Matthew 28; Mark 16

Matthew 28

1 The Sabbath day was now over. It was dawn on the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven. The angel went to the tomb. He rolled back the stone and sat on it.

3 His body shone like lightning. His clothes were as white as snow.

4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

6 He is not here! He has risen, just as he said he would! Come and see the place where he was lying.

7 Go quickly! Tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb. They were afraid, but they were filled with joy. They ran to tell the disciples.

9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings!" he said. They came to him, took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see me."

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city. They reported to the chief priests all that had happened.

12 When the chief priests met with the elders, they came up with a plan. They gave the soldiers a large amount of money.

13 They told the soldiers, "We want you to say, 'His disciples came during the night. They stole his body while we were sleeping.'

14 If the governor hears this report, we will pay him off. That will keep you out of trouble."

15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. This story has spread all around among the Jews to this very day.

16 Then the 11 disciples went to Galilee. They went to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

17 When they saw him, they worshiped him. But some still had their doubts.

18 Then Jesus came to them. He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end."

Mark 16

1 The Sabbath day ended. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices. They were going to apply them to Jesus' body.

2 Very early on the first day of the week, they were on their way to the tomb. It was just after sunrise.

3 They asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb?"

4 Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. The stone was very large.

5 They entered the tomb. As they did, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe. He was sitting on the right side. They were alarmed.

6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. But he has risen! He is not here! See the place where they had put him.

7 Go! Tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. It will be just as he told you.' "

8 The women were shaking and confused. They went out and ran away from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

9 Jesus rose from the dead early on the first day of the week. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. He had driven seven demons out of her.

10 She went and told those who had been with him. She found them crying. They were very sad.

11 They heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him. But they did not believe it.

12 After that, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them. This happened while they were walking out in the country.

13 The two returned and told the others about it. But the others did not believe them either.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating. He spoke firmly to them because they had no faith. They would not believe those who had seen him after he rose from the dead.

15 He said to them, "Go into all the world. Preach the good news to everyone.

16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who does not believe will be punished.

17 Here are the miraculous signs that those who believe will do. In my name they will drive out demons. They will speak in languages they had not known before.

18 They will pick up snakes with their hands. And when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all. They will place their hands on sick people. And the people will get well."

19 When the Lord Jesus finished speaking to them, he was taken up into heaven. He sat down at the right hand of God.

20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere. The Lord worked with them. And he backed up his word by the signs that went with it.