Mark 16
16:1 Sabbath was past. The Sabbath officially ended at sundown on Saturday, after which the women were able to purchase spices. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. See note on Matt. 27:56. Luke mentions that Joanna and other women were also there (Luke 24:10; cf. 15:41). spices. The women bought more spices in addition to those prepared earlier (cf. Luke 23:56; John 19:39, 40). anoint. Unlike the Egyptians, the Jewish people did not embalm their dead. Anointing was an act of love, to offset the stench of a decaying body. That the women came to anoint Jesus’ body on the third day after His burial showed that they, like the disciples, were not expecting Him to rise from the dead (cf. 8:31; 9:31; 10:34).
16:2 when the sun had risen. John 20:1 says that Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb while it was still dark. She may have gone on ahead of the other women, or the whole party may have set out together while it was still dark and arrived at the tomb after sunrise.
16:3 Who will roll away the stone. Only Mark records this discussion on the way to the tomb. The women realized they had no men with them to move the heavy stone (v. 4) away from the entrance to the tomb. Since they had last visited the tomb on Friday evening, they did not know it had been sealed and a guard posted, which took place on Saturday (Matt. 27:62–66).
16:4 the stone had been rolled away. This was not to let Jesus out, but to let the witnesses in. The earthquake when the angel rolled away the stone (Matt. 28:2) may have affected only the area around the tomb, since the women apparently did not feel it.
16:5 entering the tomb. The outer chamber, separated from the burial chamber by a small doorway. young man clothed in a long white robe. The angel, having rolled away the stone (Matt. 28:2), had then entered the burial chamber. Luke records that there were two angels in the tomb; Matthew and Mark focus on the one who spoke (for similar instances, see note on 10:46).
16:6 Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. Better, “the Nazarene” (see note on Matt. 2:23). The inspired account leaves no doubt about who had been in the tomb. The idea of some unbelievers that the women went to the wrong tomb is ludicrous. He is risen! Christ’s resurrection is one of the central truths of the Christian faith (1 Cor. 15:4) and the only plausible explanation for the empty tomb. Even the Jewish leaders did not deny the reality of the empty tomb, but concocted the story that the disciples had stolen Jesus’ body (Matt. 28:11–15). The idea that the fearful (John 20:19), doubting (vv. 11, 13; Luke 24:10, 11) disciples somehow overpowered the Roman guard detachment and stole Jesus’ body is absurd. That they did it while the guards were asleep is even more preposterous. Surely, in moving the heavy stone from the mouth of the tomb, the disciples would have awakened at least one of the soldiers. And in any case, how could the guards have known what happened while they were asleep? Many other theories have been sinfully invented over the centuries to explain away the empty tomb, all of them equally futile.
16:7 and Peter. Peter was not singled out as the leader of the disciples, but to be reassured that, despite his denials of Christ, he was still one of them. He is going before you into Galilee…as He said. See note on 14:28. The disciples’ lack of faith made them slow to act on these words; they did not leave for Galilee (Matt. 28:7, 16) until after Jesus repeatedly appeared to them in Jerusalem (cf. Luke 24:13–32; John 20:19–31).
16:8 afraid. They were overwhelmed by the frightening appearance of the angel and the awesome mystery of the Resurrection.
16:9–20 The external evidence strongly suggests these verses were not originally part of Mark’s gospel. While the majority of Gr. manuscripts contain these verses, the earliest and most reliable do not. A shorter ending also existed, but it is not included in the text. Further, some that include the passage note that it was missing from older Gr. manuscripts, while others have scribal marks indicating the passage was considered spurious. The fourth-century church fathers Eusebius and Jerome noted that almost all Gr. manuscripts available to them lacked vv. 9–20. The internal evidence from this passage also weighs heavily against Mark’s authorship. The transition between vv. 8 and 9 is abrupt and awkward. The Gr. particle translated “now” that begins v. 9 implies continuity with the preceding narrative. What follows, however, does not continue the story of the women referred to in v. 8, but describes Christ’s appearance to Mary Magdalene (cf. John 20:11–18). The masculine participle in v. 9 expects “he” as its antecedent, yet the subject of v. 8 is the women. Although she had just been mentioned 3 times (v. 1; 15:40, 47), v. 9 introduces Mary Magdalene as if for the first time. Further, if Mark wrote v. 9, it is strange that he would only now note that Jesus had cast 7 demons out of her. The angel spoke of Jesus’ appearing to His followers in Galilee, yet the appearances described in vv. 9–20 are all in the Jerusalem area. Finally, the presence in these verses of a significant number of Gr. words used nowhere else in Mark argues that Mark did not write them. Verses 9–20 represent an early (they were known to the second-century fathers Irenaeus, Tatian, and, possibly, Justin Martyr) attempt to complete Mark’s gospel. While for the most part summarizing truths taught elsewhere in Scripture, vv. 9–20 should always be compared with the rest of Scripture, and no doctrines should be formulated based solely on them. Since, in spite of all these considerations of the likely unreliability of this section, it is possible to be wrong on the issue, and thus, it is good to consider the meaning of this passage and leave it in the text, just as with John 7:53—8:11.
16:9 He rose early on the first day of the week. That is, early Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene. See note on 15:40.
16:12, 13 This incident is related in Luke 24:13–32.
16:14 the eleven. The 12 minus Judas, who had committed suicide (Matt. 27:3–10). unbelief and hardness of heart. In not believing the witnesses of the resurrection (vv. 12, 13; cf. Luke 24:10, 11).
16:15, 16 Similar to Matthew’s account of the Great Commission, with the added contrast of those who have been baptized (believers) with those who refuse to believe and are condemned. Even if v. 16 is a genuine part of Mark’s gospel, it does not teach that baptism saves, since the lost are condemned for unbelief, not for not being baptized (see note on Acts 2:38).
16:17, 18 These signs were promised to the apostolic community (Matt. 10:1; 2 Cor. 12:12), not all believers in all ages (cf. 1 Cor. 12:29, 30). All (with the exception of drinking poison) were experienced by some in the apostolic church and reported in Scripture (e.g., Acts 28:5), but not afterward (cf. v. 20).
16:19 right hand of God. The place of honor Jesus assumed after His ascension (see note on Acts 2:33).
16:20 confirming the word through…signs. See notes on Acts 2:22; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:4.
Mark 1
1:1 a Matt. 1:1; 3:1; Luke 3:22
1:1 b Ps. 2:7; Matt. 14:33; Luke 1:35
1:2 c Mal. 3:1; Matt. 11:10; Luke 7:27
1:2 1 NU Isaiah the prophet
1:3 d Is. 40:3; Matt. 3:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23
1:4 e Mal. 4:6; Matt. 3:1; Luke 3:3
1:4 2 Or because of forgiveness
1:5 f Matt. 3:5
1:6 g Matt. 3:4
1:7 h Matt. 3:11; John 1:27; Acts 13:25
1:8 i Acts 1:5; 11:16
1:8 j Is. 44:3; John 20:22; (Acts 2:4; 10:45, 46; 1 Cor. 12:13)
1:9 k Matt. 3:13–17; Luke 3:21, 22
1:10 l Ezek. 1:1; Matt. 3:16; John 1:32
1:10 m Is. 11:2; 61:1; Acts 10:38
1:10 3 NU out of
1:10 4 torn open
1:11 n (Ps. 2:7); Is. 42:1; Matt. 3:17; 12:18; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22
1:12 o Matt. 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13
1:12 5 sent Him out
1:13 p Matt. 4:10, 11
1:14 q Matt. 4:12
1:14 r Matt. 4:23
1:14 6 NU omits of the kingdom
1:15 s Dan. 9:25; (Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10; 1 Tim. 2:6); Titus 1:3
1:15 t Matt. 3:2; 4:17; (Acts 20:21)
1:15 7 has drawn near
1:16 u Matt. 4:18–22; Luke 5:2–11; John 1:40–42
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1:17 v Matt. 13:47, 48
1:18 w Matt. 19:27; (Luke 14:26)
1:21 x Matt. 4:13; Luke 4:31–37
1:21 y Ps. 22:22; Matt. 4:23; Luke 4:16; 13:10
1:22 z Matt. 7:28, 29; 13:54
1:23 a (Matt. 12:43); Mark 5:2; 7:25; Luke 4:33
1:24 b Matt. 8:28, 29; Mark 5:7, 8; Luke 8:28
1:24 c Mark 3:11; Luke 4:41; James 2:19
1:24 d Ps. 16:10
1:25 e (Luke 4:39)
1:25 8 Lit. Be muzzled
1:26 f Mark 9:20
1:27 9 NU What is this? A new doctrine with authority! He
1:27 10 teaching
1:28 g Matt. 4:24; 9:31
1:29 h Matt. 8:14, 15; Luke 4:38, 39
1:32 i Matt. 8:16, 17; Luke 4:40, 41
1:34 j Matt. 9:33; Luke 13:32
1:34 k Mark 3:12; Luke 4:41; Acts 16:17, 18
1:35 l Luke 4:42, 43
1:35 m Matt. 26:39, 44; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:28, 29; Heb. 5:7
1:35 11 deserted
1:37 n Matt. 4:25; John 3:26; 12:19
1:37 o (Heb. 11:6)
1:38 p Luke 4:43
1:38 q (Is. 61:1, 2; Mark 10:45; John 16:28; 17:4, 8)
1:39 r Ps. 22:22; Matt. 4:23; 9:35; Mark 1:21; 3:1; Luke 4:44
1:39 s Mark 5:8, 13; 7:29, 30
1:40 t Matt. 8:2–4; Luke 5:12–14
1:41 u Luke 7:13
1:42 v Matt. 15:28; Mark 5:29
1:44 w Lev. 14:1–32
1:45 x Matt. 28:15; Luke 5:15
1:45 y Mark 2:2, 13; 3:7; Luke 5:17; John 6:2
Mark 2
2:1 a Matt. 9:1
2:2 1 NU omits Immediately
2:3 b Matt. 4:24; 8:6; Acts 8:7; 9:33
2:7 c Job 14:4; Is. 43:25; Dan. 9:9
2:9 d Matt. 9:5
2:10 2 authority
2:12 e Matt. 15:31; (Phil. 2:11)
2:13 f Matt. 9:9
2:14 g Matt. 9:9–13; Luke 5:27–32
2:14 h Matt. 4:19; 8:22; 19:21; John 1:43; 12:26; 21:22
2:14 i Luke 18:28
2:15 j Matt. 9:10
2:16 3 NU of the
2:17 k Matt. 9:12, 13; 18:11; Luke 5:31, 32; 19:10
2:17 4 NU omits to repentance
2:18 l Matt. 9:14–17; Luke 5:33–38
2:19 5 Lit. sons of the bridechamber
2:20 m Acts 1:9; 13:2, 3; 14:23
2:23 n Matt. 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5
2:23 o Deut. 23:25
2:24 p Ex. 20:10; 31:15
2:25 q 1 Sam. 21:1–6
2:26 r Ex. 29:32, 33; Lev. 24:5–9
2:27 s Gen. 2:3; Ex. 23:12; Deut. 5:14; Neh. 9:14; Ezek. 20:12
2:28 t Matt. 12:8
Mark 3
3:1 a Matt. 12:9–14; Luke 6:6–11
3:2 b (Ps. 37:32); Luke 14:1; 20:20
3:2 c Luke 13:14
3:2 1 bring charges against
3:3 2 Lit. Arise into the midst
3:5 d Zech. 7:12
3:5 3 NU omits as whole as the other
3:6 e Ps. 2:2; Mark 12:13
3:6 f Matt. 22:16
3:7 g Matt. 4:25; Luke 6:17
3:8 h Mark 5:19
3:10 i Mark 5:29, 34; Luke 7:21
3:10 j Matt. 9:21; 14:36; Mark 6:56; 8:22
3:11 k Mark 1:23, 24; Luke 4:41
3:11 l Matt. 8:29; 14:33; Mark 1:1; 5:7; Luke 8:28
3:12 m Matt. 12:16; Mark 1:25, 34
3:13 n Matt. 10:1; Mark 6:7; Luke 9:1
3:14 4 NU adds whom He also named apostles
3:15 5 authority
3:15 6 NU omits to heal sicknesses and
3:16 o Matt. 16:18; John 1:42
3:16 7 NU and He appointed the twelve: Simon …
3:20 p Mark 6:31
3:21 q Ps. 69:8; Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 2:12
3:21 r John 7:5; 10:20; Acts 26:24; (2 Cor. 5:13)
3:22 s Matt. 9:34; 10:25; Luke 11:15; John 7:20; 8:48, 52; 10:20
3:22 t (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Eph. 2:2)
3:23 u Matt. 12:25–29; Luke 11:17–22
3:27 v (Is. 49:24, 25); Matt. 12:29
3:28 w Matt. 12:31, 32; Luke 12:10; (1 John 5:16)
3:30 x Matt. 9:34; John 7:20; 8:48, 52; 10:20
3:31 y Matt. 12:46–50; Luke 8:19–21
3:32 8 NU, M add and Your sisters
3:35 z Eph. 6:6; Heb. 10:36; 1 Pet. 4:2; (1 John 2:17)
Mark 4
4:1 a Matt. 13:1–15; Luke 8:4–10
4:2 b Mark 12:38
4:4 1 NU, M omit of the air
4:7 2 Lit. fruit
4:9 3 NU, M omit to them
4:10 c Matt. 13:10; Luke 8:9
4:11 d (Matt. 11:25; 1 Cor. 2:10–16; 2 Cor. 4:6)
4:11 e (1 Cor. 5:12, 13; Col. 4:5; 1 Thess. 4:12; 1 Tim. 3:7)
4:11 4 secret or hidden truths
4:12 f Is. 6:9, 10; 43:8; Jer. 5:21; Ezek. 12:2; Matt. 13:14; Luke 8:10; John 12:40; Rom. 11:8
4:14 g Matt. 13:18–23; Luke 8:11–15
4:19 h Luke 21:34
4:19 i Prov. 23:5; Eccl. 5:13; Luke 18:24; 1 Tim. 6:9, 10, 17
4:20 j (John 15:2, 5; Rom. 7:4)
4:20 5 receive
4:21 k Matt. 5:15; Luke 8:16; 11:33
4:22 l Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 10:26, 27; Luke 12:3; (1 Cor. 4:5)
4:23 m Matt. 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8; 14:35; Rev. 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9
4:24 n Matt. 7:2; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6
4:25 o Matt. 13:12; 25:29; Luke 8:18; 19:26
4:26 p (Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43); Luke 8:1
4:26 6 sow
4:27 q (2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Pet. 3:18)
4:28 r (John 12:24)
4:29 s (Mark 13:30, 39); Rev. 14:15
4:30 t Matt. 13:31, 32; Luke 13:18, 19; (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 19:20)
4:33 u Matt. 13:34, 35; (John 16:12)
4:34 v Luke 24:27, 45
4:35 w Matt. 8:18, 23–27; Luke 8:22, 25
4:38 x (Matt. 23:8–10)
4:38 y Ps. 44:23
4:39 z Mark 9:25; Luke 4:39
4:39 a Ps. 65:7; 89:9; 93:4; 104:6, 7; Matt. 8:26; Luke 8:24
4:39 7 Lit. Be quiet
4:40 b Matt. 14:31, 32; Luke 8:25
4:40 8 NU Have you still no faith?
Mark 5
5:1 a Matt. 8:28–34; Luke 8:26–37
5:1 1 NU Gerasenes
5:2 b Mark 1:23; 7:25; (Rev. 16:13, 14)
5:3 2 NU adds anymore
5:7 c Matt. 26:63; Mark 1:24; Acts 19:13
5:7 3 adjure
5:8 d Mark 1:25; 9:25; (Acts 16:18)
5:11 e Lev. 11:7, 8; Deut. 14:8; Luke 15:15, 16
5:13 4 NU He gave
5:15 f Matt. 4:24; 8:16; Mark 1:32
5:15 g Luke 10:39
5:15 h (Is. 61:10)
5:17 i Matt. 8:34; Acts 16:39
5:18 j Luke 8:38, 39
5:20 k Ex. 15:2; Ps. 66:16
5:20 l Matt. 9:8, 33; John 5:20; 7:21; Acts 3:12; 4:13
5:20 5 Lit. Ten Cities
5:21 m Matt. 9:1; Luke 8:40
5:22 n Matt. 9:18–26; Luke 8:41–56; Acts 13:15
5:23 o Matt. 8:15; Mark 6:5; 7:32; 8:23, 25; 16:18; Luke 4:40; Acts 9:17; 28:8
5:25 p Lev. 15:19, 25; Matt. 9:20
5:27 q Matt. 14:35, 36; Mark 3:10; 6:56
5:29 6 suffering
5:30 r Luke 6:19; 8:46
5:33 s (Ps. 89:7)
5:34 t Matt. 9:22; Mark 10:52; Acts 14:9
5:34 u 1 Sam. 1:17; 20:42; 2 Kin. 5:19; Luke 7:50; 8:48; Acts 16:36; (James 2:16)
5:35 v Luke 8:49
5:36 w (Mark 9:23; John 11:40)
5:38 x Mark 16:10; Acts 9:39
5:38 7 an uproar
5:39 y John 11:4, 11
5:40 z Acts 9:40
5:42 a Mark 1:27; 7:37
5:43 b (Matt. 8:4; 12:16–19; 17:9); Mark 3:12
Mark 6
6:1 a Matt. 13:54; Luke 4:16
6:2 b Matt. 7:28; Luke 4:32; Acts 4:13
6:2 c John 6:42
6:3 d
Matt. 12:46; Gal. 1:19
6:3 e (Matt. 11:6)
6:4 f Matt. 13:57; Luke 4:24; John 4:44
6:5 g Gen. 19:22; 32:25; Matt. 13:58; (Mark 9:23)
6:6 h Is. 59:16; Matt. 17:17, 20; (Heb. 3:18, 19; 4:2)
6:6 i Matt. 9:35; Luke 13:22; Acts 10:38; Eph. 2:17
6:7 j Matt. 10:1; 28:19, 20; Mark 3:13, 14; Luke 9:1
6:7 k (Eccl. 4:9, 10)
6:9 l (Eph. 6:15)
6:10 m Matt. 10:11; Luke 9:4; 10:7, 8
6:11 n Matt. 10:14; Luke 10:10
6:11 o Acts 13:51; 18:6
6:11 1 NU whatever place
6:11 2 NU omits the rest of v. 11.
6:13 p (James 5:14)
6:14 q Matt. 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–16; Luke 9:7–9
6:14 r Luke 19:37
6:15 s Matt. 16:14; Mark 8:28; Luke 9:19
6:15 t Matt. 21:11
6:15 3 NU, M a prophet, like one
6:16 u Matt. 14:2; Luke 3:19
6:18 v Lev. 18:16; 20:21
6:19 4 held a grudge
6:20 w Matt. 14:5; 21:26
6:20 5 NU was very perplexed, yet
6:21 x Matt. 14:6
6:21 y Gen. 40:20
6:23 z Esth. 5:3, 6, 7:2
6:26 a Matt. 14:9
6:29 b 1 Kin. 13:29, 30; Matt. 27:58–61; Acts 8:2
6:30 c Luke 9:10
6:31 d Matt. 14:13
6:31 e Mark 3:20
6:32 f Matt. 14:13–21; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:5–13
6:33 g (Col. 1:6)
6:33 6 NU, M they
6:34 h Matt. 9:36; 14:14; (Heb. 5:2)
6:34 i Num. 27:17; 1 Kin. 22:17; 2 Chr. 18:16; Zech. 10:2
6:34 j (Is. 48:17; 61:1–3); Luke 9:11
6:35 k Matt. 14:15; Luke 9:12
6:36 7 NU something to eat and omits the rest of v. 36.
6:37 l Num. 11:13, 22; 2 Kin. 4:43
6:38 m Matt. 14:17; Luke 9:13; John 6:9
6:39 n Matt. 15:35; Mark 8:6
6:41 o John 11:41, 42
6:41 p 1 Sam. 9:13; Matt. 15:36; 26:26; Mark 8:7; Luke 24:30
6:44 8 NU, M omit about
6:45 q Matt. 14:22–32; John 6:15–21
6:45 9 invited, strongly urged
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 489