The big picture
Mark 16 opens in verse 1 with “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.”, and closes in verse 20 with “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and…” Repeated or prominent terms include sepulchre, appeared, believed, first, Mary. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Mark · King James Version · 20Mark 16:1-7
1–7: When the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James…
Mark 16:1–7 opens with “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had…” and reaches “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by sepulchre, affrighted, Mary.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that…” Naming Mary and James keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” The line’s distinctive content terms include early, first, morning. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
Mark 16:1-7
King James Version1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Mark 16:8-14
8–14: They went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled…
Mark 16:8–14 opens with “And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed…” and reaches “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by appeared, believed, first.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing…” The line’s distinctive content terms include afraid, amazed, fled. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Mark 16:8-14
King James Version8And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
9Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
Mark 16:15-20
15–20: He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to…
Mark 16:15–20 opens with “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” and reaches “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by believeth, Lord, signs.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Mark 16:15-20
King James Version15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Mark 16:1 begins with “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.”
Where the chapter turns
Mark 16:9 forms a natural hinge: “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”
The final note
Mark 16:20 leaves the reader with “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words sepulchre, appeared, believed, first, Mary, risen help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Whose perspective receives unexpected attention?
Hagar's. The messenger finds her, names her and speaks about her future.
What does Ishmael's name commemorate?
God has heard her affliction, according to verse 11.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Why many Bibles mark the Longer Ending of Mark
Mark 16:9-20. The KJV includes Mark 16:9-20. The earliest complete Greek manuscripts of Mark end at 16:8, while other ancient and later witnesses preserve a Longer Ending, a Shorter Ending, or both. That evidence is why many modern Bibles place verses 9-20 in brackets or explain them in a note.
View source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Mark 16 and its manuscript endings ↗