WHEN THE SABBATH WAS PAST (διαγενομενου του σαββατου). Genitive absolute, the sabbath having come in between, and now over. For this sense of the verb (common from Demosthenes on) see Acts 25:13; Acts 27:9. It was therefore after sunset.BOUGHT SPICES (ηγορασαν αρωματα). As Nicodemus did on the d... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE SUN WAS RISEN (ανατειλαντος του ηλιου). Genitive absolute, aorist participle, though some manuscripts read ανατελλοντος, present participle. Luke 24:1 has it "at early dawn" (ορθρου βαθεος) and John 20:1 "while it was yet dark." It was some two miles from Bethany to the tomb. Mark himself... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL ROLL US AWAY THE STONE? (Τις αποκυλισε ημιν τον λιθον;). Alone in Mark. The opposite of προσκυλιω in Mark 15:46. In verse Mark 16:4 ROLLED BACK (ανεκεκυλιστα, perfect passive indicative) occurs also. Both verbs occur in _Koine_ writers and in the papyri. Clearly the women have no hope o... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKING UP THEY SEE (αναβλεψασα θεωρουσιν). With downcast eyes and heavy hearts (Bruce) they had been walking up the hill. Mark has his frequent vivid dramatic present "behold." Their problem is solved for the stone lies rolled back before their very eyes. Luke 24:2 has the usual aorist "found."F... [ Continue Reading ]
ENTERING INTO THE TOMB (εισελθουσα εις το μνημειον). Told also by Luke 24:3, though not by Matthew.A YOUNG MAN (νεανισκον). An angel in Matthew 28:5, two men in Mark 16:24. These and like variations in details show the independence of the narrative and strengthen the evidence for the general fa... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT AMAZED (μη εκθαμβεισθε). The angel noted their amazement (verse Mark 16:5) and urges the cessation of it using this very word.THE NAZARENE (τον Ναζαρηνον). Only in Mark, to identify "Jesus" to the women.THE CRUCIFIED ONE (τον εσταυρωμενον). This also in Matthew 28:5. This description of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PETER (κα τω Πετρω). Only in Mark, showing that Peter remembered gratefully this special message from the Risen Christ. Later in the day Jesus will appear also to Peter, an event that changed doubt to certainty with the apostles (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5). See on Matthew 28:7 for discus... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD COME UPON THEM (ειχεν αυτας). Imperfect tense, more exactly,HELD THEM, WAS HOLDING THEM FAST .TREMBLING AND ASTONISHMENT (τρομος κα εκστασις, trembling and ecstasy), Mark has it, while Matthew 28:8 has "with fear and great joy" which see for discussion. Clearly and naturally their emotion... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD RISEN EARLY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (αναστας πρω πρωτη σαββατου). It is probable that this note of time goes with "risen" (αναστας), though it makes good sense with "appeared" (εφανη). Jesus is not mentioned by name here, though he is clearly the one meant. Mark uses μια in verse... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE (εκεινη). Only instance of this pronoun (= ιλλα) absolutely in Mark, though a good Greek idiom. (See John 19:35.) See also verses Mark 16:11; Mark 16:20.WENT (πορευθεισα). First aorist passive participle. Common word for going, but in Mark so far only in Mark 9:30 in the uncompounded form.... [ Continue Reading ]
DISBELIEVED (ηπιστησαν). This verb is common in the ancient Greek, but rare in the N.T. and here again verse Mark 16:16 and nowhere else in Mark. The usual N.T. word is απειθεω. Luke 24:11 uses this verb (ηπιστουν) of the disbelief of the report of Mary Magdalene and the other women. The verb εθε... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THESE THINGS (μετα ταυτα). Only here in Mark. Luke tells us that it was on the same day (Luke 24:13).IN ANOTHER FORM (εν ετερα μορφη). It was not a μεταμορφωσις or transfiguration like that described in Mark 9:2. Luke explains that their eyes were holden so that they could not recognize J... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER BELIEVED THEY THEM (ουδε εκεινοις επιστευσαν). The men fared no better than the women. But Luke's report of the two on the way to Emmaus is to the effect that they met a hearty welcome by them in Jerusalem (Luke 24:33-35). This shows the independence of the two narratives on this point. T... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE ELEVEN THEMSELVES (αυτοις τοις ενδεκα). Both terms, eleven and twelve (John 20:24), occur after the death of Judas. There were others present on this first Sunday evening according to Luke 24:33.AFTERWARD (υστερον) is here alone in Mark, though common in Matthew.UPBRAIDED (ωνειδισεν). T... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE WHOLE CREATION (παση τη κτισε). This commission in Mark is probably another report of the missionary _Magna Charta_ in Matthew 28:16-20 spoken on the mountain in Galilee. One commission has already been given by Christ (John 20:21-23). The third appears in Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IS BAPTIZED (κα βαπτισθεις). The omission ofBAPTIZED with "disbelieveth" would seem to show that Jesus does not make baptism essential to salvation. Condemnation rests on disbelief, not on baptism. So salvation rests on belief. Baptism is merely the picture of the new life not the means of... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES (γλωσσαις λαλησουσιν [καιναισ]). Westcott and Hort put καιναις (new) in the margin. Casting out demons we have seen in the ministry of Jesus. Speaking with tongues comes in the apostolic era (Acts 2:3; Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 12:... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS (οφεις αρουσιν). Jesus had said something like this in Luke 10:19 and Paul was unharmed by the serpent in Malta (Acts 28:3).IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING (κ'αν θανασιμον τ πιωσιν). This is the only N.T. instance of the old Greek word θανασιμος (deadly). James 3:8 has... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS RECEIVED UP INTO HEAVEN (ανελημπθη εις τον ουρανον). First aorist passive indicative. Luke gives the fact of the Ascension twice in Gospel (Luke 24:50) and Acts 1:9-11. The Ascension in Mark took place after Jesus spoke to the disciples, not in Galilee (Mark 16:15-18), nor on the first or seco... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM (του κυριου συνεργουντος). Genitive absolute. This participle not in Gospels elsewhere nor is βεβαιουντος nor the compound επακολουθουντων, all in Paul's Epistles. Πανταχου once in Luke. Westcott and Hort give the alternative ending found in L: "And they announced brief... [ Continue Reading ]