Mark 16:12

12 After that he appeared in a different form to two of them who were walking along in the countryside.

Mark 16:12 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 16:12

After that
A little time, or some few hours after, on the selfsame day; see ( Luke 24:13 ) ;

he appeared in another form:
it seems to have been the form, or habit of a gardener that he appeared in to Mary; since she thought him to be one, and to be the gardener that belonged to the garden, in which the sepulchre was: but now it was in another form, or habit, that he appeared; very likely in the habit of a Scribe, or doctor; since he took upon him to expound the Scriptures to the persons he appeared to; as also took bread, and blessed it, when at supper with them, ( Luke 24:27 Luke 24:30 ) . According to the Jewish canons F13

``if two persons eat together, and one of them is a Scribe, and the other an unlearned man, (Krbm rpwo) , "the Scribe blesses", and the unlearned man is excused.''

This is not to be understood of any change in the shape of his body, or the features of his face; for as soon as their eyes were opened, which had been before held, they knew him perfectly well: whereas, if there had been such an alteration made in him, that he could not have been known for the same, there would have been no need of holding their eyes, that they should not know him, ( Luke 24:16 Luke 24:31 ) . This appearance was

unto two of them;
one of them was Cleophas, or Alphaeus, which is the same, ( Luke 24:18 ) ; the other is by some F14 thought to be Simon Peter, from what is said in ( Luke 24:34 ) though others F15 think it was Nathanael, and others F16 Luke the evangelist, who conceals his own name, when he mentions the other; and some F17 that his name was Ammaon, which perhaps may be through mistake of the place, Emmaus, where they were going, for the name of one of them, and the appearance to them was,

as they walked, and went into the country:
to a country village called Emmaus, about sixty furlongs, or seven miles and a half from Jerusalem; see ( Luke 24:13 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F13 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 45. 2.
F14 Lightfoot, Hor. in. v. 13. & in Luk. xxiv. 13.
F15 Epiphan contra Haeres. l. 1. Haeres. 23.
F16 Vid. Theophylact. in Luc. xxiv. 13.
F17 Ambros in Luc. 12. 49. & 24.

Mark 16:12 In-Context

10 She went and reported to the ones who had been with him, who were mourning and weeping.
11 But even after they heard the news, they didn't believe that Jesus was alive and that Mary had seen him.
12 After that he appeared in a different form to two of them who were walking along in the countryside.
13 When they returned, they reported it to the others, but they didn't believe them.
14 Finally he appeared to the eleven while they were eating. Jesus criticized their unbelief and stubbornness because they didn't believe those who saw him after he was raised up.
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