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Mark 16

ScriptureDepth's study of Mark 16

“He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.”

Mark 16:15

Jesus commands the eleven disciples to 'go into all the world' and preach the Good News, initiating their mission to spread his teachings after his resurrection.

What Mark 16 is about

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome visit the tomb after the Sabbath to anoint Jesus' body with spices (vv. 1-3). They find the stone rolled away and a young man in white who tells them that Jesus has risen (vv. 4-8). Mary Magdalene is the first to see the risen Jesus, but the disciples do not believe her report (vv. 9-11). Later, Jesus appears in another form to two disciples on their way to the country, but they also are not believed when they return (vv. 12-13). Jesus then appears to the eleven disciples and rebukes them for their unbelief, commanding them to preach the Good News to all creation (vv. 14-15). He states that believers will be saved and describes signs that will accompany them (vv. 16-18). Finally, the Lord ascends into heaven, and the disciples obey by preaching everywhere (vv. 19-20).

The chapter leaves the reader with the command to preach the Good News and the promise of signs accompanying believers.

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Mark 16 at a glance

  1. Mark 16:1–3Women Visit the Tomb
  2. Mark 16:4–8The Stone Rolled Away
  3. Mark 16:9–11Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
  4. Mark 16:12–14Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
  5. Mark 16:15–18The Great Commission
  6. Mark 16:19–20Ascension and Disciples' Obedience

Key verse: Mark 16:15

One thing to notice

Women visit the tomb in vv. 1-3, bringing spices. They discuss the large stone, and in v. 4, they find it rolled away. An angel greets them, saying Jesus has risen, in v. 6. The women flee from the tomb, trembling and amazed, in v. 8.

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

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Women Visit the Tomb Mark 16:1–3

Verse 1. When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. Verse 2. Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. Verse 3. They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

The Stone Rolled Away Mark 16:4–8

Verse 4. for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back. Verse 5. Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed. Verse 6. He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him! Verse 7. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’” Verse 8. They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene Mark 16:9–11

Verse 9. Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. Verse 10. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. Verse 11. When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved.

Jesus Appears to Two Disciples Mark 16:12–14

Verse 12. After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. Verse 13. They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either. Verse 14. Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

The Great Commission Mark 16:15–18

Verse 15. He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. Verse 16. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. Verse 17. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; Verse 18. they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Ascension and Disciples' Obedience Mark 16:19–20

Verse 19. So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Verse 20. They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

World English Bible (public domain)

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Main themes in Mark 16

Resurrection

In vv. 6-7, the young man tells the women, ‘He has risen. He is not here,’ confirming the resurrection of Jesus. This event is central to the chapter, as it marks the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise about his resurrection. The women’s initial fear and amazement at finding the empty tomb transitions into a message to the disciples, demonstrating the shift from despair to hope through the resurrection.

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Faith

In verses 11 and 13, the disciples respond to reports of Jesus' resurrection with disbelief. When Mary Magdalene tells them that Jesus has been raised, they do not believe her, and the two who encounter Jesus on the road also face skepticism. This shows the struggle with faith that persisted among those closest to Jesus, leading to his later rebuke in verse 14.

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Evangelism

The command to ‘preach the Good News to the whole creation’ in v. 15 is a pivotal moment in the chapter, marking the call for evangelism. This instruction comes after the resurrection, highlighting the urgency of sharing the message of Jesus’ victory over death. The chapter shows the disciples’ immediate response as they ‘went out, and preached everywhere’ in v. 20, demonstrating the fulfillment of this commission.

Divine Commission

In vv. 15-18, Jesus commissions his disciples with authority to spread the gospel, stating that ‘he who believes and is baptized will be saved.’ This divine commission encompasses the promise of accompanying signs, empowering the disciples to carry out their mission. The chapter concludes with the ascension in v. 19, affirming Jesus’ authority as he is ‘received up into heaven,’ leaving the disciples to fulfill their commission.

Chapter outline

How Mark 16 unfolds

  1. Mark 16:1–3 Women Visit the Tomb

    Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome buy spices to anoint Jesus after the Sabbath (v. 1) and discuss who will roll away the stone from the tomb (v. 3).

  2. Mark 16:4–8 The Stone Rolled Away

    Upon arriving at the tomb, the women find the stone already rolled away (v. 4) and encounter a young man in a white robe who informs them of Jesus' resurrection (v. 6).

  3. Mark 16:9–11 Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

    Mary Magdalene is the first to see the risen Jesus (v. 9) and she reports this to those mourning, but they do not believe her (v. 11).

  4. Mark 16:12–14 Jesus Appears to Two Disciples

    Jesus appears to two disciples in another form while they are walking (v. 12) and they, too, report this to others, but are met with disbelief (v. 13).

  5. Mark 16:15–18 The Great Commission

    Jesus commissions the disciples to preach the Good News to all creation (v. 15), stating that believers who are baptized will be saved while those who do not believe will be condemned (v. 16).

  6. Mark 16:19–20 Ascension and Disciples' Obedience

    After speaking to the disciples, Jesus ascends into heaven and takes his place at the right hand of God (v. 19), while the disciples go out to preach everywhere, confirming their message with signs (v. 20).

Key verses

  • Mark 16:15Jesus commands the eleven disciples to 'go into all the world' and preach the Good News, initiating their mission to spread his teachings after his resurrection.

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Study questions

Questions for studying Mark 16

SummarizeObserveInterpretApply

Uses your daily Ask questions.

  1. observeIn v6, why are the women told, 'He has risen'?
  2. observeWhat does Mary Magdalene do in v10 after meeting Jesus?
  3. interpretThe response to Mary in vv. 10-11: why do the disciples 'disbelieve' her?
  4. interpretJesus' command in v15 to 'preach the Good News': what implications does this have for the disciples?
  5. applyWhen have you experienced disbelief like in v11 after hearing good news?

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Cross-references

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Mark 16: frequently asked questions

What is Mark 16 about?+
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome visit the tomb after the Sabbath to anoint Jesus' body with spices (vv. 1-3).
What is the key verse in Mark 16?+
Mark 16:15: “He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.”
What are the main themes of Mark 16?+
The main themes of Mark 16 are Resurrection, Faith, Evangelism, Divine Commission.

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Study Notes