Mark 16NLT
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Mark16

New Living Translation

1Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.

2Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb.

3On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

4But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

5When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked,

6but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

7Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

8The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen.

9After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.

10She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened.

11But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.

12Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country.

13They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.

14Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.

15And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

16Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

17These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.

18They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

19When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

20And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

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