Appearances of the Risen Lord and the Commission
Mark 16:9-20
Mark.16.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Αναστας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- πρωι: ADV
- πρωτη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- σαββατου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εφανη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- πρωτον: ADV
- Μαρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- Μαγδαληνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- παρ᾽ης: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εκβεβληκει: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,sg,f
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- δαιμονια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- John 20:11-18 (quotation): John records a detailed post-resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene, including Jesus addressing her by name and commissioning her to tell the disciples—parallel to Mark’s claim that Jesus appeared first to her.
- Luke 8:2 (verbal): Luke identifies Mary Magdalene as the woman from whom seven demons had gone out, echoing Mark’s explicit mention of the seven demons as background to her characterization.
- Matthew 28:1-10 (thematic): Matthew narrates the resurrection appearances to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, similarly situating women as the first witnesses to the risen Jesus.
- Luke 24:10 (allusion): Luke lists Mary Magdalene among the women who found the empty tomb and reported to the apostles, corroborating Mark’s emphasis on female witnesses to the resurrection.
- Mark 15:40-41 (structural): Earlier in Mark’s Gospel these verses depict Mary Magdalene among the women faithful at Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, providing narrative continuity for her role as the first to see the risen Lord in 16:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
- Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
Mark.16.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εκεινη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- πορευθεισα: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,sg,f
- απηγγειλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- μετ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- γενομενοις: VERB,aor,mid,ptc,dat,pl,m
- πενθουσι: VERB,pres,act,ptc,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- κλαιουσιν·: VERB,pres,act,ptc,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 28:8 (verbal): Women depart from the tomb to bring news to the disciples (similar action: they went and told the disciples).
- Luke 24:10 (verbal): Names the women who reported the tomb events to the apostles; parallels Mark’s note that she went and told those with Jesus.
- John 20:18 (thematic): Mary Magdalene is sent to tell the disciples she has seen the risen Lord—same role of the women as first witnesses and proclaimers.
- Mark 16:11 (structural): Immediate follow-up within Mark: the report to the disciples and their unbelief, continuing the narrative begun in 16:10.
- Matthew 28:5-7 (allusion): Angelic instruction to the women to tell the disciples that Jesus has risen—provides the motive/background for the women’s announcement in Mark 16:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- She went and told those who had been with him, who were mourning and weeping.
- She went and told those who had been with him, who were mourning and weeping.
Mark.16.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κακεινοι: PRON,nom,pl,m
- ακουσαντες: PTCP,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ζη: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εθεαθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- υπ᾽αυτης: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,f
- ηπιστησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Luke 24:11 (verbal): The women’s report of the risen Jesus is met with disbelief; Luke uses similar language about the disciples not believing the women.
- Matthew 28:17 (thematic): Reports of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples likewise provoke mixed responses—worship by some and doubt by others (’but some doubted’).
- John 20:8-9 (thematic): By contrast, the beloved disciple ‘saw and believed’ the empty tomb; John’s account offers a different reaction to evidence of the resurrection.
- Mark 16:14 (structural): Immediate narrative follow-up in Mark: Jesus reproaches the eleven for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him.
- 1 Corinthians 15:5 (thematic): Paul’s summary of resurrection appearances (to Cephas and the Twelve, etc.) corresponds to the circulation of appearance reports that some contemporaries initially rejected or doubted.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe.
- When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe.
Mark.16.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Μετα: PREP,acc
- δε: CONJ
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- δυσιν: NUM,dat,pl,m
- εξ: PREP
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- περιπατουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- εφανερωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- ετερα: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- μορφη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πορευομενοις: VERB,pres,mid/pass,part,dat,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- αγρον·: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 24:13-35 (thematic): Narrates Jesus' appearance to two disciples walking to Emmaus — closely parallels Mark's report of an appearance to two as they walked into the country and the theme of concealed identity.
- Luke 24:16 (verbal): Says 'their eyes were kept from recognizing him,' paralleling Mark's phrase that he 'appeared in another form' and the motif of initial non-recognition.
- John 20:14-16 (thematic): Mary Magdalene initially fails to recognize Jesus (mistakes him for the gardener) and only recognizes him on being addressed — another instance of post‑resurrection non‑recognition and revelation of identity.
- Mark 16:9 (structural): Earlier in the same pericope Jesus is said to have appeared first to Mary Magdalene, situating 16:12 within Mark's sequence of varied post‑resurrection appearances.
- 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 (structural): Paul's list of post‑resurrection appearances (Cephas, the Twelve, over five hundred, James, all the apostles) provides a broader early Christian context for multiple, varied appearances like the one in Mark 16:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- After this he appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking into the country.
- After these things he appeared in another form to two of them as they walked into the country.
Mark.16.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κακεινοι: PRON,nom,pl,m
- απελθοντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- απηγγειλαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- λοιποις·ουδε: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- εκεινοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- επιστευσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Mark 16:11 (verbal): Immediate internal parallel in Mark: the report of Mary Magdalene that Jesus was alive is likewise met with the response that 'they did not believe them' — same verb and narrative motif of unbelief.
- Luke 24:11 (verbal): Luke reports that the women's account of the empty tomb 'seemed to them like nonsense, and they did not believe them,' using similar language to describe the disciples' refusal to accept resurrection testimony.
- Luke 24:13-35 (structural): Luke's detailed Emmaus appearance parallels Mark's brief mention of Jesus appearing in another form to two on the road; both narratives feature two disciples who encounter the risen Jesus and then report back to the others.
- John 20:24-29 (thematic): The Thomas episode illustrates the broader Johannine and Lukan‑Markan theme of initial unbelief among the disciples and the need for eyewitness encounter to move from doubt to faith.
- Matthew 28:17 (thematic): Matthew records that when the disciples saw the risen Jesus 'some doubted,' reflecting the common resurrection motif across the Gospels that appearances provoked mixed responses of belief and hesitation.
Alternative generated candidates
- They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them either.
- They went away and told it to the rest; neither did they believe them.
Mark.16.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Υστερον: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- ανακειμενοις: PART,pres,mid,dat,pl,m
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ενδεκα: NUM,dat,pl,m
- εφανερωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ωνειδισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- απιστιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- σκληροκαρδιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- θεασαμενοις: PART,aor,mid,dat,pl,m
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εγηγερμενον: PART,perf,pass,acc,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- επιστευσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 28:16-17 (thematic): Both describe the disciples' reaction on seeing the risen Jesus—Matthew records that some doubted even after seeing him, paralleling Mark's rebuke of their unbelief and hard-heartedness.
- Luke 24:11 (verbal): Luke says the women's report of the empty tomb 'seemed to them an idle tale'—directly parallels Mark's statement that the disciples did not believe those who had seen him risen.
- Luke 24:36-43 (structural): Luke's post-resurrection appearance includes Jesus addressing their fear and disbelief, showing his hands and feet and eating to prove his bodily resurrection, paralleling Mark's scene of Jesus appearing and confronting their unbelief.
- John 20:24-29 (thematic): John records Thomas's doubt and Jesus' rebuke/challenge ('Do not be unbelieving, but believing'), echoing Mark's theme of rebuking the disciples' unbelief and hardness of heart.
- 1 Corinthians 15:5 (allusion): Paul's summary of resurrection appearances ('he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve') alludes to the same post-resurrection appearance to the disciples that Mark 16:14 narrates.
Alternative generated candidates
- Later he appeared to the eleven as they were at table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen him after he had risen.
- Afterward he appeared to the eleven as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him risen.
Mark.16.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Πορευθεντες: PRO,dat,3,pl + PART,aor,pass,nom,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κοσμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- απαντα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- κηρυξατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ευαγγελιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- κτισει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 28:19-20 (structural): The Great Commission closely parallels Mark's command to 'go' and make disciples/teach all nations—both give the church a global mission.
- Luke 24:47 (thematic): Luke records the risen Jesus charging the apostles to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins 'to all nations,' echoing Mark's universal proclamation.
- Acts 1:8 (thematic): Promises empowerment to be witnesses 'to the ends of the earth,' framing the missionary scope implied by Mark's call to preach to the whole world.
- Matthew 24:14 (verbal): Predicts that 'this gospel' will be preached throughout the whole world to all nations—language and global scope parallel Mark 16:15.
- Romans 10:14-15 (thematic): Argues the necessity of preaching so people may hear and believe, underpinning Mark's imperative to proclaim the gospel to all creation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
- And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to every creature."
Mark.16.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πιστευσας: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- βαπτισθεις: VERB,aor,pas,ptc,nom,sg,m
- σωθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- απιστησας: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- κατακριθησεται: VERB,fut,pas,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 28:19-20 (structural): The Great Commission links belief and the practice of baptism (teaching and baptizing disciples), providing the wider mission context for Mark's coupling of belief and baptism with salvation.
- John 3:16-18 (thematic): Emphasizes belief as the decisive factor for salvation and condemnation; complements Mark's statement that belief (with baptism) yields salvation while unbelief brings judgment.
- 1 Peter 3:21 (verbal): Explicitly links baptism to salvation ('baptism...now saves you'), echoing Mark's formula that those who believe and are baptized will be saved, while clarifying the theological character of baptism.
- Acts 2:38 (thematic): Peter's call to 'repent and be baptized...for the forgiveness of your sins' ties baptism to the reception of salvation/forgiveness, reflecting the salvific role of baptism in Mark 16:16.
- Romans 10:9-10 (verbal): States that confessing and believing brings salvation ('you will be saved'), reinforcing the New Testament theme—present in Mark—that faith is central to being saved (Mark adds baptism alongside belief).
Alternative generated candidates
- Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
- He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Mark.16.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- σημεια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- δε: CONJ
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πιστευσασιν: VERB,aor,act,part,dat,pl,m
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- παρακολουθησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- δαιμονια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- εκβαλουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- γλωσσαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- λαλησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- καιναις: ADJ,dat,pl,f
Parallels
- Luke 9:1-2 (verbal): Jesus grants the Twelve power and authority over demons and to heal, paralleling Mark’s note that such signs (casting out demons, healing) accompany believers.
- Matthew 10:1 (verbal): Jesus gives the disciples authority to cast out unclean spirits, a direct parallel to Mark’s statement that believers will cast out demons in Jesus’ name.
- Acts 2:4-11 (thematic): The Pentecost event where believers speak in other tongues parallels Mark’s claim that speaking in new languages is a sign accompanying believers.
- 1 Corinthians 12:10,28 (thematic): Paul lists spiritual gifts including tongues, healings, and miracles—corresponding to the signs Mark associates with believers.
- John 14:12 (thematic): Jesus’ promise that believers will do the works he does (and greater) resonates with Mark’s assertion that miraculous signs will follow those who believe.
Alternative generated candidates
- And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
- And these signs will follow those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
Mark.16.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οφεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αρουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- καν: PART
- θανασιμον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- πιωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- βλαψη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- αρρωστους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- χειρας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- επιθησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- καλως: ADV
- εξουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Luke 10:19 (verbal): Jesus promises his followers authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and to overcome dangers—closely parallels Mark’s language about taking up serpents and protection from deadly things.
- John 14:12 (thematic): Jesus says believers will do the works he does (and greater); this provides the theological basis for Mark’s list of signs that will accompany believers, including healings and protection.
- Acts 28:3-6 (allusion): When Paul is bitten by a viper on Malta, the snake does him no harm—an episodic fulfillment/illustration of Mark’s claim that handling serpents and drinking deadly things will not hurt believers.
- Matthew 10:8 (verbal): Jesus instructs the twelve to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons—parallels Mark’s emphasis on miraculous signs (healing, authority over danger and disease) accompanying followers.
- Isaiah 35:5-6 (allusion): The prophetic description of eyes opened, ears unstopped, the lame leaping and the mute singing functions as an Old Testament backdrop for New Testament claims that miraculous healings will accompany God’s messengers.
Alternative generated candidates
- they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
- they will pick up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
Mark.16.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μεν: PART
- ουν: CONJ
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μετα: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- λαλησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- ανελημφθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκαθισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εκ: PREP
- δεξιων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 24:51 (verbal): Luke likewise reports Jesus being taken up into heaven after speaking with the disciples, using similar language about the ascension.
- Acts 1:9-11 (verbal): A fuller narrative of the ascension: Jesus is lifted up, a cloud receives him, and angels comment on his future return—complementing Mark's brief statement.
- Hebrews 1:3 (allusion): Affirms that the Son 'sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,' echoing Mark's claim of Jesus' exaltation and enthronement at God's right hand.
- Psalm 110:1 (quotation): The Old Testament source ('Sit at my right hand') is frequently applied to the Messiah in the New Testament and undergirds the NT assertion that Jesus sits at God's right hand.
- Ephesians 1:20-21 (thematic): States that God raised Christ and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, paralleling Mark's linkage of ascension with exaltation.
Alternative generated candidates
- So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
- So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God.
Mark.16.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εκεινοι: PRO,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- εξελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εκηρυξαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- πανταχου: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- συνεργουντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- βεβαιουντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- επακολουθουντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,n
- σημειων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
Parallels
- Matthew 28:18-20 (structural): The Great Commission: apostles sent to preach and make disciples under Jesus' authority—parallel emphasis on going out to proclaim the message under the Lord's authority and presence.
- Luke 24:46-49 (thematic): Jesus commissions the disciples to proclaim repentance and forgiveness to all nations and promises the empowering presence of the Spirit—links commissioning, proclamation, and divine empowerment.
- Acts 1:8 (thematic): Promise of power to be witnesses 'to the ends of the earth'—connects the missionary sending and the divine enabling that undergirds the preaching in Mark 16:20.
- Acts 4:33 (verbal): Speaks of the apostles giving testimony 'with great power' and the Lord confirming their message—closely parallels Mark's language of the Lord working with them and confirming the word.
- Mark 16:17-18 (verbal): Immediate Markan context listing signs that will accompany believers (e.g., healing, protection)—directly related to 'the accompanying signs' mentioned in 16:20.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they went out and proclaimed everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it. Amen.
- And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed.
Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
She went and told those who had been with him, who were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe.
After these things he appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked into the country.
They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them either.
Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues,
they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then, after the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the message by the signs that attended it.