Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome come to the tomb early on the first day of the week with spices, find the stone rolled away, and encounter a young man in white who announces Jesus' resurrection and commission to tell the disciples and Peter. The women flee in trembling and astonishment, saying nothing to anyone because of fear, marking the original ending of Mark's Gospel. The longer ending summarizes resurrection appearances to Mary Magdalene who had seven demons cast out, to two walking in the country, and to the Eleven at table where Jesus commissions them to preach the gospel to all creation, with signs accompanying believers, before ascending to God's right hand while they go forth preaching.
Read Mark Chapter 16 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Jesus Christ
The Suffering Servant and Son of God
Peter
Leading disciple whose testimony likely underlies Mark
John Mark
Author who compiled Peter's recollections
Mary Magdalene
First Witness of the Resurrection
Mary of Bethany
Sister of Martha and Lazarus
James, Brother of Jesus
Leader of the Jerusalem Church
Places in This Chapter
Nazareth
View on MapNazareth is the town in Galilee where Jesus grew up and spent most of his life before his public ministry. It was a small, obscure village in ancient times, which led Nathanael to ask "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary here to announce she would give birth to the Son of God. Jesus was known as "Jesus of Nazareth" throughout his ministry.
Position in Book
PreparationChapters 1:1-13
Galilean MinistryChapters 1:14-8:26
Road to JerusalemChapters 8:27-10:52
Passion WeekChapters 11-16
Entry, temple, Olivet Discourse, death, resurrection.
Bible Bites
Mark Originally Ended with Fear
The earliest manuscripts of Mark end abruptly at 16:8 with the women fleeing the tomb in fear and saying nothing to anyone. The longer ending (verses 9-20) was added later by scribes who thought this ending too sudden.
Mark 16:8