Mark 16NASB
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Mark16

New American Standard

1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Him.

2And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

3They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?”

4And looking up, they noticed that the stone had been rolled away; for it was extremely large.

5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed.

6But he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him.

7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’”

8And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

9Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.

10She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping.

11And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.

12Now after that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country.

13And they went away and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them, either.

14Later He appeared to the eleven disciples themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reprimanded them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen from the dead.

15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

16The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.

17These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself also sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 16.

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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.

Cross References

Mark 16
v12Luke 24:13-32thematic

Detailed account of Jesus appearing 'in another form' to two disciples walking into the country.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Matthew 28:1-10thematic

Parallel account of the women coming to the sepulchre on the resurrection morning.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v14Luke 24:36-43thematic

Parallel account where Jesus appears to the eleven and addresses their doubt and unbelief.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Luke 23:56thematic

Explains the timing of the women purchasing and preparing spices before and after the Sabbath.

Supported by JFB

v11Luke 24:11thematic

Parallel recording that the words of the women seemed to the disciples as idle tales.

Supported by JFB

v15Matthew 28:19thematic

Parallel of the Great Commission, commanding the disciples to teach and baptize all nations.

Supported by John Calvin

v18Acts 28:3-6fulfillment

Literal historical fulfillment of the promise that they would take up serpents without being harmed.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v7Mark 14:28allusion

Direct echo of Jesus' prior promise that after rising, He would go before them into Galilee.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v7Luke 22:32thematic

Saves Peter from despair, showing Jesus' prior care to restore Peter after his fall.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9John 20:11-18thematic

Full, detailed account of Jesus' first appearance specifically to Mary Magdalene at the tomb.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v16Acts 8:13-25thematic

Illustrates that Simon Magus believed and was baptized but was not in a state of salvation.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v17Acts 2:4-11fulfillment

Fulfillment of the promise that believers would speak with new tongues on the day of Pentecost.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v19Psalms 110:1fulfillment

Messianic prophecy fulfilled as the ascended Lord sits at the right hand of God.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15Colossians 1:23thematic

Reflects the fulfillment of the command to preach the gospel to 'every creature' under heaven.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v20Hebrews 2:4thematic

Confirms how God bore witness to the apostolic message through signs, wonders, and miracles.

Supported by Matthew Henry