that lament after the Lord Jesus. Peter is particularly named, Tell Peter; it will be most welcome to him, for he is in sorrow for sin. A sight of Christ will be very welcome to a true penitent, and a true penitent is very welcome to a sight of Christ. The men ran with all the haste they could to the disciples; but disquieting fears often hinder us from doing that service to Christ and to the souls of men, which, if faith and the joy of faith were strong, we might do.
vv9-13
Better news cannot be brought to disciples in tears, than to tell them of Christ's resurrection. And we should study to comfort disciples that are mourners, by telling them whatever we have seen of Christ. It was a wise providence that the proofs of Christ's resurrection were given gradually, and admitted cautiously, that the assurance with which the apostles preached this doctrine afterwards might the more satisfy. Yet how slowly do we admit the consolations which the word of God holds forth! Therefore while Christ comforts his people, he often sees it needful to rebuke and correct them for hardness of heart in distrusting his promise, as well as in not obeying his holy precepts.
vv14-18
The evidences of the truth of the gospel are so full, that those who receive it not, may justly be upbraided with their unbelief. Our blessed Lord renewed his choice of the eleven as his apostles, and commissioned them to go into all the world, to preach his gospel to every creature. Only he that is a true Christian shall be saved through Christ. Simon Magus professed to believe, and was baptized, yet he was declared to be in the bonds of iniquity: see his history in Ac 8:13–25. Doubtless this is a solemn declaration of that true faith which receives Christ in all his characters and offices, and for all the purposes of salvation, and which produces its right effect on the heart and life; not a mere assent, which is a dead faith, and cannot profit. The commission of Christ's ministers extends to every creature throughout the world, and the declarations of the gospel contain not only truths, encouragements, and precepts, but also most awful warnings. Observe what power the apostles should be endued with, for confirming the doctrine they were to preach. These were miracles to confirm the truth of the gospel, and means of spreading the gospel among nations that had not heard it.
Key Words
σάββατον (sábbaton): the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension, a se'nnight, i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications
διαγίνομαι (diagínomai): to elapse meanwhile
Μαρία (María): Maria or Mariam (i.e. Mirjam), the name of six Christian females
Μαγδαληνή (Magdalēnḗ): a female Magdalene, i.e. inhabitant of Magdala
ὁ (ho): the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos): Jacobus, the name of three Israelites
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Σαλώμη (Salṓmē): Salome (i.e. Shelomah), an Israelitess
ἀγοράζω (agorázō): properly, to go to market, i.e. (by implication) to purchase; specially, to redeem
ἄρωμα (árōma): an aromatic
Cross References
Mark 16Detailed account of Jesus appearing 'in another form' to two disciples walking into the country.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of the women coming to the sepulchre on the resurrection morning.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account where Jesus appears to the eleven and addresses their doubt and unbelief.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains the timing of the women purchasing and preparing spices before and after the Sabbath.
Supported by JFB
Parallel recording that the words of the women seemed to the disciples as idle tales.
Supported by JFB
Parallel of the Great Commission, commanding the disciples to teach and baptize all nations.
Supported by John Calvin
Literal historical fulfillment of the promise that they would take up serpents without being harmed.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Direct echo of Jesus' prior promise that after rising, He would go before them into Galilee.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Saves Peter from despair, showing Jesus' prior care to restore Peter after his fall.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Full, detailed account of Jesus' first appearance specifically to Mary Magdalene at the tomb.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates that Simon Magus believed and was baptized but was not in a state of salvation.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Fulfillment of the promise that believers would speak with new tongues on the day of Pentecost.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Messianic prophecy fulfilled as the ascended Lord sits at the right hand of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reflects the fulfillment of the command to preach the gospel to 'every creature' under heaven.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms how God bore witness to the apostolic message through signs, wonders, and miracles.
Supported by Matthew Henry