The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him.
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When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.
2 Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb.
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And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
3 They worried out loud to each other, "Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?"
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And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? ”
4 Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back - it was a huge stone - and walked right in.
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And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back— it was very large.
5 They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished
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And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
6 He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty.
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And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
7 Now - on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said."
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But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you. ”
8 They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone.
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And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. [Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20. ]
9 [After rising from the dead, Jesus appeared early on Sunday morning to Mary Magdalene, whom he had delivered from seven demons.
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[[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
10 She went to his former companions, now weeping and carrying on, and told them.
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She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished. When they heard her report that she had seen him alive and well, they didn't believe her.
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But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
12 Later he appeared, but in a different form, to two of them out walking in the countryside.
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After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.
13 They went back and told the rest, but they weren't believed either.
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And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
14 Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, he appeared and took them to task most severely for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe those who had seen him raised up.
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Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
15 Then he said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all.
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And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.
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Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 "These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues,
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And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."
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they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. ”
19 Then the Master Jesus, after briefing them, was taken up to heaven, and he sat down beside God in the place of honor.
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So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And the disciples went everywhere preaching, the Master working right with them, validating the Message with indisputable evidence.]
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And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. ]]
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025