Great Commission (Mark 16:14-20)

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The Great Commission is the final moment of Mark before Jesus leaves His disciples ascending to the right side of God. 

The discourse starts with reproaching the disciples' faith because they did not believe the witnesses who sow risen Jesus (Mark 16:14). Only after the reproach, he sends them to the world to share the message of the Gospel.

In verse Mark 16:16 the author adds a very intriguing condition for the salvation: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (ὁ πιστεύσας καὶ βαπτισθεὶς σωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ἀπιστήσας κατακριθήσεται).

Interestingly, Mark's account highlights the role of "signs" (σημεῖα [semeia]) that are to accompany those who will believe as a confirmation of the Gospel message (Mark 16:17-20).

Vocabulary

Word Meaning
ὕστερος, α, ον later; last
δέ however, but
ἀνάκειμαι recline at the table
αὐτός, ή, ὁ he; self
ὁ, ἡ, τό the
ἕνδεκα eleven
φανερόω show; reveal
καί and
ὀνειδίζω reproach, revile
ἀπιστία, ας, ἡ unbelief

Biblical text

16:14Ὕστερον δὲ ἀνακειμένοις αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἐφανερώθη, καὶ ὠνείδισεν τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν καὶ σκληροκαρδίαν ὅτι τοῖς θεασαμένοις αὐτὸν ἐγηγερμένον οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν.15καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Πορευθέντες εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἅπαντα κηρύξατε τὸ εὐαγγέλιον πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει.16 πιστεύσας καὶ βαπτισθεὶς σωθήσεται, δὲ ἀπιστήσας κατακριθήσεται.17σημεῖα δὲ τοῖς πιστεύσασιν ταῦτα παρακολουθήσει, ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου δαιμόνια ἐκβαλοῦσιν, γλώσσαις λαλήσουσιν καιναῖς,18ὄφεις ἀροῦσιν κἂν θανάσιμόν τι πίωσιν οὐ μὴ αὐτοὺς βλάψῃ, ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους χεῖρας ἐπιθήσουσιν καὶ καλῶς ἕξουσιν.19 μὲν οὖν Κύριος Ἰησοῦς μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι αὐτοῖς ἀνελήμφθη εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ.20ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ, τοῦ Κυρίου συνεργοῦντος καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων.]]