Chapter 16

Jesus Is Raised from the Dead.^{[a] 1} When the Sabbath was over,^[b] Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome purchased aromatic spices so that they might go and anoint Jesus. ² And very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

³ They had been asking each other, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” ⁴ But when they looked up, they observed that the stone, which was extremely large, had already been rolled back. ⁵ On entering the tomb, they saw a young man arrayed in a white robe sitting on the right hand side, and they were stunned.

⁶ He said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go forth and tell his disciples and Peter: ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him just as he told you.’ ” ⁸ Then the women emerged from the tomb and fled, overcome with trembling and amazement. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Appendix

The Longer Ending^[c]

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene. After he had risen from the dead early on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons. ¹⁰ She then went forth and related the story of his appearance to his mourning and weeping companions. ¹¹ However, when they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they refused to believe it.

¹² Jesus Appears to Two Disciples. After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they were on their way into the country. ¹³ They then returned and reported the news to the others, but they did not believe them either.

¹⁴ Jesus Appears to and Commissions the Eleven. Still later, he appeared to the eleven while they were at table. He reproached them for their lack of faith and their hardness of heart because they refused to believe the witness of those who had seen him after he had risen.

¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Go forth into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ These are the signs that will mark those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons. They will be granted the gift of speaking in new languages. ¹⁸ If they pick up serpents in their hands or drink any deadly poison, they will remain unharmed. The sick on whom they lay their hands will recover.”

¹⁹ Jesus Ascends to Heaven. Then, after he had spoken to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven, and there he took his place at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went forth to proclaim the gospel everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by means of the signs that accompanied their preaching.

Noncanonical Endings

The Shorter Ending.^[d] And they reported all the instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward, through them Jesus sent forth from east to west the sacred and perpetual proclamation of eternal salvation.

The Freer Logion.^[e] And they excused themselves, saying, “This age of lawlessness and unbelief is under Satan, who does not allow the truth and power of God to prevail over the unclean things of the spirit. Therefore, reveal your righteousness now”—thus they spoke to Christ. And Christ replied to them, “The limit of the years of Satan’s power has been reached, but other terrible things draw near. And for those who sinned I was handed over to death, that they might return to the truth and no longer sin, in order that they might inherit the spiritual and incorruptible glory of righteousness, which is in heaven.”