XVI. (1-8) AND WHEN THE SABBATH WAS PAST. — See Notes on Matthew 28:1. “Mary the mother of James” (not, as in Mark 15:40, of “James and Joses”) answers, as before, to the “other Mary” of Matthew 28:1. “Salome” appears, as before, in St. Mark only.... [ Continue Reading ]
(2)AT THE RISING OF THE SUN. — Literally, _when the sun had risen._ There seems at first a slight discrepancy between this and St. Matthew’s “while it was yet dark.” A morning haze, however, or the partial continuance of the gloom which had shrouded the city on the previous day, may well be thought... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SAID AMONG THEMSELVES... — Literally, _and they were saying to themselves._ The words were on the point of rising to their lips as they looked up and saw the stone rolled away.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT WAS VERY GREAT. — The words have been explained as giving the reason for their previous question, but it seems more natural to see in them St. Mark’s explanation of his having used the word “rolled away” instead of saying, simply, “taken away” or “removed.”... [ Continue Reading ]
A YOUNG MAN SITTING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. — So St. Mark describes the form which St. Matthew (Matthew 28:1) simply calls an “angel of the Lord.”... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT AFFRIGHTED. — The words agree substantially with those in Matthew 28:5, but omit the fuller appeal to the women to remember the words which their Lord had spoken while He was yet with them in Galilee.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY TREMBLED AND WERE AMAZED. — Literally, _trembling and amazement seized them. _... [ Continue Reading ]
(9-11) FIRST TO MARY MAGDALENE. — See Notes on John 20:11, but note that St. Mark’s account of her as one from whom Jesus “had cast out seven devils” is not from St. John, but from Luke 8:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9-20) NOW WHEN JESUS WAS RISEN EARLY. — See Notes on Matthew 28:16. The history of the verses that follow is in every way remarkable. They are not found in two of the oldest MSS. — the Sinaitic and the Vatican — are marked as doubtful in many others, and are wanting in some versions. In some of the... [ Continue Reading ]
(12-13) AFTER THAT HE APPEARED IN ANOTHER FORM. — See Notes on Luke 24:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTERWARD HE APPEARED UNTO THE ELEVEN. — See Notes on Luke 24:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM. — See Notes on Matthew 28:16. There is much, however, that is so distinct in St. Mark’s report as to suggest the thought that it may have referred to a different occasion. PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. — Better, _to the whole creation._ The universality of the word is,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED. — Better, _shall be condemned._ The Greek word does not necessarily imply the idea of irreversible endless condemnation which has come to be attached to the English one.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES. — This is noticeable as being the only distinct reference in the Gospels to the form of the Pentecostal gift. The promise of the Spirit itself had been prominent, however, throughout our Lord’s teaching (Luke 11:13; John 14:17; John 14:26), and appears from Acts 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS. — The instance of St. Paul at Melita is the only recorded example of the kind (Acts 28:1). Power over “serpents and scorpions” had, it will be remembered, been given before (Luke 10:19). IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING... — Of this there is no recorded instance in the Ne... [ Continue Reading ]
(19-20) SO THEN AFTER THE LORD HAD SPOKEN. — See Note on Luke 24:53. St. Matthew, it will be remembered, gives no account of the Ascension. (See Note on Matthew 28:20.) St. Mark and St. Luke record it briefly. St. John implies it in his report of our Lord’s words (John 6:62; John 20:17). In Acts 1:3... [ Continue Reading ]