Verse by Verse

¹² After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.

¹³ And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

¹⁴ Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

¹⁵ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

¹⁸ they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

¹⁹ So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Also found in Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:13-14, and Acts 1:9.

after that (v.12) — on Sunday, the day Christ rose from the grave.

in another form (v.12) = in a different outward expression or appearance. Mary thought Jesus was a gardener (John 20:15). The two disciples thought He was a stranger (Luke 24:18).

two of them (v.12) — Cleopas (Luke 24:13-35)

Instances of these signs (vs.17-18), except for drinking poison, appear in Acts: Acts 2:4; 8:7; 28:3-8.

Most of my commentaries struggle with verse 16, which clearly states that belief and baptism are necessary for salvation. That doesn’t line up with what they want to believe about baptism. To get around it, they point out that baptism isn’t included in the negative statement at the end of the verse. So, they claim, baptism is just a sign of genuine faith and is so closely associated with it that it’s mentioned as part of it, but it isn’t required. But this verse doesn’t stand alone. Peter, in Acts 2:38, clearly stated that baptism was necessary for salvation — “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”

So, is baptism necessary for salvation? No. But it was under the Kingdom Gospel, which was the gospel for the Jews that Jesus (during His earthly ministry), Mark, and Peter all preached. But Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, who preached the Gospel of grace, said simple “Believe” (Acts 16:31). He also wrote that we aren’t saved by any work, including baptism (Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). And as for baptism as a sign or a ritual of obedience, he wrote, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel …” (1 Corinthians 1:17).

As is the case with so many supposed issues in Scripture, a simple understanding of dispensational distinctions — Law vs. Grace; Kingdom vs. Church; the Twelve vs. Paul — clears everything up.

at the right hand of God (v.19) — Psalm 110:1

1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

² Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

³ And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.

⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

⁶ But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

⁷ But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

⁸ So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

⁹ Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.

¹¹ And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

Also found in Matthew 28:1-8, Luke 24:1-8, and John 20:1, 11-18.

Most of my commentaries, rather than look into the details of this passage, spend their time attempting to explain away the seeming discrepancies between the Gospel accounts. I’m not going to get into that except to say that none of the accounts were intended to be a detailed, step-by-step record of what all the participants — the Lord, the angels, the women, the disciples — did that morning. If I say “I’ve been to San Diego,” it’s no contradiction of my coworker’s statement that several of us went to that city. If I say “I went before sunrise,” it’s no contradiction of my coworker’s statement that we arrived just after first light.”

Sabbath (v.1) — the regular weekly Sabbath (Saturday).

Most commentaries state that Christ was crucified on Friday because the Bible states (John 19:31) that His body had to be removed for the Sabbath. But this was the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the first day of that feast was considered a holy day (Sabbath), no matter what day of the week it fell on (Leviticus 23:7). So, since Jesus Himself said that He would be in the grave for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:39-40), He must have been crucified earlier than Friday and the feast must have begun that  year on a day other than Saturday. It is likely, however, that the Sabbath referred to in Mark 16:1 was the regular Saturday Sabbath.

When the Sabbath was over, that is, after sunset [on Saturday], the women purchased the aromatics for the anointing of the body of our Lord. They probably knew of the [hasty] embalming of the body by Joseph and Nicodemus. But they desired to make an external application of fragrant oils. … They purchased the anointing oil after sunset that closed the Sabbath. Very early in the morning of our Sunday, perhaps while it was still dark, they left Bethany, which is about two miles from Jerusalem, and arrived at the tomb just after sunrise. — Wuest, page 289.

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They said among themselves (v.3). The verb is imperfect. “They kept on saying among themselves.” It was the chief topic of conversation. They had no anticipation of a resurrection. The word “roll” used by the women is slightly different from the one used by Mark in describing that event. The former word means “to roll away.” The idea is one of separation. The spoke of the stone being rolled clear of the door, so as to leave the doorway entirely open. The latter word refers to the act of rolling back the stone so as to leave the opening free of access. …

They had approached the tomb with downcast eyes and bowed heads. The words, “for it (the stone) was very great,” either explain their being able to see that the stone had been moved, or what it was that arrested their attention. The word “from” [means] “out of,” not “from the edge of,” and indicates that the stone was set into the entrance, not merely placed up against its edge. — Wuest, pages 289-290.

What Wuest is saying, I think, is that the stone wasn’t just rolled in front of the tomb to cover the hole, but was actually cut to fit into the opening, which would require lifting it out of the recess to remove it, not just rolling it off to the side.

long white robe (v.5) — a long stately robe, reaching to the feet, or trainlike, sweeping the ground. The word was used of any garment of special solemnity, richness, or beauty. … The implication is that the individual described was not a human being but an angel. — Wuest, page 290.

He is going before you into Galilee (v.7) — Matthew 26:32; Mark 14:28.

trembled and were amazed (v.8) — not fear so much as wonder and complete amazement.

Verses 9 through the end of the chapter don’t appear in some early manuscripts, leading some to suspect later authorship or some corruption in the original text that happened early on during the process of copying. But they do appear in other solid manuscripts.

⁴⁰ There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,

⁴¹ who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

⁴² Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

⁴⁴ Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time.

⁴⁵ So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

⁴⁶ Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.

⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

Also found in Matthew 27:55-60, Luke 23:48-54, and John 19:38-42.

looking on from afar (v.40) — There were also women — many women (Matthew 27:55) — looking on at a long distance, where they could be safe from the ribaldry of the crowd, and yet watch the Figure on the Cross — not the “daughters of Jerusalem” who had bewailed Jesus on the way to Golgotha, but followers from Galilee.” The words “looking on” [mean] “to view attentively and with interest and for a purpose, carefully observing details.” — Wuest, page 285.

Mary Magdalene (who had been demon-possessed — Luke 8:2), Mary the mother of James the Less (one of the twelve disciples), Salome (the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John — Matthew 27:56). Mark doesn’t mention it, but Jesus’ mother was also there (John 19:26).

Joseph as a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin. He was from Arimathea (location uncertain) but was probably a resident of Jerusalem. He had opposed the decision to crucify Christ (Luke 23:51).

Preparation Day (v.42) — It was already the afternoon of the day before the Sabbath, called parpskeue (a making ready, a preparation). It must therefore be done at once or it could not be done till Sabbath was past. … The Jews had already taken steps to provide for the removal of the bodies before the Sabbath … had they not been anticipated, the Lord’s body would have been committed to the common grave provided for criminals who had been hanged. — Wuest, page 286.

Joseph had to act quickly. The next day, the Sabbath, would begin at 6:00 PM, according to Jewish time, and it was already past 3:00 PM.

Death by crucifixion usually came two or three days afterwards. In come cases the victims died of starvation rather than of their wounds. Pilate wondered that Jesus was already dead. … The word “gave” [means] “to freely give.” After satisfying himself officially that Jesus was dead, Pilate freely gave His body to Joseph, not out of any feeling of generosity, but because he would be rid of this most inconvenient and troublesome affair. — Wuest, pages 286-287.

Joseph asked for Jesus’ body, using a general word (v.43) for body that would also be used for a living body. Pilate used a word (v.45) that means “dead body, carcass, corpse.”

fine linen (v.46) = in the piece, not a garment, so it was fresh and unused.

Nicodemus (John 3:1) was also a member of the Sanhedrin. He helped Joseph remove and prepare Jesus’ body for burial (John 19:39-42).

The body was then taken by the two men, bathed perhaps, and wrapped in the linen between the folds of which the spices were freely crumbed, and finally bound with strips of cloth after the Jewish manner of burying. The picture may be completed by comparing what is said of Lazarus in John 11:44,and the account of the grave clothes in John 20:7; the hands and feet were bound with strips of linen, and the face covered with a face cloth. … The tomb in which the body of Jesus was laid, was a new one, and had been prepared by Joseph for his own burial. It was in a garden adjacent to the place of crucifixion, presumably the property of Joseph. The opening was usually closed with a stone if the tomb contained a body. Regarding the two women who “beheld where He was laid,” … apparently these remained after the other women had left and were watching the actions of Joseph and Nicodemus. — Wuest, page 287.

³³ Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

³⁵ Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!”

³⁶ Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

³⁷ And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

³⁸ Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

³⁹ So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

Also found in Matthew 27:45-54, Luke 23:44-47, and John 19:28-30.

darkness (v.33) — A supernatural darkness since an eclipse is impossible during the time of Passover.

forsaken (v.34) — The word “forsaken” [means] “to leave down in,” the idea being that of deserting someone in a set of circumstances that are against him. The word means “to let one down, to desert, abandon, leave in the lurch, leave one helpless.” — Wuest, page 283.

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The sentence of death rested on man personally because of his sinful nature and because of his sinful actions. If Christ, therefore, would redeem him from this doom He must suffer it Himself, must load Himself with the sinners’ sins and Himself sinless, be constituted sin itself (2 Corinthians 5:21 and Galatians 3:13).

Because of sin and sins God justly doomed to perpetual banishment from His Presence, i.e., to death, guilty man (Romans 5:12). To delver man Christ became the sin-offering. As such He bore their sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24). He abolished sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:26). He suffered the wrath of God due to disobedience (Ephesians 5:6); and the sword of that wrath awoke not only against the sins that were laid upon Him, but against Himself as being the Sinner, and yet the Fellow of Jehovah (Zechariah 13:7); and, therefore, He was accursed of God personally (Galatians 3:10), i.e., condemned to death, the mysterious death of separation from God and seclusion in hell. But He could not be holden of the abyss for He was sinless and He was God, so He carried away its gates, as Samson the gates of Gaza. 

Herein lies the mystery of Christ as the Burnt-Offering and the Sin-Offering of Leviticus 1 and 4. Never was He more perfect and more precious to the heart of God — more truly a sweet savour than when hanging on the tree; and yet, at the same moment, was He accursed as being the impersonation of sin itself. Hence He Himself declared (John 3:14) that the serpent on the pole, the similitude of the deadly stinging serpent, pre-figured Himself. — Williams, page 740.

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[Christ’s] unconsciousness of any reason for desertion disproves the old notion that He felt Himself a sinner, and “suffered infinite remorse, as being the chief sinner in the universe, all the sins of mankind being His.” One who felt thus could neither have addressed God as “My God,” nor asked why He was forsaken. …

The only explanation is in His own word, that His life is a ransom in exchange for many (Mark 10:45). The chastisement of our peace, not the remorse of our guiltiness, was upon Him. — Chadwick, pages 432-433.

Elijah (v.35) — Because Christ had called out “Eloi, Eloi,” (“God, God”), which sounds something like Elijah, although whether the person who said He was calling for Elijah was truly mistaken or making a joke is unknown.

Sour  wine (v.36) — oxos, a mixture of sour wine or vinegar with water. Roman soldiers often drank this and may have brought some along for their own use.

This [v.38] is recorded by all the Synoptists. It would be observed and reported by the priests, of whom afterwards many believed (Acts 6:7). Upon the Hebrew mind such a momentous happening must have made a tremendous impression after centuries of Tabernacle and Temple worship in which the Holy of Holies had been closed to all except the high priest on the Day of Atonement. Its meaning for us is clearly set out in Hebrews 10:19ff. — Guthrie, page 885.

temple (v.38) — Not the word for the entire temple with all its buildings, but the word for the inner sanctuary consisting of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. The ripping of the curtain showed that Christ, by dying on the cross, had fulfilled all of the Levitical sacrifices and had abolished them.

There is no definite article before the word “Son” (v.39). What this soldier said was, “Truly, this man was a son of God.” The testimony which the Gospels attribute to the centurion is merely that of a man who was able to rise above the prejudices of the crowd and the thoughtless brutality of the soldiers, and to recognize in Jesus an innocent man (Luke), or possibly a supernatural person (Matthew, Mark). Son of God is certainly more than righteous, but the centurion who borrowed the words from the Jewish priests, could scarcely have understood them even in the Messianic sense: his idea is perhaps analogous to that ascribed to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3:25, where the Hebrew word refers to an extraordinary, superhuman being. — Wuest, page 284.