16:1 When the Sabbath was over, [cf. Matt. 27:56] Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James [“son of Alphaeus” or “James the younger” ], and Salome [probably the mother of James and John] bought spices so that they might go to anoint [no opportunity to anoint Jesus’ body because He died and was buried shortly before the start of the Sabbath] Jesus’ body.

16:2 Very early [“while it was still dark” (Jn. 20:1)] on the first day [Sunday] of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb [the tomb had been sealed and was guarded by Roman soldiers (cf. Matt. 27:66)]

16:3 and they asked each other [note the main concern of the women…], “Who will roll the stone [described as “very large” in 16:4] away from the entrance of the tomb [Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother had watched as the tomb was sealed (Mk. 15:46)]?”

16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away [Gr. anakulio means “to roll up / upward”; the stone was moved not to let Jesus out but instead to let the world in].

Note: Regarding position of stone:
• Matt. 27:60 — kulio: “to roll”
• Mark 16:3,4 — anakulio: “to roll up / upward”
• Luke 24:2 — apokulio: “separation in sense of distance, thus rolled away”

16:5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man [identified as an angel in Matt. 28:2] dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed [frightened or dumfounded, a natural reaction to what the women encountered].

16:6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here [the women were the first to hear this good news]. See the place where they laid him [cf. Jn. 20:6-7].

16:7 But [the women were given a new assignment] go, tell his disciples and [as if to emphasize that Peter had not been disowned…] Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee [Jesus had called most of the disciples there]. There you will see him, just as he told you [cf. Mk. 14:28].’”

16:8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Note: The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.

16:9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.

16:10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.

16:11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

16:12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.

16:13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

16:14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Imagine being among the first to hear Jesus say, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15). How would you have felt? What would you have thought about such an enormous assignment? Perhaps you would have felt overwhelmed. Perhaps you would have thought, “I am inadequate for such a task.” How then, did Jesus prepare a group of ordinary human beings for the enormous task of sharing the good news with the world?

16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

16:18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

16:20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.