16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought aromatic spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.

16:2 Extremely early on the First of Sabbaths, they came to the tomb as the sun was just beginning to rise.

16:3 And they said to each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance for us?”

16:4 But they looked up to see that the stone had already been rolled away, and it was a very large stone!

16:5 Upon entering the tomb they saw a young man dressed in a white robe, sitting to the right. They were overawed,

16:6 but he said to them, “Relax! You’re looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. But he has risen; he is not here! You can see where they had placed him.

16:7 Now go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He will go ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there, just as he told you.’ ”

16:8 They left the tomb and ran away, shaking and filled with amazement. But they were afraid and said nothing to anyone.

16:9 Having risen early on First Sabbath, Jesus appeared first to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had thrown out seven demons.

16:10 She went and announced this to those who had been with him and were grieving and sobbing,

16:11 but when they heard that she had seen him alive, they didn’t believe her.

16:12 But later he appeared to two of them as they were walking out in the countryside, though he looked different to them.

16:13 And though they too went off to report this to the others, they didn’t believe them either.

16:14 Eventually he appeared to the Eleven as they were reclining at the table. He scolded them for their skepticism and stubbornness, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he arose.

16:15 Then he said to them, “Go everywhere in the world and proclaim the Gospel to all of creation.

16:16 Those who believe and are immersed will be saved, but those who do not believe will be condemned.

16:17 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will throw out demons; they will speak in new languages;

16:18 they will shake off deadly snakes; they will drink poison without being harmed; they will place their hands on the chronically ill and they will get better.”

16:19 So then, after Master Jesus finished talking to them, he was taken up into the sky and seated to the right of God.

16:20 They went out proclaiming it everywhere, with the Master helping and confirming the Word by the signs that accompanied them.