The New Testament

The New Testament › Mark

Mark 16

1When the Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. 2Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3They said to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, for it was very large. 5Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, clothed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6He said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look at the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” 8They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Disputed longer ending: 16:9–20. See the notes below for its textual status and another ending found in some witnesses.

9After rising early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10She went and reported it to those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.

12After these things, he appeared in another form to two of them as they walked into the countryside. 13They went and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

14Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they reclined at the table. He reproached their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen him raised. 15He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to all creation. 16The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes; and if they drink anything deadly, it will certainly not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.”

19So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God. 20They went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs.

Translation notes 3

16:8 — Fear and silence. Mark's securely attested ending stops with the women's fear and silence. It is uncertain whether this was the intended ending or an earlier ending was lost. The draft does not add “at first” to limit their silence.

16:9–20 — Longer ending. These verses are ancient and widely transmitted, but important early witnesses end at 16:8, and the transition and wording raise further questions about authorship. They are included under the agreed policy, with double brackets marking the judgment that they are probably a secondary ending. “New tongues” in verse 17 can also be rendered “new languages.” The statements about baptism, snakes, and deadly drink are translated as written; their textual status applies to the entire section.

After 16:8 — Shorter ending. Another ending is transmitted in some witnesses. SBLGNT prints it in double brackets after verse 8. This edition places its translation here so that distinct endings are not presented as one continuous narrative:

They briefly reported everything they had been commanded to those around Peter. After these things Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.