Mark 16:9-20
New Catholic Bible
Appendix
The Longer Ending[a]
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene. After he had risen from the dead early on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons. 10 She then went forth and related the story of his appearance to his mourning and weeping companions. 11 However, when they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they refused to believe it.12 Jesus Appears to Two Disciples. After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they were on their way into the country. 13 They then returned and reported the news to the others, but they did not believe them either.
14 Jesus Appears to and Commissions the Eleven. Still later, he appeared to the eleven while they were at table. He reproached them for their lack of faith and their hardness of heart because they refused to believe the witness of those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 Then he said to them, “Go forth into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These are the signs that will mark those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons. They will be granted the gift of speaking in new languages. 18 If they pick up serpents in their hands or drink any deadly poison, they will remain unharmed. The sick on whom they lay their hands will recover.”
19 Jesus Ascends to Heaven. Then, after he had spoken to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven, and there he took his place at the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth to proclaim the gospel everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by means of the signs that accompanied their preaching.
Noncanonical Endings
The Shorter Ending.[b] And they reported all the instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward, through them Jesus sent forth from east to west the sacred and perpetual proclamation of eternal salvation.
The Freer Logion.[c] And they excused themselves, saying, “This age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who does not allow the truth and power of God to prevail over the unclean things of the spirit. Therefore, reveal your righteousness now”—thus they spoke to Christ. And Christ replied to them, “The limit of the years of Satan’s power has been reached, but other terrible things draw near. And for those who sinned I was handed over to death, that they might return to the truth and no longer sin, in order that they might inherit the spiritual and incorruptible glory of righteousness, which is in heaven.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 16:9 The Longer Ending: this passage is found in the great majority of manuscripts. It has traditionally been accepted as a canonical part of the Gospel and was defined as such by the Council of Trent. Although it is cited by the Fathers of the Church as early as the 2nd century, its vocabulary and style point to someone other than Mark as the author. It is a summary of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Lord and reflects traditions found in Luke (ch. 24) and John (ch. 20).
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It is probable that first-generation Christians wanted to complete Mark’s work with a summary of the Resurrection stories and a summary view of the Church’s mission. The Lord, who has been restored to his divine glory with the Father, is present and at work in the missionary activity of his disciples; this fact is highlighted in a wonderful sentence that is found only here in the New Testament. - Mark 16:20 The Shorter Ending: this passage is found in four late Greek manuscripts after v. 8 before the Longer Ending. It is thought to have originated to provide an ending in itself or to give a smoother transition between v. 8 and v. 9.
- Mark 16:20 The Freer Logion: this passage is found in one manuscript, preserved in the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and was known to St. Jerome in the 4th century. It is regarded as an interpolation to soften the condemnation of the disciples in v. 14.
