Mark 16

Mark tells of the empty tomb: women come to anoint a dead Jesus and are told that He has risen. Many early manuscripts end the Gospel at verse 8, and verses 9-20 are a longer ending that some Christians treat differently from the rest. That ending gathers up the appearances of the risen Lord, the commission to the Eleven, the ascension, and the spread of the gospel.

Mark 16:1

As soon as the Sabbath ended at sundown, the women bought burial spices. They did not expect a resurrection. They came out of love, wanting to honor a body they thought was gone for good. Their plain devotion is the setting for the greatest surprise in history.

BSA: anoint (“to put oil or perfume on, show respect and honor”): Anointing was an act of tender honor, not only a funeral custom.

Greek: ἀλείψωσιν (aleipsōsin, G218) — “to rub with oil.” This is the everyday word for rubbing in oil. It shows the women planning a gentle, hands-on act of care for Jesus.

See also: John 19:39-40.

Mark 16:2

They went at first light on Sunday, the first day of the week. Mark marks the time carefully, because this is the day everything changed. Christians have gathered on this day ever since to remember the resurrection.

BSA: tomb (“place of remembrance”): The word carries the sense of a memorial, a place where the dead are remembered. This one would soon be empty.

Mark 16:3-4

On the way, the women worried about the heavy stone across the entrance. They had no plan for it. But when they looked up, the problem was already solved. God had moved the stone before they arrived. He often clears the obstacle as we walk toward Him.

BSA: rolled away (“removed, taken out of the way”): The stone was not just shifted but taken out of the way, so the entrance stood open.

Mark 16:5

Inside, the women met a young man in white, seated on the right side, the place of honor. His bright clothing marks him as a heavenly messenger. Their alarm is natural. They came for a grave and met an angel.

BSA: alarmed (“amazed, awe-struck, terrified”): Their reaction was a mix of wonder and fear at meeting heaven face to face.

Greek: ἐξεθαμβήθησαν (exethambēthēsan, G1568) — “were utterly amazed.” This is a strong word, used mostly by Mark. It describes being stunned and thrown off balance by something beyond ordinary life.

Mark 16:6

The messenger calms them and names the plain facts: they seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, and He has risen. He is not here. They are invited to look at the empty place. The Christian message rests on this event.

BSA: risen (“been raised from the dead, arisen”): The word says Jesus was raised, which points to God’s power at work in the resurrection.

Greek: ἠγέρθη (ēgerthē, G1453) — “He was raised.” The verb is passive: Jesus was raised. It points to God the Father acting to raise His Son, and it tells us the one who died is the same one now alive.

See also: Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

Mark 16:7

The angel gives the women a message for the disciples, and names Peter specially. Peter had denied Jesus three times, yet he is not left out. Jesus goes ahead of them to Galilee, as He promised, and will meet them there.

BSA: going ahead (“leading the way”): Jesus is pictured as a shepherd walking in front of His scattered followers.

Greek: προάγει (proagei, G4254) — “goes ahead, leads.” This is a shepherd’s word for leading the flock. Jesus promised it before His death, and here He keeps the promise.

See also: Mark 14:28; Mark 14:72.

Mark 16:8

The women fled, shaking and stunned, and for the moment they said nothing. Many early manuscripts end here, on a note of awe. Their silence did not last, since the gospel did reach the world. What they feared is the fear of meeting God’s power.

BSA: bewildered (“amazed, in astonishment”): They were so struck by what they had seen that they could not take it in.

Greek: ἔκστασις (ekstasis, G1611) — “a standing outside oneself, astonishment.” It means being so overwhelmed that one is beside oneself. Mark uses it for the shock of meeting God’s power.

Mark 16:9

From here on is the longer ending, which some Christians treat with caution because it is missing from several early manuscripts. It says Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, the woman He had freed from seven demons. The first witness of the risen Lord was someone who knew His mercy.

BSA: driven out (“expelled, cast away”): Jesus did not merely calm her but forcibly removed what had held her captive.

See also: Luke 8:2; John 20:11-18.

Mark 16:10-11

Mary told the mourning disciples that Jesus was alive and that she had seen Him. They did not believe her. Their grief had no room for hope. The first Christians did not invent the resurrection. They doubted it before they knew it.

BSA: believe (“disbelieved, had no faith in”): The disciples flatly refused her report, not because she lied but because it seemed too good to be true.

See also: Luke 24:10-11.

Mark 16:12-13

Jesus then appeared to two followers walking in the country. This matches the Emmaus road story told in Luke. He looked different enough that they did not know Him at first. They told the others, who again did not believe.

BSA: form (“outward appearance”): His outward look was changed, so recognition came slowly.

Greek: μορφῇ (morphē, G3444) — “form, outward shape.” The word is about outward appearance. It hints that the risen Jesus was truly Himself, yet not seen in the same way as before.

See also: Luke 24:13-35.

Mark 16:14

Jesus then appeared to the Eleven at a meal and rebuked them. They had refused to believe the witnesses who had seen Him. He is honest with them, yet He still comes to them and does not leave them in their doubt.

BSA: hardness of heart (“stubbornness, being unwilling to listen”): The problem was not lack of evidence but a heart that would not yield to it.

Greek: σκληροκαρδίαν (sklērokardian, G4641) — “hard-heartedness.” It joins the words for hard and heart. It names a stubborn, unresponsive inner attitude.

See also: Luke 24:36-43.

Mark 16:15

Jesus sends these doubting men to the whole world. The good news is not for one nation or class, but for every creature. The same Lord who rebuked their unbelief now trusts them with His message.

BSA: preach (“proclaim, herald”): A herald announces the king’s news publicly, so the gospel is a declaration to be spread, not a private idea.

Greek: κηρύξατε (kērykxate, G2784) — “proclaim like a herald.” A kēryx was the town crier who announced the ruler’s message. The disciples are to announce what the King has done.

See also: Matthew 28:19-20.

Mark 16:16

Those who believe and are baptized will be saved, while those who refuse to believe will be condemned. Faith is the heart of it, and baptism is the public sign that goes with it. Notice that the warning names only unbelief.

BSA: saved (“rescued, delivered from harm”): Salvation is pictured as a rescue from real danger, not just a change of label.

Greek: βαπτισθείς (baptistheis, G907) — “having been immersed.” The word comes from dipping or plunging something in water. It shows baptism as a clear, public act that goes with believing.

See also: John 3:18; Acts 2:38.

Mark 16:17-18

Jesus says certain signs will follow those who believe: casting out demons, new tongues, safety from snakes and poison, and healing by the laying on of hands. Christians understand and apply these verses in different ways. Their common point is that Jesus’ name carries His authority.

BSA: name (“authority, character”): To act in Jesus’ name is to act on His authority, as His representative. signs (“tokens, indications of divine power”): Signs point beyond themselves to the power of the One who sends them.

See also: Acts 2:4; Acts 28:3-5.

Mark 16:19

After speaking to His disciples, Jesus was taken up into heaven and sat at God’s right hand. He did not simply vanish. He went to the place of honor and rule, and He reigns there now.

BSA: right (“the place of honor”): Sitting at God’s right hand means holding the highest place of honor and authority.

Greek: ἀνελήφθη (anelēphthē, G353) — “was taken up, received up.” The verb is passive, as if heaven took Him up. It suggests that the Father received His Son into glory.

See also: Acts 1:9-11; Psalm 110:1.

Mark 16:20

The disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them. He backed up their words with signs. They were not alone in the task, because the ascended Lord was still at work through them.

BSA: confirming (“establishing, guaranteeing”): The signs served as a firm guarantee that the message was true.

Greek: συνεργοῦντος (synergountos, G4903) — “working together with.” The word means working alongside. It shows the Lord labouring with His people, not just watching them from heaven.