And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the "Lord worked with them," emphasizing that His power wasn't just for them but actively present alongside them as they preached. This partnership is further underscored by the "accompanying signs," which weren't mere spectacles but direct confirmations of the message they were proclaiming.
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
English Standard Version (ESV)
Right after Jesus ascended into heaven and was seated at God's right hand, His disciples went out and boldly preached the message everywhere. The Lord was actively working with them, validating their message through the miraculous signs that accompanied their ministry.
Jesus is in heaven, but His work on earth isn't finished. How does He remain active and involved?
The ascension isn't an exit; it's a transition. While Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God, His power and presence are still directed toward His followers and His mission.
Miracles happened when Jesus walked the earth, but they continued after He ascended. What was their purpose?
The 'accompanying signs' were not random displays of power. They served a specific, crucial function: to confirm the message being preached.
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Understand the original words
ekēryxan · Greek Verb
To proclaim the good news of the Gospel publicly, declaring the message of salvation to those who have not heard it.
bebaiountos · Greek Verb
To establish the truthfulness of a claim or message through external evidence, often miraculous, ensuring the message is validated as being from God.
Mark 16:20 highlights the immediate and widespread impact of the apostles' preaching following Jesus' ascension. It wasn't just their words but the Lord actively working 'with them,' confirming their message with signs, showing the divine empowerment behind the early spread of Christianity.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Ascension
After His resurrection appearances, Jesus is taken up into heaven, promising His continued presence and power with His followers.
c. AD 30-33
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit's Coming
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles in Jerusalem, enabling them to preach boldly and perform miracles, marking the birth of the Church.
c. AD 33-50
Early Apostolic Preaching in Jerusalem
The apostles initially focus their preaching on Jerusalem and the Jewish people, seeing many signs and wonders accompanying their message.
c. AD 45-60
Missionary Journeys of the Apostles
The apostles, including Paul, embark on extensive missionary journeys, spreading the gospel to various cities and regions throughout the Roman Empire.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Imprisonment and Writings
Despite imprisonment, Paul continues to write letters to churches, further elaborating on Christian doctrine and practice, and the gospel continues to spread.
This passage echoes Mark 16:20 by promising that the disciples would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses for Jesus, reinforcing the idea that God's power would accompany their preaching.
Hebrews 2:4This verse speaks of God bearing witness to the message of salvation 'by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit,' directly paralleling how the Lord confirmed the disciples' preaching with signs in Mark 16:20.
1 Corinthians 3:9This verse describes believers as 'God's fellow workers,' reflecting the concept in Mark 16:20 where the Lord is 'working with them' as the apostles went out to preach.
Matthew 28:20Jesus' promise to be 'with you always, to the end of the age' directly supports the idea in Mark 16:20 that the Lord was actively working with the disciples as they preached, even after His ascension.
expositorsMark 16:19-20: "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."
CHAPTER 16:19-20 (Mark 16:19-20)THE ASCENSION "So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen." Mark 16:19-20 (R.V.) WE have reached the close of the great Gospel o…
calvinMark 16:19-20: "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."
And after the Lord had thus spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by accompanying signs.
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51. And it came to pass that, while he was…
The verse highlights that the "Lord worked with them," emphasizing that His power wasn't just for them but actively present alongside them as they preached. This partnership is further underscored by the "accompanying signs," which weren't mere spectacles but direct confirmations of the message they were proclaiming.
Right after Jesus ascended into heaven and was seated at God's right hand, His disciples went out and boldly preached the message everywhere. The Lord was actively working with them, validating their message through the miraculous signs that accompanied their ministry.
Right after Jesus ascended into heaven and was seated at God's right hand, His disciples went out and boldly preached the message everywhere. The Lord was actively working with them, validating their message through the miraculous signs that accompanied their ministry.
"And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]" — The verse highlights that the "Lord worked with them," emphasizing that His power wasn't just for them but actively present alongside them as they preached. This partnership is further undersco…
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Last reviewed October 2026