Add parallel Print Page Options

Jesus Rises From the Dead

16 The Sabbath day ended. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices. They were going to use them for Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, they were on their way to the tomb. It was just after sunrise. They asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb?”

Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. The stone was very large. They entered the tomb. As they did, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe. He was sitting on the right side. They were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. But he has risen! He is not here! See the place where they had put him. Go! Tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. It will be just as he told you.’ ”

The women were shaking and confused. They went out and ran away from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Jesus rose from the dead early on the first day of the week. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. He had driven seven demons out of her. 10 She went and told those who had been with him. She found them crying. They were very sad. 11 They heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him. But they did not believe it.

12 After that, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them. This happened while they were walking out in the country. 13 The two returned and told the others about it. But the others did not believe them either.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples as they were eating. He spoke firmly to them because they had no faith. They would not believe those who had seen him after he rose from the dead.

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world. Preach the good news to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who does not believe will be punished. 17 Here are the miraculous signs that those who believe will do. In my name they will drive out demons. They will speak in languages they had not known before. 18 They will pick up snakes with their hands. And when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all. They will place their hands on sick people. And the people will get well.”

19 When the Lord Jesus finished speaking to them, he was taken up into heaven. He sat down at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere. The Lord worked with them. And he backed up his word by the signs that went with it.

Chapter 16

Jesus Is Raised from the Dead.[a] When the Sabbath was over,[b] Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome purchased aromatic spices so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

They had been asking each other, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But when they looked up, they observed that the stone, which was extremely large, had already been rolled back. On entering the tomb, they saw a young man arrayed in a white robe sitting on the right hand side, and they were stunned.

He said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go forth and tell his disciples and Peter: ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him just as he told you.’ ” Then the women emerged from the tomb and fled, overcome with trembling and amazement. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Appendix

The Longer Ending[c]

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.[d] 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.[e] 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.”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 16:1 What has happened so surprises the women that they do not take the trouble to spread the message of joy. The Gospel of Mark ends on this fascinating note of mystery.
    The scene at the tomb is not meant as a proof of the resurrection but as a proclamation of it; we are told that Jesus’ destiny has been accomplished; the reality of his person is now fully revealed, and the order is given to announce that the crucified one is risen. See also the note on Mt 28:1-10.
  2. Mark 16:1 The Sabbath was over: the time therefore is after sunset. The duty of the Sabbath rest ended at sunset.
  3. 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).


    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.

  4. 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.
  5. 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.

Jesus Has Risen(A)

16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices(B) so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”(C)

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe(D) sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,(E) who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him,(F) just as he told you.’”(G)

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.[a]


[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,(H) out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.(I)

12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.(J) 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.(K)

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.(L) 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.(M) 17 And these signs(N) will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons;(O) they will speak in new tongues;(P) 18 they will pick up snakes(Q) with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on(R) sick people, and they will get well.”

19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven(S) and he sat at the right hand of God.(T) 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs(U) that accompanied it.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 16:8 Some manuscripts have the following ending between verses 8 and 9, and one manuscript has it after verse 8 (omitting verses 9-20): Then they quickly reported all these instructions to those around Peter. After this, Jesus himself also sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.