What Does Mark 16:9-20 Mean?
Mark 16:9-20 says Jesus rose from the dead, appeared to his followers, and sent them to preach the gospel. It also promises signs that would follow believers. Early Christian writers such as Tatian and the Apostolic Constitutions quote parts of this ending as Scripture, while the manuscript issue around Mark 16 is still debated.
122 early-church witnesses · 223 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What does Mark 16:9-20 mean?
Mark 16:9-20 gives Mark's longer ending about Jesus rising from the dead, appearing first to Mary Magdalene, then to the disciples, and sending them to preach to everyone. It also says believers would be marked by signs like casting out demons, speaking in new tongues, healing the sick, and surviving deadly harm. Early Christian writers such as Tatian and the Apostolic Constitutions quoted these verses as part of the Gospel, and Cyprian-related material also used the signs language.
But one early witness, Dionysius of Alexandria, and the note in Mark 16:8 point to an old manuscript question, so Christians have long read this passage with both faith and caution. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Passage context
Mark 16:9-20 comes right after the women flee the tomb in fear at the end of Mark 16:8. In this ending, Jesus appears after his resurrection, rebukes unbelief, and sends the disciples out to preach the gospel. The passage closes with Jesus going up to heaven and the disciples preaching everywhere.
Why early Christian sources matter
Early Christian writers help us see how the church read this passage very early on. Tatian includes Mark 16:17-20 in the Diatessaron, and the Apostolic Constitutions quotes the signs language for apostolic mission. That does not settle every text question, but it shows that many early Christians treated this ending as part of the Gospel and used it to explain resurrection, mission, and signs.
Common interpretation points
- Mark 16:8 ends with fear and silence; 16:9-20 gives the resurrection appearances and mission.
- The passage is strongly used for Jesus' resurrection and the spread of the gospel, but the manuscript note means the ending is textually debated.
- The signs in 16:17-18 are quoted early, but the sources here do not prove every sign was meant for every believer in every age.
Evidence-Based Summary
Mark 16:9-20 describes Jesus rising, appearing to Mary Magdalene and the disciples, sending them to preach, and promising signs that would follow believers. Early Christian writers used this ending as Scripture in places like Tatian's Diatessaron, the Apostolic Constitutions, and Cyprian-related material, and they also quoted its resurrection appearances and mission commands.
At the same time, one major early witness, Dionysius of Alexandria, shows awareness of the resurrection tradition while discussing the different ending details in Mark, and the Bible card for Mark 16:8 notes that some early manuscripts do not include 16:9-20. The strongest early Christian use is for the resurrection appearance and mission/signs theme, but the manuscript question means the passage is historically mixed, not simple.
Key Takeaways
- Mark 16:9-20 tells of Jesus' resurrection appearances and his command to preach the gospel.
- Tatian and the Apostolic Constitutions quote the ending as part of Christian teaching.
- The passage is also tied to an old manuscript question, so the early record is mixed.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Was Mark 16:9-20 part of the original Gospel ending?
Mark 16:9-20 was widely used by early Christians, but the ending is also textually debated. The note in Mark 16:8 says some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9-20, so the passage has an old and important manuscript question.
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Mark 16:8 Direct teaching
And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. [SOME OF THE EARLIEST MANUSCRIPTS DO NOT INCLUDE 16:9-20.]
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Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness
and it was very early in the morning, at the rising of the sun, as Mark tells us.
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Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness
Thus they set out, and took their way first when it was very early in the morning, or (as Mark says) when it was very early;
What do the resurrection appearances in Mark 16:9-14 mean?
The passage says Jesus rose and appeared first to Mary Magdalene, then to two followers, and later to the eleven. It also says the disciples did not believe the reports at first, which fits the passage's focus on moving from doubt to faith.
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Mark 16:9 Direct teaching
[[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
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Mark 16:11 Direct teaching
But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
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Mark 16:10 Direct teaching
And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
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Mark 16:14 Direct teaching
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
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Mark 16:12 Direct teaching
After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.
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Didache, Connection to Mark 16:9 Supporting witness
And when He was risen from the dead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, then to Cleopas in the way, and after that to us His disciples, who had fled away for fear of the Jews, but privately were very inquisitive about Him.
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Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness
...ht at once to begin their festival joy and gladness. But in what you wrote to me, you showed very clearly, and with an intelligent understanding of the Holy Scriptures, that they do not seem to give any exact statement of the hour when He rose. For the Evangelists describe differently the people who came one after another to the tomb, and all declare that they found the Lord already risen. Matthew says it was at the end of the Sabbath. John writes that it was early, while it was still dark. Luke says it was very early in the morning. Mark tells us it was very early in the morning, at the rising of the sun. So no one has shown us clearly the exact time when He rose. It is admitted, however, that those who came to the tomb at the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, found that He was no longer lying in it. And let us not suppose that the Evangelists disagree or contradict one another. Even if there seems to be some small difficulty in the matter we are asking about, they all agree that the Light of the world, our Lord, rose on that one night, though they differ about the hour. So we may rightly try, with a wise and faithful mind, to bring their
What signs does Mark 16 say will follow believers?
Mark 16:15-20 says the disciples should preach the gospel to every creature, and it promises signs such as casting out demons, speaking new tongues, healing the sick, and surviving deadly harm. Early Christian writers like Tatian and the Apostolic Constitutions quote this language and use it to describe apostolic mission and gifts.
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Mark 16:17 Direct teaching
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
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Mark 16:20 Direct teaching
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
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Mark 16:15 Direct teaching
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
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Mark 16:19 Direct teaching
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
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Mark 16:18 Direct teaching
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
but 9 whosoever believes not shall be rejected. Mark 16:17 And the signs which shall attend those that believe in me are these: that they shall cast out devils in my name;
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
..., when we had been made complete concerning those gifts given by Him through the Spirit, “Now these signs will follow those who have believed in my name: they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will by no means hurt them. They will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover,” Mark 16:17-18. These gifts were first given to us, the apostles, when we were about to preach the Gospel to every creature. Afterward, they were necessarily given to those who had believed through us. They were not for the benefit of those who performed them, but to convince unbelievers, so that those whom the word did not persuade might be put to shame by the power of signs. For signs are not for us who believe, but for unbelievers, both Jews and Gentiles. For it is no profit to us to cast out demons, but to those who are cleansed in this way by the power of the Lord. As the Lord Himself teaches us somewhere, and shows, saying, “Do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven,” Luke 10:20. Since the former is done by His power, but this by our good disp
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Cyprian, Connection to Mark 16:17 Direct teaching
we have assuredly the rule of truth which the Lord by His divine precept commanded to His apostles, saying, "Go ye, lay on hands in my name, expel demons." And in another place: "Go ye and teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
and these have known You. With good reason did He say to all of us together, when we were perfected concerning those gifts which were given from Him by the Spirit: Now these signs shall follow them that have believed in my name: they shall cast out devils;
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Novatian, Connection to Mark 16:15 Supporting witness
He willed that the apostles as spiritual progenitors of the new humanity would be sent by his Son into the entire world, so that all human sufferers might come to the knowledge of their creator.
What did early Christians say about Mark's Gospel?
Papias and later writers say Mark wrote the Gospel as Peter's interpreter and handed down what Peter preached. That does not directly explain Mark 16:9-20, but it helps show why early Christians cared about Mark's Gospel as a trusted account.
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Papias, Fragments Direct teaching
...to the extracts already made, we will add, as a matter of primary importance, a tradition regarding Mark, who wrote the Gospel, which Papias stated in these words: The presbyter said this: Mark, having become Peter's interpreter, accurately wrote down everything he remembered. However, he did not recount the sayings or deeds of Christ in exact order. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed Him directly. But later, as I mentioned, he accompanied Peter, who adjusted his teachings to the needs of his listeners, without intending to provide a systematic account of the Lord’s sayings. Therefore, Mark did not err in writing some things as he remembered them. For he took particular care not to omit anything he heard and not to include anything fictitious in his accounts. This is what Papias reports about Mark; regarding Matthew, he made the following statements: Matthew compiled the oracles of the Lord in the Hebrew language, and each person interpreted them as best as they could. The same individual uses examples from the First Epistle of John and the Epistle of Peter similarly. He also provides another story of a woman accused of many sins before the Lord, which is found in the Go
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Papias, Fragments Supporting witness
but now, to the extracts already made, we shall add, as being a matter of primary importance, a tradition regarding Mark who wrote the Gospel, which he [Papias] has given in the following words]: And the presbyter said this.
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Papias, Fragments Supporting witness
Wherefore Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
The same authority of the apostolic churches will afford evidence to the other Gospels also, which we possess equally through their means, and according to their usage — I mean the Gospels of John and Matthew — while that which Mark published may be affirmed to be Peter's whose interpreter Mark was.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
5. Wherefore also Mark, the interpreter and follower of Peter, does thus commence his Gospel narrative: “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
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Clement of Alexandria, Fragments Supporting witness
Marcus, my son, salutes you. Mark, the follower of Peter, while Peter publicly preached the Gospel at Rome before some of Cæsar's equites, and adduced many testimonies to Christ, in order that thereby they might be able to commit to memory what was spoken, of what was spoken by Peter, wrote entirely what is called the Gospel according to Mark.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.
Common Questions
Did early Christians think Mark 16:9-20 was part of the Gospel?
Many early Christian writers used it as Scripture, including Tatian and the Apostolic Constitutions. But the manuscript note attached to Mark 16:8 shows that the longer ending was also questioned early.
What does Mark 16:17-18 teach?
It says signs would follow believers: casting out demons, speaking new tongues, handling serpents, drinking deadly poison without harm, and healing the sick. Early Christian writers quoted this as a promise linked to the apostles' mission.
Why is Mark 16:9-20 disputed?
Mark 16:8 has a note saying some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9-20. That is why the passage has long been discussed, even though many early Christians used it.
Do early Christian writers quote the signs in Mark 16?
Yes. Tatian and the Apostolic Constitutions quote Mark 16:17-20, and related early material links the passage to apostolic signs and mission.
Source Index for Mark 16:9-20
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 223 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 122
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to Mark 16:9
Bible Passages 80 shown of 101
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.