And looking up ( ἀναβλέψασαι ) they see ( θεωροῦσιν ) that the stone is rolled back ( ἀποκεκύλισται ): for it was exceeding great ( μέγας σφόδρα ). At this point we learn from St. John that Mary Magdalene ran away to tell Peter and John ( John 20:2 ). read more
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 28:1-8.Mark 16:1Sweet spices - “Aromatics.” Substances used in embalming. The idea of sweetness is not, however, implied in the original. Many of the substances used for embalming were “bitter” - as, for example, myrrh - and none of them, perhaps, could properly be called “sweet.” The word “spices” expresses all that there is in the original.Anoint him - Embalm him, or apply these spices to his body to keep it from putrefaction. This is proof... read more
Mark 16:3-6 . And they said, Who shall roll us away the stone This seems to have been the only difficulty they apprehended. So they knew nothing of Pilate’s having sealed the stone, and placed a guard of soldiers there. And when they looked Αναβλεψασαι , and having lifted up their eyes; they saw Namely, before they arrived quite at the sepulchre; that the stone was rolled away An angel having descended and done this, as is recorded Matthew 28:2; where see the note. For it was very... read more
RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION161. Morning of the resurrection (Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18)It is not surprising that there are differences in the accounts of what people saw on the Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead. The sight of the empty tomb and the heavenly messengers produced a mixture of reactions - excitement, joy, anxiety, fear, wonder. There was confusion as people rushed here and there to tell others. One writer records what he heard from some,... read more
looked = looked up. Greek. anablepo . App-133 . saw = see (implying attention, surprise, andpleasure). Greek. theoreo. App-133 . was = had been. read more
And looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.Many an insurmountable obstacle has yielded before God's children engaged on missions in harmony with his will. Their fears and apprehensions regarding the great stone were perfectly well founded from the human viewpoint; but when they arrived at the place where frustration had been anticipated, the obstacle had been removed. That the event here recorded was an actual historical happening is surely true; but it... read more
Mark 16:4. And when they looked, &c.— 'Αναβλεψασαι, lifting up their eyes. The reader will observe, that the parenthesis at the end of this verse, is an instance of the same mode of expression as that remarked in the latter part of the note on Ch. Mark 11:13. read more
A. The announcement of Jesus’ resurrection 16:1-8 (cf. Matthew 28:1-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1) read more
Mark apparently included this story to impress the reader with the supernatural element represented by the angel. The women would have said to one another, "Who rolled the stone away? It must have been someone very strong." When they entered the antechamber of the tomb, they would have thought, "Who is this young man (Gr. neaniskos)? He must be very unusual." He appeared as a youth, but his strength and his unusual dress indicated that he was an angel (cf. Mark 9:3). He terrified the women."It... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 16:3-4
The stone rolled away. Day was dawning on Jerusalem when the women saw this strange sight. Day was dawning in their hearts too, for slowly and surely the darkness of doubt and grief was stealing away. And day was dawning on the whole world, and on all future ages of history, for the Sun of Righteousness had risen, bringing life and immortality to light. No three days in human history were so momentous as these of which the context speaks; for it was on them that the great conflict between... read more