Mark 16:20
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse emphasizes that the Lord worked with them, not just beside them. His divine power was actively present, confirming the message and enabling the disciples, directly linking their proclamation to His ongoing, tangible work in the world. This isn't just about them preaching; it's about Jesus continuing His mission through them, making their witness undeniably His own.
Following Jesus' ascension into heaven, his disciples immediately went out to preach everywhere, empowered by the risen Christ who worked through them. This divine partnership was evident as miraculous signs accompanied their preaching, confirming the truth of their message to the world.
Jesus’ final moments on earth weren't a departure, but a strategic repositioning. His ascension wasn't just a physical removal, but the launching point for His ongoing mission.
Mark 16:19 tells us Jesus was "received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God." This wasn't a passive retirement!:
A Divine Assignment
The phrase "received up" emphasizes that this was a divinely orchestrated event, not something Jesus did alone. He was taken up, signifying His rightful place of authority.
Empowered Commissioning
His ascension immediately preceded the disciples going out to preach. This placement is crucial: their mission was directly linked to His enthronement. He ascended to empower them to fulfill His global command.
Did the disciples feel abandoned after Jesus left? This verse reveals a powerful truth: His physical absence meant His active presence in a new way.
The phrase 'the Lord working with them' is the heartbeat of this passage. It’s not just that Jesus sent them; He partnered with them.
Divine Collaboration
'Working with them' signifies a joint effort. Jesus wasn't delegating tasks to incapable humans and then checking out. He was actively involved, His power and presence fueling their ministry.
Confirming the Message
This partnership wasn't just about their effort; it was about His validation. The signs that followed were God’s endorsement, confirming that the message they preached was indeed His truth. This wasn't about the disciples' charisma, but Christ's power displayed through them.
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.
This verse highlights the powerful expansion of the early Church immediately following Jesus' ascension. The disciples, no longer hesitant, went out boldly, empowered by the Lord who worked through them, confirming His message with miraculous signs.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Ascension to Heaven
After his resurrection appearances, Jesus is taken up into heaven, commissioning his disciples to preach the gospel to all nations.
c. AD 30-33
Awaiting the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem
The apostles returned to Jerusalem as Jesus commanded, gathering together in prayer and devotion while awaiting the promised Holy Spirit.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, empowering them to boldly preach the gospel. This marks the birth of the early Church.
c. AD 33 - 60s
Apostolic Preaching and Ministry
The apostles, empowered by the Spirit and accompanied by signs and wonders, travel widely, preaching the gospel and establishing churches throughout the known world. This period is extensively detailed in the book of Acts.
This passage directly parallels Mark 16:20 by showing that the apostles preached and that 'great fear came upon every soul,' indicating supernatural awe and confirmation of their message.
Hebrews 2:4This verse speaks about God bearing witness to the apostolic message 'by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit,' which directly echoes the confirmation by signs mentioned in Mark 16:20.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5Paul emphasizes that his preaching was not in plausible words of wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, reflecting the 'Lord working with them and confirming the word by accompanying signs' in Mark 16:20.
Matthew 28:19-20These verses contain the Great Commission, which is directly fulfilled by the disciples going out to preach everywhere, and Jesus' promise to be 'with you always, to the end of the age' echoes the 'Lord working with them' in Mark 16:20.
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 emphasizes that the Lord worked with them, not just beside them. His divine power was actively present, confirming the message and enabling the disciples, directly linking their proclamation to His ongoing, tangible work in the world. This isn't just about them preaching; it's about Jesus continuing His mission through them, making their witness undeniably His own.
Following Jesus' ascension into heaven, his disciples immediately went out to preach everywhere, empowered by the risen Christ who worked through them. This divine partnership was evident as miraculous signs accompanied their preaching, confirming the truth of their message to the world.
Following Jesus' ascension into heaven, his disciples immediately went out to preach everywhere, empowered by the risen Christ who worked through them. This divine partnership was evident as miraculous signs accompanied their preaching, confirming the truth of their message to the world.
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"And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]" — The verse emphasizes that the Lord worked with them, not just beside them. His divine power was actively present, confirming the message and enabling the disciples, directly linking their proclamat…
