Mark 16:20

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, AND THEY WENT FORTH, AND PREACHED EVERY WHERE, THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM, AND CONFIRMING THE WORD WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING. AMEN. We have in this closing verse a most important link of connection with the Acts of the Apostles, where He who directed all the movements of the infant Church is perpetually called "THE LORD;" thus illustrating His own promise for the founding and building up of the Church, "Lo, I AM WITH YOU alway!" For Remarks on this section, see those on the corresponding section of the First Gospel - Matthew 28:1....

Mark 16:19._And sat down at the right hand of God. _In other passages I have explained what is meant by this expression, namely, that Christ was raised on high, that he might be exalted above angels and all creatures; that by his agency the Father might govern the world, and, in short, that _before him every knee might bow, _(Philippians 2:10.) It is the same as if he were called God’s Deputy, to represent the person of God; and, therefore, we must not imagine to ourselves any one place, since _the right hand _is a metaphor which denotes the power that is next to God. This was purposely added by Mark, in order to inform us that Christ _was taken up into heaven, _not to enjoy blessed rest at a distance from us, but to govern the world for the salvation of all believers. 20.

19,20 After the Lord had spoken he went up into heaven. Sitting is a posture of rest, he had finished his work; and a posture of rule, he took possession of his kingdom. He sat at the right hand of God, which denotes his sovereign dignity and universal power. Whatever God does concerning us, gives to us, or accepts from us, it is by his Son. Now he is glorified with the glory he had before the world. The apostles went forth, and preached every where, far and near. Though the doctrine they preached was spiritual and heavenly, and directly contrary to the spirit and temper of the world; though it met with much opposition, and was wholly destitute of all worldly supports and advantages; yet in a few years the sound went forth unto the ends of the earth. Christ's ministers do not now need to work miracles to prove their message; the Scriptures are proved to be of Divine origin, and this ren...

Verse Mark 16:20. _THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM_] This _co-operation_ was twofold, _internal_ and _external_. _Internal_, illuminating their minds, convincing them of the truth, and establishing them in it. _External_, conveying their word to the souls that heard it, by the demonstration of the Holy Ghost; convincing them of sin, righteousness, and judgment; justifying them by his blood, and sanctifying them by his Spirit. Though miraculous powers are not _now_ requisite, because the truth of the Gospel has been sufficiently confirmed, yet this _co-operation_ of God is indispensably necessary, without which no man can be a successful preacher; and without which no soul can be saved. _WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING._] επακολουθουντων σημειων, _the_ _accompanying signs_: viz. those mentioned in the 17th and 18th verses,...

THEY WENT FORTH - The apostles. EVERYWHERE - In all parts of the world. See the account in the Acts and the Epistles. THE LORD WORKED WITH THEM - By miracles; by removing obstacles; by supporting them; and by giving the gospel success and making it effectual to saving men. CONFIRMING THE WORD - Showing it to be the word of God or a revelation from heaven.BY SIGNS FOLLOWING - By attending miracles. By raising the dead, healing the sick, etc., as signs that God was with them, and had sent them forth to preach. AMEN - Truly, verily. So be it. This word here, however, is of no authority. There is no reason to think that it was added by Mark. Mark is more concise than either of the other evangelists. In most instances he coincides with

EXPOSITION MARK 16:1 AND WHEN THE SABBATH WAS PAST, MARY MAGDALENE, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES, AND SALOME, BOUGHT SPICES ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα) THAT THEY MIGHT COME AND ANOINT HIM. A hasty but lavish embalming of our Lord's sacred body had been begun on Friday evening by Joseph and Nicodemus. They had "brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight" (John 19:39). This would be a compound—the gum of the myrrh tree, and a powder of the fragrant aloe wood mixed together, with which they would completely cover the body, which was then swathed with linen cloths (ὀθόνια), also steeped in the aromatic preparation. Then the sindon_ _would he placed over all. Compare the ἐ

AND THEY WENT FORTH,.... After this the apostles went forth, from Galilee to Jerusalem; and on the day of pentecost, they appeared publicly, and preached the Gospel in divers languages; and after the death of Stephen, and the persecution raised upon that, they went forth from Jerusalem; see Isaiah 2:3. AND PREACHED EVERY WHERE; not only in Judea, and in the neighbouring countries, but all over the world, in process of time: THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM; making their ministry useful, for the conviction and conversion of large multitudes, and for the forming and settling abundance of Gospel churches, and for the comfort and edification of the saints; all which was done, by the power and grace of Christ, without whom they could do nothing; see 1 Corinthians 3:9....

Mark 16:1. _And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him._ True love had made a mistake; but it was true love for all that, and the Lord accepted it, although he had no need of the sweet spices that the women brought. Mark 16:2. _And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun._ There had already been another rising of the sun that morning, for the Sun of righteousness had risen; and, with his rising, our hopes had risen, and eternal life had come to light. These holy women proved their affection to their Lord by being there so early. Love will not wait; it delights to render its service as speedily as ever it can:

MARK 16:9-20 _The Ending(s) of Mark_ Four endings of the Gospel according to Mark are current in the manuscripts. (1) The last twelve verses of the commonly received text of Mark are absent from the two oldest Greek manuscripts (a and B), 20 from the Old Latin codex Bobiensis (itk), the Sinaitic Syriac manuscript, about one hundred Armenian manuscripts, 21 and the two oldest Georgian manuscripts (written A.D. 897 and A.D. 913). 22 Clement of Alexandria and Origen show no knowledge of the existence of these verses; furthermore Eusebius and Jerome attest that the passage was absent from almost all Greek...

PART V. THE SERVANT HIGHLY EXALTED. RISEN AND ASCENDED; HIS COMMISSION TO HIS SERVANTS AND WORKING WITH THEM Chapter 16 _ 1. The Resurrection and His Manifestation. (Mark 16:1 .Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1 .)_ 2. The Commission. (Mark 16:9. Luke 24:36; John 20:19 .) 3. The Ascension. (Mar