The Resurrection

16 Saturday 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. Very early on Sunday morning,[a] just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth,[b] who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now 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.”

The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.[c]


[The most ancient manuscripts of Mark conclude with verse 16:8. Later manuscripts add one or both of the following endings.]

[Shorter Ending of Mark]

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.

[Longer Ending of Mark]

After 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. 10 She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. 11 But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.

12 Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. 13 They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.

14 Still 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.[d]

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.[e] 18 They 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.”

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

Footnotes

  1. 16:2 Greek on the first day of the week; also in 16:9.
  2. 16:6 Or Jesus the Nazarene.
  3. 16:8 The most reliable early manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark end at verse 8. Other manuscripts include various endings to the Gospel. A few include both the “shorter ending” and the “longer ending.” The majority of manuscripts include the “longer ending” immediately after verse 8.
  4. 16:14 Some early manuscripts add: And they excused themselves, saying, “This age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who does not permit God’s truth and power to conquer the evil [unclean] spirits. Therefore, reveal your justice now.” This is what they said to Christ. And Christ replied to them, “The period of years of Satan’s power has been fulfilled, but other dreadful things will happen soon. And I was handed over to death for those who have sinned, so that they may return to the truth and sin no more, and so they may inherit the spiritual, incorruptible, and righteous glory in heaven.”
  5. 16:17 Or new tongues; some manuscripts do not include new.

Jesus is Raised from the Dead(A)

16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene,[a] Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Jesus.[b] Very early on the first day of the week,[c] when the sun had just come up, they were going to the tomb. They kept saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. (It was a very large stone.)

As they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were utterly astonished. But he told them, “Stop being astonished! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He is not here. Look at the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples—especially Peter—that Jesus[d] is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

So they left the tomb and ran away, overwhelmed by shock and astonishment. They didn’t say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.[e]

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene(B)

After Jesus[f] had risen early on the first day of that week,[g] he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,[h] from whom he had driven out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Jesus[i] and who now were grieving and crying. 11 When they heard that he was alive and that he had been seen by her, they refused to believe Mary.[j]

Jesus Appears to Two Disciples(C)

12 After this, Jesus[k] appeared in a different form to two disciples[l] as they were walking into the country. 13 They went back and told the others, who didn’t believe them, either.

Jesus Commissions His Disciples(D)

14 Finally he appeared to his eleven disciples[m] while they were eating. He rebuked them for their unbelief and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who had seen him after he had risen. 15 Then he told them, “As you go into the entire world, proclaim the gospel to everyone.[n] 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever doesn’t believe will be condemned. 17 These are the signs that will accompany those who believe: In my name they’ll drive out demons. they’ll speak in new languages,[o] 18 and they’ll pick up snakes with their hands.[p] Even if they drink any deadly poison, it won’t hurt them, and they’ll place their hands on the sick, and they’ll recover.”

Jesus is Taken Up to Heaven(E)

19 So the Lord Jesus,[q] after talking with his disciples,[r] was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 Then his disciples[s] went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 16:1 Or Mary of Magdala
  2. Mark 16:1 Lit. him
  3. Mark 16:2 Lit. first of the Sabbaths
  4. Mark 16:7 Lit. he
  5. Mark 16:8 Some mss. end Mark here; others include verses 9-20. Some mss. conclude the book with the following shorter ending (others include the shorter ending and then continue with verses 9-20): They reported to those who were with Peter everything they had been commanded. After this, Jesus sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and indestructible message of eternal salvation. Amen.
  6. Mark 16:9 Lit. he
  7. Mark 16:9 Lit. first Sabbath
  8. Mark 16:9 Or Mary of Magdala
  9. Mark 16:10 Lit. him
  10. Mark 16:11 Lit. her
  11. Mark 16:12 Lit. he
  12. Mark 16:12 Lit. two of them
  13. Mark 16:14 The Gk. lacks disciples
  14. Mark 16:15 Lit. to the whole creation
  15. Mark 16:17 Or tongues; i.e., a language normally foreign to the speaker
  16. Mark 16:18 Other mss. lack with their hands
  17. Mark 16:19 Other mss. lack Jesus
  18. Mark 16:19 Lit. with them
  19. Mark 16:20 Lit. Then they