Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 16:20
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them,] and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
20. And they ] i. e. the Apostles.
went forth ] Not immediately. They were commanded not to “depart from Jerusalem,” but to “tarry” there until at Pentecost they should be endued with power from on high (Luk 24:49; Act 1:4). But when the day of Pentecost had come, and the Comforter had been bestowed, they went forth on their career of conquest,
and preached every where ] St Mark himself when he wrote his Gospel had witnessed the spread of the Church from Babylon in the distant East to the City of the Seven Hills in the West.
the Lord working with them ] according to His promise, “ Behold I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” The word translated “ working with them ” only occurs here in the Gospels, but is used by St Paul, Rom 8:28, “all things work together for good to them that love God;” 1Co 16:16, “to every one that helpeth with us; ” 2Co 6:1, “we then as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain;” and by St James (Mar 2:12), “seest thou how faith wrought with his works?”
confirming ] The original word here employed denotes (1) to make firm to the tread, (2) to make steadfast, (3) to establish, confirm. It occurs nowhere else in the Gospels, but it is found five times in St Paul’s Epistles, and twice in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Thus St Paul writes to the Romans (Mar 15:8), “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision to confirm the promises made unto the fathers;” and to the Corinthians (Mar 1:8) that God will “ confirm them unto the end, that they may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ;” and to the same Church again (2Co 1:21), “now he which stablisheth us with you is God;” and he exhorts the Colossians (Mar 2:6-7), “to walk, rooted and built up in [Jesus Christ], and stablished in the faith.” And for illustrations of the confirmation of the Apostolic commission compare (i) Act 4:29-30; (ii) Act 5:12; (iii) Act 14:3.
with signs ] Rather, by the signs which followed.
following ] The original word thus rendered denotes more than merely to follow, and = to follow close upon, to follow in the track of another. St Paul uses it in 1Ti 5:10, speaking of the condition of a “widow indeed,” “if she had diligently followed every good work;” and in 1Ti 5:24, “Some men’s sins are open beforehand and some men they follow after.” St Peter uses the word in one place (1Pe 2:21), “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow His steps.” The word is very expressive here, and denotes that the “signs” followed close upon, and were the immediate result of, the continued operation of Him, Who, clad in majesty ineffable, sitteth at the right hand of God, and hath promised to be with His Church “ even unto the end of the world ” (Mat 28:20). The Evangelist does not conceive of Christ’s Session as a state of inactive rest. (i) As the High Priest of His Church He pleads with the Father the merits of His wondrous sacrifice (Rom 8:34; Heb 4:14; Heb 7:25; 1Jn 2:1-2). (ii) As the Prophet, He teaches, inspires, and guides His Church into all truth (Deu 18:15; Luk 24:19). (iii) As King of kings and Lord of lords, He sways the destinies of the universe, and employs the agency of heaven and earth for the government and defence of His people, till He shall have subdued all things unto Himself (Php 3:21), and the last enemy, even death, shall be destroyed (1Co 15:26), and the victory, for which all Creation waits, shall be finally and completely won (Rom 8:19-23).
Amen ] This is wanting in the best MSS. For some remarks respecting the apotheosis of the Csars at the era of the Ascension, see Abp Trench’s Hulsean Lectures, and compare the striking fact that “on public buildings at Ephesus, Augustus is found, from inscriptions on recently discovered buildings there, to have been described by the singular title , “ Son of God.” With this revelation of the great Conqueror, the true divus Csar, seated at the right hand of God of which glorious reality the divine honours paid to the emperors at the very time he was writing from Rome were the dark shadow the second Evangelist brings his Gospel to a close. He has portrayed the Son of Man and the Son of God as He wrought on earth, in all the fulness of His living Energy, “ going about doing good ” (Act 10:38); He leaves us to realize, and realizing to believe in, His continued operation in the very heaven of heavens, in behalf of His Church and the Humanity He came to save.
“The golden censer in His hand,
He offers hearts from every land,
Tied to His own by gentlest band
Of silent love:
Above Him winged blessings stand
In act to move.”
Keble’s christian Year. Ascension Day.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 Matthew, though he has added some circumstances which Matthew had omitted. There is no evidence, however, that he copied from Matthew. The last chapter in Mark contains some things omitted in Matthew. and some things of fearful import. We learn from it that the gospel is to be preached to all mankind. Every person is to be offered eternal life, and he rejects it at his peril. The condition of the person who will not believe is fearfully awful. The Son of God has solemnly declared that he shall be damned. He will judge the world, and there is none that can deliver out of his hand. No excuse will be allowed for not believing. Unless a man has faith he must be lost for ever. This is the solemn assurance of the Bible; and in view of this awful declaration of the merciful Redeemer, how sad is the condition of him who has no confidence in Jesus, and who has never looked to him for eternal life! And how important that without delay he should make his peace with God, and possess that faith which is connected with everlasting salvation!
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Mar 16:20
And preached everywhere.
The publication of the gospel by the apostles
I. The general publication of the Gospel by the apostles. Their industry in this work was almost incredible. What pains did they take! What hazard did they run! What difficulties and discouragements did they contend with! And yet their success was greater than their industry, and beyond all human expectation, as will appear from the following considerations.
1. The vast spreading of the gospel in so short a time (Rev 14:6; Isa 60:8). In the space of about thirty years after our Lords death, the gospel was not only diffused through the greatest part of the Roman Empire, but had reached as far as Parthia and India.
2. The wonderful power and efficacy of it upon the lives and manners of men (Rom 15:18). The change of religion led to an entire change of life. So arrange an effect had the gospel upon the lives of its professors, that Tertullian challenges the Roman Senate to instance in anyone who bore the title of Christian, who was condemned as a thief, or a murderer, or a sacrilegious person, or who was guilty of any of those gross enormities for which so many pagans were every day punished.
3. The weakness and insignificance of the instruments employed in this great work.
4. The mighty opposition that was raised against the gospel. At its first appearance it could not be otherwise, but that it must meet with a great deal of difficulty and opposition, from the lusts and vices of men, which it so plainly and severely condemned, also from the prejudices of men brought up in a contrary religion. Moreover, the powers of the world combined their forces against it.
5. The great discouragements to the embracing the profession of it. There was nothing to invite and engage men to it but the consideration of another world; for all the evils of this world threatened everyone who took the profession of Christianity upon him. Yet, in spite of every obstacle, Christianity not only lived, but grew and prospered. Can any one of the false religions of the world pretend to have been propagated and established in such a manner, merely by their own force, and the evidence and power of truth upon the minds of men; and to have borne up and sustained themselves so long under such fierce assaults, as Christianity has done?
II. The reason of the great efficacy and success of the apostles preaching. The power of the Holy Ghost accompanied it, both inwardly operating on the minds of men, and also convincing them by outward and visible signs.
1. Consider the nature of the Spirits gifts, and the use and end to which they served.
2. Show how the gospel was confirmed by them. Conclusion: How sad that this religion, which was so powerful at first, and has Divinity so clearly stamped upon it, should yet have so little effect upon most of those who call themselves Christians! (Heb 2:1-4). (Archbishop Tillotson.)
Miracles the most proper way of proving the Divine authority of any religion
An account of the means whereby the preaching of the apostles became so successful. Not from any mighty talent of persuasion, or extraordinary faculty of reasoning with which they were endued; not by any intrinsic evidences of truth, which the distinguishing doctrines they preached carried with them; nor by any other method purely human and natural; but by Divine power and assistance, accompanying them in every step they took, and miraculously blessing their endeavours. Miracles are fitly termed signs, because done to signify who are appointed by God, as the messengers of His will to men. Their suitability for this purpose will appear, if we consider-
I. The common sense and opinion of mankind. All religions, whether true or false, have at their first setting out, endeavoured to countenance themselves by real or pretended miracles.
II. The general nature of this sort of evidence. How can a man prove his Divine mission but by a miracle, i.e., by doing something which all confess that none but God can do.
III. Some peculiar characters and properties that belong to them.
1. They are extremely fit to awaken mens attention. Curiosity is the first step towards conviction. When once men are possessed with a due regard for the messenger, they will be sure to listen carefully to the message he brings.
2. They are the shortest and most expeditious way of proof. Other kinds of proof were fitted only leisurely to loosen the knots, which the disputers of this world tied, in order to disturb the apostles in the execution of their ministry; miracles, like the heros sword, divided these entanglings at a stroke, and at once made their way through them.
3. They are an argument of the most universal force and efficacy, equally reaching all capacities and understandings. Some have not leisure for philosophical research, and others have not sufficient ability to pursue it; but a miracle carries its own evidence in its face, and is patent to all. (Bishop Atterbury.)
Signs following the gospel
While the text refers immediately to facts in the infancy of our religion, it is also identified with permanent principles, and presents matter of momentous contemplation to ourselves and all generations of men.
I. An important communication delivered.
1. Its nature.
2. Its extent.
II. A conclusive attestation, by which this communication was confirmed.
1. Miraculous agencies.
2. Spiritual changes in the human character. (See Act 2:41; Act 4:4; Act 9:1-43).
III. An imperative claim, which this communication urges upon all to whom it is addressed.
1. To be believed.
2. To be promulgated (Rom 10:14-16). (James Parsons.)
Divine cooperation in Christianity
I know not precisely what advances may be made by the intellect of an unassisted savage; but that a savage in the woods could not compose the Principle of Newton, is about as plain as that he could not create the world. I know not the point at which bodily strength must stop; but that a man cannot carry Atlas or Andes on his shoulders is a safe position. The question, therefore, whether the principles of human nature, under the circumstances in which it was placed at Christs birth, will explain His religion, is one to which we are competent, and is the great question on which the whole controversy turns. Now we maintain that a great variety of facts belonging to this religion-such as the character of its Founder; its peculiar principles; the style and character of its records; its progress; the conduct, circumstances, and sufferings of its first propagators; the reception of it from the first on the ground of miraculous attestations; the prophecies which it fulfilled and which it contains; its influence on society, and other circumstances connected with it;-are utterly inexplicable by human powers and principles, but accord with, and are fully explained by, the power and perfections of God. (Dr. Channing.)
Christianity, a living power
Miracles and the fulfillments of prophecy ought no longer to be put forward in the forefront of our plea for Christianity, but should be subordinated to the exhibition of the actual power of Christianity in the intellectual, moral, and spiritual spheres of our being. In the place of prophecy we have history-the history of eighteen centuries, during which the power of Christs light and grace has been seen in actual operation, subduing to Him the human soul and human society, and thus evincing its unique and supernatural character. Instead of the miracles of the gospel we have in present reality what may fairly be called a moral and spiritual miracle, in the transcendent influence which Christ, at this moment, is exercising over the world. We stand face to face with an actual Christianity, which is unquestionably the most marvellous spiritual phenomenon in the worlds history; and it cannot be right for us to endeavour to learn Christ by proceeding as if we could obliterate eighteen centuries, and forget that there is such a thing as a living Christianity. (Bishop Alfred Barry.)
The Lord working with them:-Spread of Christianity
Arnobius, a heathen philosopher who became a Christian, speaking of the power which the Christian faith exercised over the minds of men, says: Who would not believe it, when he sees in how short a time it has conquered so great knowledge? Orators, grammarians, rhetoricians, lawyers, physicians, and philosophers, have thrown up their opinions, which but a little before they held, and have embraced the doctrines of the gospel!
The gospel everywhere
Close the eyes for two and a half centuries, and a Roman emperor has torn the eagle from his standard to set there the cross, and the mistress of the world is at the feet of Him she crucified. Wait, and look again; a thousand years have passed-just a day with God-and the power of this Name has subdued the wildness of German forests, leaped the Channel, and raised the hewn timber of the tree of Calvary against the wild Druids oak. And today, when all civilization is at its height, and the world is quivering with fresh powers and measureless hopes, there is no other name which stands for a moment beside that of the risen Lord. Nor has He won His rights unchallenged. No such battles were ever fought as those which have raged about Him. His teachings, His nature, His very existence, have been the strife of the ages. We ourselves have seen the combat: and now, thanks to the criticism which doubted and the infidelity which denied, we know with demonstration never had before, that Jesus did live on this earth, that He spoke these words in the Gospels, and that His character and His influence are merely inexplicable on the supposition of His mere manhood. (C. M. Southgate.)
Divine power in the Church
We recall the story of the Book of the Gospels-Cuthberts own book-which the monks at Lindisfarne carried with them in their wanderings. They set sail for Ireland; a storm arose; the book fell overboard, and was lost; they were driven back to the English coast. Disconsolate, they went in quest of the precious volume: for a long time they searched in vain; but at length (so says the story) a miraculous revelation was vouchsafed to them, and, following its directions, they found the book on the sands far above high-water mark, uninjured by the waves-nay, even more beautiful for the disaster. Does not this story well symbolize the power of the eternal gospel working in the Church? Through the carelessness of man, it may disappear amidst the confusion of the storms; the waves may close over it and hide it from human sight. But lost-lost forever-it cannot be. It must reassert itself, and its glory will be the greater for the temporary eclipse which it has undergone. (Bishop J. B. Lightfoot.)
Vitality of Christs religion
Christianity throughout eighteen centuries has shown itself possessed of the peculiar power of recovering life when apparently almost defunct-a peculiarity entirely absent in every mythology, which, when once dead, never can be restored, but remains forever in the realm of shadows; that Christianity has a phoenix nature, and after every historic death arises anew from the grave; and that along with the resurrection which Christianity has had in our day, has also arisen from the grave the true conception of humanity. (Bishop Martensen.)
With signs following-The Churchs evidences
Where the spiritually blind are enlightened, the spiritually dead quickened, the spiritually deaf and dumb made to hear devoutly and to speak piously, the spiritually lame made to walk in the paths of righteousness and to be active in every good work, and the spiritually leprous are cleansed from sins,-there the Lord is confirming the Word with signs following; for these are signs and wonders greater than physical changes, the greater deeds that our Lord promised that His disciples would perform. These signs still follow the preaching of the Word; and the age of miracles of grace is not past, nor shall it ever pass while time lasts. (T. M. Lindsay, D. D.)
Signs
That is, such miracles as should be the seals and testimony of the truth. These miracles were therefore-
1. Signs to the apostles themselves, so that they might not despair at the greatness of the work which they were commissioned to do.
2. Signs to others, and a confirmation of the truth which the apostles taught. Hence Christ does not call them miracles, but signs: since the very object of the miracles which followed their teaching was to have this moral effect, and to testify to those who needed this proof, that the doctrine which they delivered was from God. (W. Denton, M. A.)
Signs
Three signs which follow all effectual preaching-
(1) Compunction of file hearers;
(2) conversion of sinners;
(3) confirmation of the just.
Conclusion: The figure which stands out from this book is Jesus. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. A man must be holy to comprehend the holiness of Jesus. Let us suppose the case of a sharp man, who has neither taste nor genius, standing before a great picture; he will point out flaw after flaw in Raphael. Place one who has neither musical appreciation, nor modesty to admit it, where he must hear Beethoven. It is an unmeaning noise, which gives him a headache. Even so, the lower the moral and spiritual life may be, the less is Jesus understood and loved. To an easy, soft-mannered, hard-hearted man of the world; to a subtle, bitter, selfish scholar, with the delicate intellectual egotism, and the fatal gilt of analysis a outrance, Gethsemane and the cross may be a scandal or a mockery, The gospel, which seems so poor and pale when we rise from the songs of poets and the reasonings of philosophers, is a test of our spirit. Let some ambitious students in philosophy-some who have been communing for hears with the immortal masters of history, charmed with the balanced masses and adjusted perspectives of the composition, speak out their mind today upon this Gospel of St. Mark. They will not place it very high upon their list. But turn to it tomorrow, when the end of your toil finds you disappointed men; when sorrow visits you; when, as you put your hand upon the wall of your room, memory, like a serpent, starts out and stings you. Then you will recognize the infinite strength and infinite compassion of Jesus. Out of your weakness and misery, out of your disappointment, you will feel that here you can trust in a nobility that is never marred, and rest that tired heart of yours upon a love that never fails St. Mark is the Gospel whose emblem is the lion, whose hero is full of Divine love and Divine strength. It is the Gospel which was addressed to the Romans to free them from the misery of scepticism, from the grinding dominion of iron superhuman force unguided by a loving will. Here, brief as it is, we have, in its essential germs, all the theology of the Church. Had every other part of the New Testament perished, Christendom might have been developed from this. A mans faith does not consist of the many things which he affects to believe or finds it useful to believe (as men are said to be doing in France), but of the few things which he really believes, and with which he stands, fronting his own soul and eternity. This faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is sufficient. Hold it fast, and you shall find the power of one of our Lords promises which is peculiar to this Gospel. If you are called upon to handle the serpents, or to drink the deadly things of science and philosophy, you shall lift up the serpent as a standard of victory. The cup of poison shall not reach your heart as it reached the heart of Socrates, when the sun was going down behind the hill tops. It shall not hurt you. Hold fast this gospel in that which tries many who are undisturbed by speculative doubt, in conscious sinfulness, in the allurements of lust. Hold it fast in the din of voices that fill a Church distracted by party cries, and He who has instructed His Church by the heavenly doctrine of His Evangelist St. Mark, will grant that, being not like children, carried away by every blast of vain doctrine, you shall be established in the truth of His holy gospel. (Bishop William Alexander.)
Encouragement of Gods presence
I have lately been full of perplexities about various temporal concerns. I have met with heavy afflictions; but in the mount the Lord is seen. All my hope is in God; without His power no European could possibly be converted, and that can convert any Indian. Though the superstitions of the Hindoos were a thousand times stronger than they are, and the example of Europeans a thousand times worse; though I were deserted by all, and persecuted by all, yet my hope, fixed on the Rock, will rise superior to every obstruction, and triumph over every trial. I feel happy in this, that I am engaged in the work of God, and the more I am engaged in it, the more I feel it a rich reward. Indeed, I would rejoice in having undertaken it, even though I should perish in the attempt. (William Carey.)
God with His servants
If I go to a large factory and see a hundred straps flying in all directions, I ask where is the motive power-the engine. So you are walking with the power of God, upheld by the arm of righteousness. If one of your merchantmen should ask me to go to Philadelphia to conduct a business for him, and should say to me: I expect you to carry on this business with your own capital, I would think it very strange. It would not be his business, but my own. That is the mischief with all Christians. They are in business for the Lord, but working with their own capital. (Henry Varley.)
Christians implements in the hands of God
It is one thing to attempt to row a ship; it is another to unfurl the sails, and send her leaping, with a fresh breeze, like a thing of life, across the big opposing waves. It is one thing for a man to try to drag a ear on a railroad; it is another to fill the boiler of the locomotive with water, put in fuel, kindle a strong fire, and soon fly like the wind over mountains and plains, counting the long, loaded train a mere plaything. But these analogies, drawn from our human employment of the material forces of nature, and feeble to illustrate the difference between the man who attempts to influence and convert men, and to advance spiritual and eternal things by any philosophy of the wisest of men, or by any motives of time, and the man whose whole and sincere aim it is to be but an implement in the hand of the Almighty. Then his prayers move the arm that moves the skies. Then his labours are not his own; but the eternal Father, the loving Redeemer, the Holy Ghost, the angels, the inspired Word, the prayers of the saints-all the infinite powers of good in heaven and earth-work through him. (Dr. Cuyler.)
.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 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.] , the accompanying signs: viz. those mentioned in the 17th and 18th verses, Mr 16:17-18; Mark 16:18, and those others just now spoken of, which still continue to be produced by the energy of God, accompanying the faithful preaching of his unadulterated word.
Amen.] This is added here by many MSS. and versions; but is supposed not to have made a part of the text originally. Griesbach, Bengel, and others, leave it out.
St. Jerome mentions certain Greek copies, which have the following remarkable addition to Mr 16:14, after these words – and reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he was raised up: Et illi satisfaciebant dicentes: seculum istud iniquitatis et incredulitatis substantia est, quae non sinit per immundos spiritus verem Dei apprehendi virtutem. Idcirco, jam nunc revela justitiam tuam. “And they confessed the charge, saying: This age is the substance of iniquity and unbelief, which, through the influence of impure spirits, does not permit the true influence of God to be apprehended. Therefore, even now, reveal thy righteousness.”
There are various subscriptions to this book in the MSS. and versions; the principal are the following: “The holy Gospel according to Mark is ended written by him – in EGYPT – in ROME – in the Latin tongue-directed by Peter the 10th-12th year after the ascension of Christ – preached in Alexandria, and all its coasts.” Dr. Lardner supposes this Gospel to have been composed A. D. 64 or 65, and published before the end of the last mentioned year. See the Preface. Mr 1:1
The Gospel according to Mark, if not an abridgment of the Gospel according to Matthew, contains a neat, perspicuous abridgment of the history of our Lord; and, taken in this point of view, is very satisfactory; and is the most proper of all the four Gospels to be put into the hands of young persons, in order to bring them to an acquaintance with the great facts of evangelical history. But as a substitute for the Gospel by Matthew, it should never be used. It is very likely that it was written originally for the use of the Gentiles, and probably for those of Rome. Of this, there seem to be several evidences in the work itself. Of the other Gospels it is not only a grand corroborating evidence, but contains many valuable hints for completing the history of our Lord, which have been omitted by the others; and thus, in the mouths of FOUR witnesses, all these glorious and interesting facts are established.
One thing may be observed, that this Gospel has suffered more by the carelessness and inaccuracy of transcribers than any of the others: and hence the various readings in the MSS. are much more numerous, in proportion, than in the other evangelists. Every thing of this description, which I judged to be of real importance, I have carefully noted.
Though the matter of St. Mark’s work came from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, yet the language seems to be entirely his own: it is very plain, simple, and unadorned; and sometimes appears to approach to a degree of rusticity or inelegance. Whoever reads the original must be struck with the very frequent, and often pleonastic, occurrence of , immediately, and , again, and such like; but these detract nothing from the accuracy and fidelity of the work. The Hebraisms which abound in it may be naturally expected from a native of Palestine, writing in Greek. The Latinisms which frequently occur are accounted for on the ground of this Gospel being written for the Gentiles, and particularly for the Roman people: this, it must be confessed, is only theory, but it is a theory which stands supported by many arguments, and highly presumptive facts. However this may be, the Gospel according to Mark is a very important portion of Divine revelation, which God has preserved by a chain of providences, from the time of its promulgation until now; and for which no truly pious reader will hesitate to render due praise to that God whose work is ever perfect. Amen.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Here is now the history of a great deal of following time, shortly epitomized in one verse. The first motion of the eleven was to Jerusalem, Luk 24:52, and this was according to the express command of Christ, Luk 24:49. There they were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God, Luk 24:53. At Jerusalem they went into an upper room, Act 1:12,13. There they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, Act 1:14, and chose Matthias for the twelfth apostle. The Holy Ghost came upon them, Act 2:4. Still they continued preaching to the Jews, till the Jews, by their unbelief and persecution, judging themselves unworthy of eternal life, they turned to the Gentiles, Act 13:46. Of God
confirming their word, that is, his word spoken by them,
with signs following, the whole history of the Acts of the Apostles is an abundant proof.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. And they went forth, andpreached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming theword with signs following. AmenWe have in this closing verse amost important link of connection with the Acts of the Apostles,where He who directed all the movements of the infant Church isperpetually styled “THELORD”; thusillustrating His own promise for the rounding and building up of theChurch, “LO, I AMWITH YOU alway!”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 Isa 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 1Co 3:9.
And confirming the word with signs following; the Arabic version adds “them”; or “which they did”, as the Syriac and Persic versions render it; not by their own power, but, as the latter of these versions adds, “by the help of our Lord”; see Heb 2:4; to all which, the evangelist puts his
Amen; so let it be, or so it shall be, and so it was.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Lord working with them ( ). Genitive absolute. This participle not in Gospels elsewhere nor is nor the compound , all in Paul’s Epistles. once in Luke. Westcott and Hort give the alternative ending found in L: “And they announced briefly to Peter and those around him all the things enjoined. And after these things Jesus himself also sent forth through them from the east even unto the west the holy and incorruptible proclamation of the eternal salvation.”
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Following [] . Following closely : force of ejpi. Both this and the word for follow, in verse 17, are foreign to Mark’s diction, though he frequently uses the simple verb.
A manuscript of the eighth or ninth century, known as L, has, at the close of verse 8, these words : “In some instances there is added as follows.” Then we read : “But all the things enjoined they announced without delay to those who were around Peter (i. e., to Peter and those who were with him). And afterward Jesus himself, from the east unto the west, sent forth through them the sacred and incorruptible message of eternal salvation.” The subject of the last twelve verses of this Gospel may be found critically discussed in the second volume of Westcott and Hort’s Greek Testament; by Dean John W. Burgon in his monograph, “The Last Twelve Verses of the Gospel according to St. Mark Vindicated against Recent Objectors and Established;” Frederick Henry Scrivener, LL. D., “Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament;” James Morison, D. D., “Practical Commentary on the Gospel according to St. Mark;” Samuel Davidson, D. D., “Introduction to the Study of the New Testament;” Philip Schaff, D. D., “History of the Christian Church;” Canon F. 100 Cook in “Speaker’s Commentary on Mark;” Samuel P. Tregelles, LL. D., “On the Printed Text of the Greek Testament;” also in the commentaries of Alford and Meyer. ===Luk1
CHAPTER I
Some two hundred expressions or phrases may be found which are common to Luke and Paul, and more or less foreign to other New Testament writers. Such, for instance, are :
LUKE AND PAUL’S COMMON PHRASES :
Luk 4:22. Col 4:6; Eph 4:29 Luk 4:32. 1Co 2:4. Luk 6:36. 2Co 1:3; Rom 12:1. Luk 6:39. Rom 2:19. Luk 6:48. 1Co 3:10. Luk 8:15. Col 1:10, 11. Luk 9:56. 2Co 10:8. Luk 10:8. 1Co 10:27. Luk 10:20. Phi 4:3. Luk 10:21. 1Co 1:19, 27. Luk 11:41. Tit 1:15. Luk 12:35. Eph 6:14. Luk 20:17, 18. Rom 9:33.
PROLOGUE
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And they went forth,” (ekeinoi de ekselthontes) “Then those (of His chosen fellowship, the church) went out,” as He mandated they should do, Joh 20:21; Act 1:8.
2) “And preached every where,” (ekeruksan pantachou) “And proclaimed, announced, or heralded (the gospel) everywhere,” wherever they went, on and on, as a spirit empowered company, after Pentecost, Joh 14:16; Act 1:8; Act 8:4; Act 13:3-5; Rom 1:4-16.
3) “The Lord working with them,” (tou kuriou sun ergountos) “While the Lord was working with them,” continually helping and blessing them, through the empowering of the Spirit, Act 10:43-44; Act 11:15; Act 13:4; Act 19:11-12.
4) ”And confirming the word,” (kai ton logon bebaiountos) “And He was confirming the word repeatedly,” Act 28:2-7; Act 28:9.
5) “With signs following. Amen.” (dia ton epakolouthounton semeion) “Through the accompanying (confirming) signs.” The signs that followed the miraculous testimonies and deeds of the early disciples and apostles were: 1) the diseased in body and spirit were healed, and 2) the poisonous viper did not harm Paul when it bit him, so that, both those who observed and those who heard of the incident on the Island, accepted that he was sent from God in power, with a message, Act 2:45; Heb 2:4.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mar 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, (Phi 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. And they went out and preached. Mark here notices briefly those events of which Luke continues the history in his second book (325) that the voice of a small and dispersed body of men resounded even to the extremities of the world. For exactly in proportion as the fact was less credible, so much the more manifestly was there displayed in it a miracle of heavenly power. Every person would have thought that, by the death of the cross, Christ would either be altogether extinguished, or so completely overwhelmed, that he would never be again mentioned but with shame and loathing. The apostles, whom he had chosen to be his witnesses, had basely deserted him, and had betaken themselves to darkness and concealment. Such was their ignorance and want of education, and such was the contempt in which they were held, that they hardly ventured to utter a word in public. Was it to be expected that men who were unlearned, and were held in no esteem, and had even deserted their Master, should, by the sound of their voice, reduce so many scattered nations into subjection to him who had been crucified? There is great emphasis, therefore, in the words, they went out and preached everywhere — men who but lately shut themselves up, trembling and silent, in their prison. For it was impossible that so sudden a change should be accomplished in a moment by human power; and therefore Mark adds,
The Lord working with them; by which he means that this was truly a divine work. And yet by this mode of expression he does not represent them as sharing their work or labor with the grace of God, as if they contributed any thing to it of themselves; but simply means that they were assisted by God, because, according to the flesh, they would in vain have attempted what was actually performed by them. The ministers of the word, I acknowledge, are called fellow-workers with God, (1Co 3:9,) because he makes use of their agency; but we ought to understand that they have no power beyond what he bestows, and that by planting and watering they do no good, unless the increase come from the secret efficacy of the Spirit.
And confirming the word. Here, in my opinion, Mark points out a particular instance of what he had just now stated in general terms; for there were other methods by which the Lord wrought with them, that the preaching of the gospel might not be fruitless; but this was a striking proof of his assistance, that he confirmed their doctrine by miracles. Now this passage shows what use we ought to make of miracles, if we do not choose to apply them to perverse corruptions; namely, that they aid the gospel. Hence it follows that God’s holy order is subverted, if miracles are separated from the word of God, to which they are appendages; and if they are employed to adorn wicked doctrines, or to disguise corrupt modes of worship.
(325) That inspired book which is now generally known by the name of The Acts of the Apostles, was often denominated, by older writers, Second Luke. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
20. Went forth and preached They no longer sat and mourned and wept. (Mar 16:10.) They rose like heroes and quitted themselves like men. They were afraid of no danger, and braved all deaths. Such was the Pentecostal power with which they were endued from on high. The Lord working Through them as his instruments. With signs following All the promises of signs were lavishly fulfilled. The apostles’ faith was made mighty by the signs that attended them, and the Gospel prevailed by these powerful testimonies from God. And how mighty was the spirit of this young Christianity!
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.’
This final summary indicates the obedience of the Apostles to the Lord’s command, and the fulfilment of His promise about the signs that would follow. They preached ‘everywhere’ and ‘the Lord’ worked with them, confirming the word by signs. He is no longer Jesus but ‘the Lord’. These signs may have included the evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the conversion of men and women to Christ, but also included the signs that would ‘follow’ as stated in Mar 16:17-18. Both Jerusalem and the world were made to witness His Kingly Power at work visibly on earth (Mar 9:1; Mar 14:62).
‘Amen.’ So be it.
Note.
The shorter ending reads, ‘and all that had been commanded them they briefly reported to Peter and those who were with him. And after this Jesus himself appeared to them, and from the East as far as the West sent forth through them the sacred and incorruptible proclamation of eternal salvation.’ It may have been known in the late first century AD to Clement of Rome, for when he spoke of Paul he said, ‘After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west’ (Letter To The Corinthians Mar 5:6). But the last phrase in the shorter ending does not have the simplicity of the Gospels. It sounds like second generation Christianity (in contrast with the longer ending).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 16:20. Preached every where, Through the whole Roman empire, or the then known world: and in spreading the knowledge of the Christian religion in far distant countries, they met with great success both among Jews and Gentiles, who were not ableto resist the evidence of the miracles whereby theyconfirmed their doctrine. Thus St. Mark informs us; and hence it is reasonable to conclude, that he published his gospel pretty late.
Inferences.It is too just, however unpleasing a remark, that while we consider the lives of those who profess a faith in the great doctrine of the resurrection, there seems but too much reason to suspect that too many are not heartily convinced of its truth. For, after all the elaborate discourses upon this subject, where is that indifference for the things of the world, that spiritual joy, that purity, that heavenly-mindedness, which the resurrection of our Lord should, through the grace of God, inspire? Where is that self-denial, that watchfulness over our own hearts, and attention to the omnipresence of God, that exact justice in our dealings, that warm benevolence towards all men, and, in a word, that zealous preparation against the day of judgment, to which an effectual assurance of our own resurrection, wrought by the Spirit of God and yielded to by us, would certainly induce us to observe?I might ask the greater part, how they would live, if they did not believe any resurrection:What alteration would there be in their manners? Would they be more addicted to pleasure, more intent upon their temporal interests, or less careful for the good of others? Yet they lay claim to the venerable name of Christians, and repeat creeds, professing their faith in our Lord’s resurrection. I dare not therefore say of such, that they do not believe it; but it is evident that they have not duly thought about it; they are not sufficiently apprized of the wondrous effects and consequences of this great mystery. For it is not enough that we know it by name, and by hearsay; all saving knowledge is experimental; and it is not sufficient that we know the history; we must also feel the power, of our Lord’s resurrection; not only that he is risen, but also that he is the resurrection. As the sun is light to itself, and the great source of day to all the worlds around it; so is our Lord resurrection to himself, and the cause and author of resurrection, whether bodily or spiritual, in others. Hence he says of himself, I am the resurrection and the life.
This resurrection to be wrought in us by Christ, is twofold, relating to the two constituent parts of man, the body and the soul; for to these two belong two distinct resurrections, very different from each other.
The first resurrection,that of the soul,is of a moral and spiritual nature. It is the rising of the soul from the death of sin unto the life of righteousnessstates more different, and infinitely more important, than those of natural life and death: it is peculiar to the saints of God; it requires our concurrence with the operations of grace, to which alone it is to be imputed; and blessed and holy is he, who has part in this first resurrection.
The second resurrection is that of the body, after our natural death. This is common to all men, and is necessary and inevitable.
Of both these resurrections the Lord Jesus Christ is the immediate cause and author: of the first, as he is the Saviour of the world; and of the second, as he is the Judge of it. For it is a prerogative very properly annexed to his office of universal judge, that he should by his own power summon all mankind to his tribunal.
This resurrection from the natural death, is commonly well enough understood in the general. We can all, by a faith in the omnipotence of God, form satisfactory notions of our being raised again at the last day with our bodies; so that the whole man, which acted in this life, may be qualified for the rewards and punishments of the next. But the spiritual resurrection of our souls in this life is a thing less thought of, and less understood, by the generality of mankind. This is one of those things of God, whereof the natural or animal man is ignorant; and requires a spiritual discernment, and some spiritual experience, for the rightly apprehending it. The holy Scriptures treat of it very frequently, but no where more largely and clearly, than in the sixth chapter of the epistle to the Romans, (Mar 16:3-11.) where a death to sin is joined with the spiritual resurrection, as a circumstance indispensably requisite to, and implied in it: for no person is capable of a resurrection, till he is once dead.
It is necessary, therefore, that we consider this death here mentioned; that we inquire what the old life is, and how it is extinguished, before we can understand any thing of the spiritual resurrection that follows it, and the new life to be conferred. The life to be lost by this death, is said to be that of our old man, which is a scriptural phrase, signifying that nature, temper, or disposition of mind, with which we are born, as we are the sons of Adam, and heirs of original corruption; whereby, as the Scripture assures us, we are the children of wrath: it is this innate depravity which makes us ignorant of God, blind and stupid to all spiritual things; selfish, covetous, proud, unjust, deceitful, intemperate, impure, and hateful in the sight of God.
But, as it would be a hard matter to make a blind man comprehend what darkness is, at least to give him such a notion of it as we have, though he lives in it continually; so it is alike difficult to give unconverted sinners a right notion of what is here meant by the old man, because this, as most other things, is best known by its contrary. But in general we are to know, that whatever tendency there is in our nature to the commission of sin, it is a part or member of the old man: while we are yet in our natural state, unreformed by divine grace, this lives, this reigns in our mortal bodies. Why is this man a drunkard, that malicious, a third unjust in his dealings? The reason is, because the resurrection of Christ has not had its due effect; the mind is not renewed, and the old man of sin is yet unmortified: that corrupt nature, which we received from Adam, is still active and vigorous; lives and reigns in the hearts of unregenerate men; and would for ever reign there, did not Christ interpose, and by virtue of his sufferings and death communicate to believers such powers of grace, as are sufficient to destroy this root of evil in their souls. This corruption of our nature is such as we cannot possibly resist by our own strength. In vain does the law encounter it with her impotent discipline; in vain does she set before us her rigorous commands and prohibitions; in vain does she display her rewards and punishments. These all serve only to shew us our guilt and danger, but cannot work our deliverance; we are still the same men; and all our struggles after holiness, are like the motions of a door upon its hinges, still fixed to the same place.
But behold, a greater than Moses is come in the gospel dispensation, even our Lord Jesus Christ; and what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, that is to say, through our corrupt nature, that, St. Paul saith, God hath done for us, by sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh. He has for and through him, and by his spirit, granted believers new powers, whereby they are enabled to mortify and destroy their corrupt nature.
But this of itself is still insufficient to make us either holy or happy; it is at best but a negative goodness; there is more required of us than a mere abstinence from vice: we must not only cease to do evil, but learn to do well; and as the old man of sin is to be destroyed, so the new man is to be raised up in us.
And this is a natural consequence of the former: for if we be dead with Christ, we believe also that we shall be raised up with him. If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also grow up in the likeness of his resurrection. But how few are there who rightly value this: the men of the world relish none of these things; they have no eyes to discern the beauty of holiness; they fear lest the thoughts of it should make them melancholy; all their concern is about the animal life, all their care is for the old man, his maintenance and support, and how they may make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof. What wonder then that they feel no joy arise in their hearts at the news of our Lord’s resurrection, or at his assuring us, that he is the resurrection, and will raise us up, as he did himself? They have no interest in it; they are not likely to be gainers by it; and therefore they see no glories in the gospel that relates it.
Others, again, who pretend to have a higher opinion of virtue, and who own, by their words at least, that it is the most noble acquisition our nature is capable of, yet think that there is no such great difficulty in attaining it; no need of such heavenly machinery, as they may lightly term the mysteries of our redemption. “Good morality,” say they, “will carry us to heaven;” but they cannot see much ground for believing all the abstruse revelations of Christianity, nor how we shall be made wiser or happier by such belief.
But let these men endeavour to live up even to their own notions of morality: let them try how they can acquit themselves in the duties of temperance, meekness, universal benevolence, and a suitable homage to the Supreme Being; and then if they do not wilfully deceive themselves, they will learn by their own experience, that they cannot do these things by their own strength. Then,provided they be sincere, and consequently not indisposed for the illumination of God’s Holy Spirit,the gospel will appear to them in its proper beauty; and they will find it, according to its true interpretation, glad tidings; shewing them that the Lord Jesus Christ is ready to do that for them, which they cannot do for themselves; that by the merits and power of his death he will destroy their old man, the principle of evil that now tyrannizes in their souls; and by the power of his resurrection work their spiritual resurrection to the new life of righteousness. The sting of death is sin; but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
REFLECTIONS.1st, No sooner was the sabbath past, during, which Christ had lain in the grave, than we find,
1. Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the pious women, who the preceding evening had provided spices for embalming the body, little expecting our Lord’s resurrection from the dead, set out from the city for the sepulchre, which they reached just at sun-rising; and by the way having expressed to each other their concern how to roll back the ponderous stone from the mouth of the cave, to their surprise they beheld it already done for them. Note; (1.) Though difficulties at a distance seem insurmountable, when we go on steadily depending upon God, we shall often meet with unexpected assistances. (2.) It is mentioned to their distinguished honour, how assiduous and faithful the women who followed Jesus proved, when the men forsook him. The weaker vessel is often seen to be the stronger Christian.
2. An angel appears to them. As they entered into the sepulchre, to their great surprise and terror, they beheld one in the likeness of a young man in long white robes, sitting within. But the angel endeavoured to quiet their fears, and bid them not be terrified; he knew that their business there was to seek the crucified Jesus; and, to their inexpressible joy, informs them, that he is no longer with the dead, but risen. There was the place where he had lain: they are therefore enjoined, without delay, to carry the glad tidings to Peter and the rest of the apostles, and to tell them, according to his promise, that their glorified Master will meet them in Galilee, and make them happy with his presence and converse. Note; (1.) We are often apt to fear where no fear is, and to dread our mercies as miseries. (2.) They who seek a crucified Jesus, are sure to find comfort to their souls. (3.) Though we for our unfaithfulness might justly be left to mourn our folly, Christ is a compassionate Saviour, willing to pardon, and in haste to speak peace to the souls of his afflicted disciples, who mourn for his presence. (4.) Peter is particularly mentioned: had he not, perhaps he would have thought that the message was good news to the rest, but not for him, as having rendered himself unworthy the name of a disciple. (5.) They who know the joy of meeting Jesus, and of his spiritual presence in the ordinances of his worship, will not account the way long to go, where his word is dispensed, and his voice is still heard.
3. The women ran earnestly to carry the message, trembling with a mixture of surprise and joy, and spoke to no man by the way; afraid that the news was too good to be true, or that the Jews would be exasperated if they heard it, and say they had stolen the body. See the Annotations.
2nd, Christ appears,
1. To Mary Magdalene, the morning he rosethat remarkable sinner, out of whom he had cast seven devils. O wondrous grace! She immediately carried the joyful news to the eleven, who, inconsolable, with bitter anguish lamented their departed Lord, and their own unfaithfulness to him; and seemed sunk in despair of ever seeing him again. So slow of heart were they to believe, notwithstanding the repeated predictions which Christ had given them of his rising from the dead, that they received her declarations as a mere fancy, and imagined her to have been deceived by some spectre or apparition. Note; The very incredulity of the disciples tends to the confirmation of our faith: it shews, they were not themselves willing to believe, but upon the most indubitable evidence.
2. The same day in the evening he appeared to two other of his disciples, who were going towards Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem: but perhaps being in a different dress from what he usually wore, and their eyes being holden that they should not know him, Luk 24:16; Luk 24:31 they conversed with him for a while, and at last their eyes were opened, and they knew him: whereupon they instantly returned to acquaint their brethren, who even then would not be persuaded, though the witnesses were so unexceptionable.
3rdly, Since they are so loath to believe the report of others, Jesus condescended to put the matter beyond dispute, by appearing himself the same evening to all the apostles, except Thomas, as they were sitting at table together.
1. He upbraids them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, that they were so backward to receive the testimony of those who had seen him, notwithstanding the many assurances of his rising again, which he had given them before his death. Note; Unbelief is a most besetting sin, and highly displeasing to the Lord Jesus.
2. He solemnly invests them with authority to go and preach the gospel among all nations, and to confirm their mission by the miracles that he would enable them to work. This transaction passed, it should seem, not at the time of his first appearing to them, but afterwards, just before his ascension.
[1.] He enlarges their commission to go into all the world, and to preach the gospel (which had been hitherto confined to the Jews,) to every human creature as far as their labours would reach; with power also to send out others, as fellow-labourers with them, to spread the savour of the truth in every place.
[2.] The summary of their preaching must be faith in the Son of God, in his life, death, and resurrection; the necessity of the salvation obtained by his obedience to the death of the cross for lost sinners; the fulness and all-sufficiency of it to procure pardon, life, and glory for all who perseveringly trust in him; and the sin and danger of those who reject this method of divine wisdom and love, and refuse obedience to the faith of the gospel, their damnation becoming inevitable. Note; The ungodly perish, not merely because of the greatness of their sins, but principally because they sin against the remedy, and seal themselves up under wrath by their unbelief.
[3.] In confirmation of their doctrine, they are empowered to work the most astonishing miracles. In the name of Jesus, depending on his power, and to advance his gospel, they shall be enabled to cast out devils from those that were possessed; to speak with new tongues, which they had never learnt, with most entire fluency and readiness, as if they had severally been their native language. They shall take up serpents, the most venomous, without the least harm, (see Act 28:3-6.) If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; when openly or secretly their persecutors might strive to make away with them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover, every disease giving way to their healing touch. And these miraculous powers they not only possessed themselves, but were enabled to impart to others.
4thly, When our Lord had thus commissioned and qualified them for the great work that he had committed to their charge, we see him,
1. Ascending to his throne, and exalted to the right hand of Majesty on high. Having finished the great work of atonement, all power is put into his hands as Mediator, to reign in and over his faithful subjects; while his enemies, as vanquished, must bow before him, and, whether they be devils or wicked men, will shortly receive from his lips their eternal doom.
2. We see them going forth according to their Master’s orders, preaching the gospel in defiance of all opposition from earth and hell, the Lord supporting them against all their persecutors, giving the most amazing success to their labours; by wondrous miracles attesting their mission to be divine; and by the power of the Holy Ghost making their word powerfully effectual to the conversion of the hearts of innumerable multitudes. And this sign will ever follow the gospel to the end of time: wherever it is preached in spirit and in truth, it will be found the power of God unto salvation: and as the evangelist adds his Amen hereunto, so are we also bound so to do, assured that thus it will be for all the faithful, and praying that it thus may be; that the word may daily run and be glorified, till the ends of the earth shall remember themselves, and be turned unto the Lord, and all flesh shall see the salvation of our God. Amen. So come, Lord Jesus!
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Mar 16:20 . With the ascension the evangelic history was at its end. The writer was only now concerned to add a conclusion in keeping with the commission given by Jesus in Mar 16:15 . He does this by means of a brief summary of the apostolic ministry , by which the injunction of Jesus, Mar 16:15 , had been fulfilled, whereas all unfolding of its special details lay beyond the limits of the evangelic, and belonged to the region of the apostolic , history; hence even the effusion of the Spirit is not narrated here.
] the , Mar 16:14 .
] prepared for by , Mar 16:19 .
] namely, forth from the place, in which at the time of the ascension they sojourned. Comp. , Mar 16:15 ; Jerusalem is meant.
] By way of popular hyperbole; hence not to be used as a proof in favour of the composition not having taken place till after the death of the apostles (in opposition to Fritzsche), comp. Rom 10:18 ; Col 1:6 .
] nor God (Grotius, and also Fritzsche, comparing 1Co 3:9 ; Heb 2:4 ), but Christ, as in Mar 16:19 . The are wrought by the exalted One. Comp. Mat 28:20 . That the writer has made use of Heb 2:3-4 (Schulthess, Fritzsche), is, considering the prevalence of the thought and the dissimilarity of the words, arbitrarily assumed.
. ] by the signs that followed (the ). The article denotes the signs spoken of , which are promised at Mar 16:17-18 , and indeed promised as accompanying those who had become believers ; hence it is erroneous to think, as the expositors do, of the miracles performed by the apostles . The confirmation of the apostolic preaching was found in the fact that in the case of those who had become believers by means of that preaching the promised at Mar 16:17-18 occurred.
. is foreign to all the Gospels; it occurs elsewhere in the N. T. in 1Ti 5:10 ; 1Ti 5:24 ; 1Pe 2:21 ; in classical Greek it is very frequently used.
REMARK.
The fragment before us, Mar 16:9-18 , compared with the parallel passages of the other Gospels and with Act 1:3 , presents a remarkable proof how uncertain and varied was the tradition on the subject of the appearances of the Risen Lord (see on Mat 28:10 ). Similarly Mar 16:19 , comp. with Luk 24:50 f., Act 1:9 ff., shows us in what an uncertain and varied manner tradition had possessed itself of the fact of the ascension, indubitable as in itself it is, and based on the unanimous teaching of the apostles.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them , and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Ver. 20. And they went forth ] viz. From Jerusalem, according to Isa 2:3 ; Psa 110:2 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
20. ] not, from the chamber where they were assembled (Meyer) which would not answer to , but would require some immediate action of that very day to correspond to it (see Mat 12:14 ); but used in the more solemn sense of Rom 10:18 (cited from Psa 18:4 LXX), : see reff.
] No inference can be drawn from this word as to the date of the fragment. In Act 9:32 Peter is said : the expression being only a general one , indicating their performance, in their time and degree, of our Lord’s words, .
. ] the Lord, i.e. Jesus: see Mat 28:20 ; Heb 2:3-4 , which last passage some have absurdly supposed to have been seen and used by our Evangelist.
. and . ( Mar 16:17 ) are both foreign to the diction of Mark often as he uses the simple verb.
A few concluding remarks may be added respecting Mar 16:9-20 . (1) For the external evidence, see var. readd. As to its genuineness as a work of the Evangelist Mark , (2) internal evidence is, I think, very weighty against Mark’s being the author . No less than twenty-one words and expressions occur in it (and some of them several times), which are never elsewhere used by Mark, whose adherence to his own peculiar phrases is remarkable. (3) The inference therefore seems to me to be, that it is an authentic fragment, placed as a completion of the Gospel in very early times: by whom written, must of course remain wholly uncertain; but coming to us with very weighty sanction, and having strong claims on our reception and reverence.]
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
every where. See Col 1:6, Col 1:23.
the LORD = Jehovah (App-89. A. b). The witness of “God” is distinguished (in Heb 2:4) from the testimony of His Son (Heb 2:3), and from the gifts of the Spirit (pneuma hagion, App-101.) (Heb 2:4).
confirming, &c. See Heb 2:4.
the word. Greek. Logos. See note on Mar 9:32.
with = by means of. Greek. dia. App-104. Mar 16:1. d
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
20.] -not, from the chamber where they were assembled (Meyer)-which would not answer to , but would require some immediate action of that very day to correspond to it (see Mat 12:14);-but used in the more solemn sense of Rom 10:18 (cited from Psa 18:4 LXX), : see reff.
] No inference can be drawn from this word as to the date of the fragment. In Act 9:32 Peter is said :-the expression being only a general one, indicating their performance, in their time and degree, of our Lords words, .
.] the Lord, i.e. Jesus: see Mat 28:20; Heb 2:3-4, which last passage some have absurdly supposed to have been seen and used by our Evangelist.
. and . (Mar 16:17) are both foreign to the diction of Mark often as he uses the simple verb.
A few concluding remarks may be added respecting Mar 16:9-20. (1) For the external evidence, see var. readd. As to its genuineness as a work of the Evangelist Mark, (2) internal evidence is, I think, very weighty against Marks being the author. No less than twenty-one words and expressions occur in it (and some of them several times), which are never elsewhere used by Mark,-whose adherence to his own peculiar phrases is remarkable. (3) The inference therefore seems to me to be, that it is an authentic fragment, placed as a completion of the Gospel in very early times: by whom written, must of course remain wholly uncertain; but coming to us with very weighty sanction, and having strong claims on our reception and reverence.]
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 16:20. , everywhere) Mar 16:15. At the time when Mark wrote his Gospel, even then already the apostles had gone forth into all the world; Rom 10:18 : on this account it is that, excepting Peter, James the Elder, John, James the Less, and Jude, we read no mention in the books of the New Testament of any apostle, save Paul, after the second or fifteenth chapter of the Acts. Each one became most known in that place and country where he preached. The name of no apostle was celebrated throughout the whole world, but the name of Jesus Christ alone.[13]
[13] Bengel, J. A. (1860). Vol. 1: Gnomon of the New Testament (M. E. Bengel & J. C. F. Steudel, Ed.) (J. Bandinel & A. R. Fausset, Trans.) (491-577). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mar 16:20
24. THE APOSTLES WENT FORTH
WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING
Mar 16:20
20 And they went forth,–The apostles, whose unbelief is related in the first part of this chapter, and who witnessed the ascension of Jesus (Act 1:2-4), now believing and obedient.
and preached–The gospel (verse 15). They are carrying out the Great Commission.
everywhere,–In the parts of the then inhabited world. (Rom 10:18; Col 1:6; Col 1:23.) The apostles preached the gospel to the whole world, in harmony with the Great Commission, inside of thirty-three years, and that too, free and independent of all organized missionary societies save the church of Christ. The church is the only missionary society authorized by the Lord, and it is all ever used by the apostles and inspired men. This is all that ought to be used today. It was successful then, and will be now. All human institutions attached to the church or used as aids are only parasites sucking the life’s blood from the church. Every new human institution added is only a new financial burden for the church to bear. They are expensive besides being unauthorized by the Lord. Then why not leave them off and use nothing in the form of an organization except the church as the apostles did? This is God’s wisdom.
The Lord–Risen, ascended and exalted–King of kings, and Lord of lords.
working with them,–By miracles–by removing of obstacles–by supporting them–by giving the gospel success, and making it effectual to save men; thus fulfilling his promise, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Mat 28:20.) The Lord cooperated with the apostles. He brought his divine power into cooperation with their human agency. (1Co 3:9; 2Co 6:1; Eph 1:19.) He gave them unparalleled success.
and confirming the word–Preached by the apostles, showing it to be the word of God–a revelation from heaven.
by the signs that followed.–The signs of verses 17, 18. These proved the message delivered was from God. They were signs that God was with them and had sent them forth to preach. [Here was the fulfillment of the promise of verse 17. These powers were not given to all the believers in the age of the apostles, nor was the power given to any for general use–that is, this power was given not to heal generally, but to confirm the truth. Paul did not heal all the sick. Some of his own friends came near to death that he did not heal. The truth was confirmed, no one exercised this power for his own benefit. Our sanctification friends will not prove their faith by their works in drinking deadly poison or taking up venomous serpents.]
Amen.–Truly, verily. So be it.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
they went: Act 2:1 – Act 28:31
the Lord: Act 4:30, Act 5:12, Act 8:4-6, Act 14:3, Act 14:8-10, Rom 15:19, 1Co 2:4, 1Co 2:5, 1Co 3:6-9, 2Co 6:1, Heb 2:4
Reciprocal: Exo 3:12 – Certainly Jdg 6:16 – General 1Ki 13:5 – General 2Ki 2:14 – smote Mic 4:2 – for Hag 2:4 – for Mat 28:20 – I am Luk 9:6 – General Luk 10:2 – the Lord Luk 24:53 – Amen Joh 3:13 – even Act 4:33 – with Rom 10:18 – their sound Rom 15:18 – which 1Co 1:6 – was 1Co 3:9 – we 1Co 12:10 – the working 1Co 14:16 – Amen 2Co 6:7 – the power 1Th 1:5 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
CHRIST IN THE WORLD
The Lord working with them.
Mar 16:20
Most people, if asked to express their idea of our Lords Ascension, would probably say that He has gone immeasurably far from us. That certainly was not His meaning when He spoke of the expediency of His departure from our sight. He has vanished from sight, but He has not gone from among us. Before He ascended, the Apostle connected His presence with certain places, as the upper room; after His Ascension that presence became to them constant and perpetual, secured by means of His own appointment to the Church.
I. What is the effect on life?We see the whole of His human life carried to the throne of God. As we ascend in heart and mind to Him, we are assured that no part of our lives will be without its end; that all parts of our lives hang together, and that all will be brought together.
II. The fruits of Christs work cannot be exhausted.Its value is eternal; it is continually applied to the Church, and through the Church, and every member of the Church to the world. The best way to try and realise what He is doing is to read the first five chapters of the Revelation. To believe, then, in His Ascension is to believe that He is present with us, as He promised, all the days. This year is the year of Christ; this day a day of Christ; it is a time when He is really working with us, and confirming the word, by indications no less fruitful, because no less charged with His presence among those who work with Him, than when Apostles healed in His name the sick, or cast out devils, or raised the dead.
III. The glorious issues of redemption impose on us a duty.What was the last title bestowed by the Lord on the Apostles? Not merely, as it is wrongly given in our ordinary English translation, Witnesses unto Me, but My witnesses. He meant us to understand that we are to be the free, and intelligent, and conscious agents of His own life.
Rev. Chancellor Worlledge.
(SECOND OUTLINE)
CHRISTS CO-OPERATION
I. Who they were of whom the text speaks.They were men. Not an insignificant fact. They were disciples. Hence ready obedience.
II. What they did.They preached. They preached because of the command, Go and preach. They preached because it pleased God by foolishness of preaching (not by foolish preaching) to (Rom 10:17). How beautiful (Isa 52:7). How shall they preach, except they be sent? (Rom 10:15). Are we preaching or sending?
III. Where they went.They went forth everywhere. Did not wait until all their own countrymen were converted. Has not experience taught us that the way to strengthen the stakes is to lengthen the cords? May it not be said of a Church (Pro 11:24)? Do we act as though we believed this, or do we grudge both men and money?
IV. The Lords co-operation.The Lord working with them. His co-operation an absolute necessity; no success unless He gives it. Man not the agent, only the instrument. He confirmed the message. Confirming the word with signs following. These signs spoken of in preceding verses (17, 18). But these not the only signs that follow In the experience of the believer the Lord confirms the Gospel message (Joh 10:41).
Bishop Billing.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Chapter 34.
The Labour of the Disciples
“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”-Mar 16:20.
The Afterwards.
The Gospel story, so far as the evangelist is concerned, really ended with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. But he adds these two sentences to let us know what happened to the Lord and to His disciples afterwards. What happened to the Lord was this, “He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” What happened to the disciples was this, “They went forth and preached everywhere.” But while the two sentences thus tell us the “afterwards” of our Lord and His disciples, we must not conceive of them as independent statements. They are rather two limbs of our statement. The one stands over against and balances the other. If we are to bring out the full force of the original we should have to render it something like this:-“So then the Lord Jesus, on His part, was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God, and the disciples, on their part, went forth and preached everywhere.” The one action balances the other, follows upon the other, is the consequence and result of the other. It is a case of action and reaction. It was because Jesus was received up into heaven that the disciples went everywhere. It was the exaltation of the Lord that kindled the missionary fervour of the disciples. As Dr Glover says, these two concluding verses tell the story of two ascensions, first the ascension of the Lord to glory, and then the ascension of the Church out of its gloom and sorrow and doubt and despair into courage and hope and triumphant zeal. And the one ascension was the consequence and result of the other. There would have been no Missionary Church, there would have been no Church at all, had it not been for this assurance in the hearts of Christian men and women, that “their Jesus had gone up on high.”
The Exalted Christ and the Gospel.
Can we see why the one ascension should have issued in the other? Can we see why the fact that Jesus should have been received up into heaven inspired the disciples to go forth and preach everywhere? I think we can. I am going to suggest two reasons. First of all, it was the fact of the exaltation of Christ that gave them a Gospel to preach. I mean this, the Christ these men preached was the glorious and only Son of the Most High God. It was because He was the glorious and only Son of the Most High God, that they felt it worth their while to go everywhere and preach about Him. And it was the Resurrection and the Ascension (for the one was simply the completion of the other) which put Christ’s glory and divinity beyond dispute. So that in a very deep and real sense it was the Resurrection and Ascension that gave them their Gospel to preach. We may be quite sure that, had our Lord’s life ended in Joseph’s rocky grave, the disciples would never have “gone forth everywhere and preached.” They would have stolen away back to their Galilean homes and tried in absorption in work to forget the shattering of all their hopes in the Cross. But the Resurrection and Ascension made them quite sure their Master was the Son of God. It was in the light of the Resurrection and Ascension that they saw Jesus had a “cosmic significance.” It was the exaltation of Jesus which gave them a Gospel which not only they could preach to the world, but which they felt they must preach to the world. It was the fact that Jesus was set down at the right hand of God that sent them forth everywhere.
The Apostolic Theme.
For does any one imagine that these men would have gone everywhere preaching, and suffering untold things in the process, if they had only a good and brave man to speak about? The Greeks had, from their own point of view, a great and good man in Socrates, but I never heard of the Greeks going everywhere to preach Socrates. Does any one imagine-if Jesus had been only a kind of Jewish Socrates-that these disciples would have gone everywhere? The mere asking of such questions demonstrates the absurdity of the assertion that if we could only get far back enough we should find just Jesus the good Man. It was not Jesus the good Man these Apostles travelled far and wide to preach, but Jesus the mighty Son of God. They travelled far and wide to preach Him because it was of vital importance everybody should know of Him, because men’s redemption and eternal life depended on Him, because in Him God Himself had come down for the rescue of the world. That is why Paul travelled all the way from Antioch to Rome, because “there was no condemnation for men in Christ Jesus.” That was why Peter toiled and dared and suffered because “there was no other name given under heaven amongst men wherein they must be saved.” At the back of this missionary zeal of theirs was this mighty Gospel of theirs that Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, demonstrated as such by this fact, that He had been received up into heaven and had sat down at the right hand of God.
-The World’s Hope To-day.
There is no Gospel for the world in any faith less than that. If Jesus was the divine Son, if in Him God came down to this world for the redemption and rescue of man, there is a Gospel in that worth carrying to the ends of the earth, there is a Gospel in that which men will feel they must carry to the ends of the earth. But if Jesus was only a good Man and nothing more, what is the use of troubling about missions to the heathen? There have been other good men in the world, and if Jesus was nothing but a good Man He would be on the same level with Buddha, and Socrates, and Confucius, and it would be as profitable to preach one as the other. If that is all you can say about Him there is no sense in sending people to India and China and Africa to “preach Christ.” In fact when men get to that point they do not trouble to preach Christ. Unitarianism does not as a rule issue in foreign missions, it shows no enthusiasm for the evangelising of the world. Let me put it in a nutshell: you cannot impoverish your Christology without emptying your Gospel, and you cannot empty your Gospel without cutting the nerve of your foreign missionary enterprise. This is the only thing that will send men forth to preach everywhere, the belief that Jesus is the only Saviour, the only begotten Son of God, demonstrated as such by the fact that He has been received up into heaven and has sat down at the right hand of God.
The Exalted Christ and Courage to Preach.
But the fact of the exaltation of Christ not only gave the disciples a Gospel to preach, it also furnished them with the strength and courage that enabled them to preach it. Let us again try to put ourselves in these disciples’ place. Look at the men and then think of the task; there seems a ridiculous disproportion between the one and the other. Apart from any opposition to be encountered, the work in mere extent appears absolutely impossible for such a handful of men. But it was not simply the extent of the work, there was also the difficulty of it. It was not simply that the world was a big place, it was a hostile place. Fancy flinging a little handful of men like this upon such a task when the wealth and learning and power of the world were all hostile to them! Fancy putting this little company of Galileans against the rulers and kings of the known world! If ever it seemed as if people had embarked upon a forlorn hope it was surely these disciples when they confronted the peoples, rulers, princes, kings of this world with their story of a crucified Christ. But they did it!
Undaunted Endeavour.
With magnificent and subduing courage they did it! And they did not think they were engaged in a hopeless enterprise either. They flung themselves into the attack with a sort of joyous zest. They knew they were bound to win. Discouragements and disappointments did not daunt them. They were imprisoned, they were tempted, they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were slain with the sword; they wandered about in deserts and mountains and caves and the holes of the earth, they were destitute, afflicted, evil entreated, but they never for a moment lost heart. The Jewish Sanhedrin, the mob, the Roman magistrates, great Caesar himself, stirred themselves up to oppose and destroy them, but they never flinched or faltered. They knew that the power was not in the hands of the Jewish Sanhedrin, or the Roman magistrates, or even the so-called Master of the world; they knew that the Jesus Whom they preached had been received up into heaven and had sat down at the right hand of God. They were in the service of a victorious Lord. One ascension explains the other. The Lord arose into heaven, and they at the same moment arose out of all cowardice and fear. The Lord sat at the right hand of God, and they went everywhere preaching the word.
-And Courage for us.
And let me add again as I pass, it is the vision of that glorified and exalted Lord that will give us courage and strength for our task today. Stupendous tasks still confront us both at home and abroad. Think of the mighty problem of the vice and sin and religious indifference of our great cities; think of the world shaken and shattered by the war; think of the vast unevangelised lands of heathendom. If we look at the task and then simply look at our own resources we shall despair. What we need to do is to look at our exalted Lord. You remember how Dr Dale used to say that when thoughts of Christ’s tenderness and love failed to bring him the comfort he wanted, the thought of Christ’s Lordship steadied and strengthened him. That is the thought we need to recover, the thought of Christ’s Lordship, the remembrance of His victory. He is already at the right hand of God. We see Jesus crowned. Things are in His hands. He will not faint nor be weary. He will not fail nor be discouraged. Let us think of Him. Let our eyes gaze upon Him. Let us see Him there in the place of supreme power. Then doubt will flee. If we see Jesus at the right hand of God, we too shall be ready to go everywhere, preaching the Word.
The Blessed Partnership.
“They went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord (that is, Christ) working with them.” Their Lord had been received up into heaven, but He had not left them to toil alone. He worked with them. They were encouraged in their toil not simply by the thought of their Lord’s triumph, but by His actual presence and help. It was not a case of the Lord smiling upon them from a distance, it was a case of the Lord clasping their hands and making them sufficient for the fight. You remember what Paul says when the most critical hour of his life was come and he was set before Caesar. His friends had practically all deserted him, but he says, “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me and delivered me out of the lion’s mouth.” That is it, exactly, “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me.” And He stood by and strengthened all His disciples. He did not leave them to toil alone. Their work was done in a blessed partnership. In and of themselves they could have accomplished little. But when you read this sentence, “the Lord working with them,” it changes the entire outlook. “With five shillings Teresa can do nothing,” said the great Spanish mystic when her friends smiled at her idea of building an orphanage when funds seemed to be almost wholly absent, “but with five shillings and God there is nothing Teresa cannot do.” And it is so still. All Christian work is done in this happy partnership. They talk of the Pope as the Vicar of Christ. But vicar means one who takes the place of another because that other is absent. But Christ needs no vicar. Because Christ is not absent. He is with us always even to the end of the world. And therein lies our sufficiency. It is not we who are engaged in the work. It is Christ and we. “The Lord working with us.” We have known it sometimes. When we have been tired and dispirited we have had Paul’s blessed experience, the Lord has stood by us and strengthened us. “We touch Him in life’s throng and press, and we are whole again.”
The Signs that Follow.
“And confirming the word by the signs that followed.” Confirming the word, ratifying it, demonstrating the truth of it, by the signs that followed. The signs that followed are no doubt the signs referred to in Mar 16:17 and Mar 16:18. The world was not able to dismiss the Gospel the Christian preachers brought with a shrug of the shoulders, because of the signs that were wrought by their hands. Men felt that the mighty power of God was working through them, and that these mighty works were God’s testimony that the words which they spoke were true. They were the divine seal to the message. The Lord confirmed the word by the signs that followed. But we need not, and indeed we ought not, to confine these signs to such wonders as the raising of Dorcas to life by Peter, or the healing of the lame man at Lystra by Paul, or the deliverance of the demented girl in Philippi by the same great Apostle. The conversion of evil men was a still more notable sign and that sign was continually following the word. Take what happened in Corinth as an example. Corinth was in some respects the most notorious city of the ancient world. Vice there was exalted not simply into a fashion but into a religion. These were the kind of people Paul found in Corinth, “drunkards, adulterers, fornicators, revilers, effeminate and such like.” But the great miracle happened, “Ye were washed, ye were justified, ye were sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus and in the Spirit of our God.” And that was the mightiest sign that followed the word. That was what demonstrated its divinity and truth. That was what impressed the world to which it was preached. By it bad men were made good; foul men were made clean; drunken men were made sober, hard men were made kind. By it men entered into possession of the eternal life. And it was that that impressed the world. “The Lord confirmed the Word by the signs that followed.”
-And still Follow.
And these signs still follow. We are still privileged to behold confirmation of the Word in the transformation of human lives. We see the miracle here at home; the missionaries are privileged to see it abroad. Wherever the Gospel is preached it produces the same amazing transfiguration of human life. There are a multitude around the throne of all tribes and nations and peoples and tongues who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They are the signs that confirm the Word. There may be many things about the doctrines of our faith that puzzles us, but this thing we know, the preaching of Christ and Him crucified, changes, converts, transforms, transfigures men. It accomplishes this miracle where everything else has failed. What further need have we of witness? The best evidence of the truth of Christianity is that it is a converting religion. There is in our Christ cleansing, healing, saving power. Let us go forth and preach Him everywhere! He will work with us and confirm the Word by the signs which follow.
Fuente: The Gospel According to St. Mark: A Devotional Commentary
Mar 16:20. And they went forth. Not out of the room (Mar 16:14), but out into the world (Mar 16:15) to preach everywhere. The writer cannot mean that our Lord ascended from that room.
Everywhere. The gospel was diffused very rapidly, and at the date of Marks Gospel the use of this general term was perfectly justifiable.
The Lord working, etc. The fulfilment of the promise in Mar 16:17-18, is here stated. This close corresponds admirably with the character of the whole. The wonder-working Son of God is represented as continuing to work through His Apostles. The emphasis hitherto given to His miracles is preserved in this brief sketch of their activity, and that too in close connection with Him as the Glorified Redeemer, still working the same wonders. J. A. Alexander: If the original conclusion of this book is lost, its place has been wonderfully well supplied.
Amen. This word is better supported here than at the close of the other Gospels, but is of doubtful authority.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, first, The general publication of the gospel by the apostles; they went and preached everywhere.
Secondly, the reason of the efficacy and success of it; namely, that divine and miraculous power which accompanied the preaching of it; The Lord wrought with them, and confirmed the word with signs following.
Observe, 1. The general publication of the gospel by the apostles; they went forth and preached everywhere. The industry of the holy apostles was incredibly great, yet was their success greater then their industry; even beyond all human expectation; which will evidently appear, if we consider,
1. The vast spreading of the gospel so far in so short a space of time; for in thirty years time after Christ’s death, it was spread through the greatest part of the Roman empire, and reached as far as Parthia and India.
2. The wonderful power and efficacy which the gospel had upon the lives and manners of men; the generality of those that entertained the gospel were obedient to it, both in word and deed; because Christianity being an hated and persecuted profession, no man could have any inducement to embrace it, that did not resolve to practice it, and live up unto it.
3. The weakness and meanness of the instruments that were employed in propagating the gospel, shews the success of it to be very great and strange; a company of plain and illiterate men, most of them destitute of the advantages of education, and unassisted by the countenance of any authority whatsoever; yet did they in a short space, draw the world after them.
The powerful opposition which was raised against the gospel, namely, the prejudices of education, the power of in-dwelling lusts, and also the powers of the world then in being, did strongly combine against it, yet did Christianity bear up against all this opposition, and made its way through all the resistance that the lusts and prejudices of men, armed with the power and authority of the whole world, could make against it.
4. The great discouragements that men were then under to embrace the gospel and the Christian profession; all the evils of this world threatened them, mockings and scourgings, banishments and imprisonments, reproach and ruin; death, in all its fearful shapes, was presented to them, to deter them from embracing this religion.
Observe, therefore, 2. The reason of this wonderful success, The Lord wrought with them, and confirmed the word with signs following.
The Lord wrought with them; this points at the inward operation of the Holy Spirit upon the minds of men.
O! it is sweet and prosperous working in fellowship with Christ and his Holy Spirit; he directs his ministers, he assists them, he guides their lips, influences their minds, quickens their affections, sets home their instructions, and crowns all with signs; that is, confirmed their doctrine with miracles, such as healing diseases, raising the dead, casting out the devils, inflicting corporeal diseases on scandalous persons, and sometimes death itself.
From the whole, we gather the truth and divinity of the Christian religion; that it was, and is certainly, of God; and therefore never could, never can, be overthrown.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Verse 20
With signs following; with the miracles by which their preaching was attended.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming {f} the word with signs following. Amen.
(f) That is, the doctrine: therefore doctrine must go before and signs must follow after.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
However, Jesus’ work on earth also continued through His disciples. It was a continuation of Jesus’ work on earth in a real sense because He continued to work with them and confirmed their preaching with signs (cf. Act 1:1-2). These first disciples provided a positive example for all succeeding generations of disciples to follow. Thus the Gospel ends on a positive note.
This task of evangelizing continued in Rome among the disciples who first received this Gospel. This account of the good news about Jesus Christ (Mar 1:1) would have been a particular encouragement to those disciples. They faced the choice of whether to take a public stand as Christians and suffer the loss of real estate, personal property, employment, and even their lives, or to lay low. They had to offer a pinch of incense in worship of "divine" Caesar as Roman citizens. Doing so compromised their exclusive commitment to Jesus as Lord. To fail to worship Caesar cost them dearly. This Gospel is particularly helpful for disciples who face similar challenges in their own time and place in history.
Wiersbe pointed out that the Gospel of Mark parallels Paul’s great servant passage in Philippians 2. Jesus came as a servant (Mark 1-13; Php 2:1-7), He died on a cross (Mark 14-15; Php 2:8), and God exalted Him to glory (Mark 16; Php 2:9). Both Mark and Paul stressed the need for Jesus’ disciples to carry the gospel to all nations (Mar 16:15-16; Php 2:10-11). And both of them gave assurance that God is at work in and through us (Mar 16:19-20; Php 2:12-13). [Note: Wiersbe, 1:168.]