Mark 16 20

Mark 16:20 kjv

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Mark 16:20 nkjv

And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Mark 16:20 niv

Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Mark 16:20 esv

And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]

Mark 16:20 nlt

And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

Mark 16 verses

Mark 16 20 Meaning

Mark 16:20 describes the initial ministry of the apostles following Jesus' Great Commission. It reveals that the disciples were obedient to Jesus' command to go and preach the Gospel. Crucially, their efforts were not merely human. The verse highlights a divine partnership, stating that "the Lord working with them" actively confirmed the message they proclaimed. This divine validation was primarily manifested "through the accompanying signs," meaning miracles and demonstrations of God's power attested to the truth and authority of the preached word. Thus, the verse signifies the Holy Spirit-empowered spread of the early Christian message, divinely endorsed and supernaturally confirmed.

Mark 16 20 Context

Mark 16:20 stands at the end of what is widely known as the "long ending" of Mark's Gospel (Mk 16:9-20). Following Jesus' resurrection and His appearance to His disciples, the preceding verses recount Jesus commissioning them to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk 16:15), promising that signs like casting out demons, speaking in new tongues, handling snakes, drinking deadly poison without harm, and healing the sick would accompany those who believe (Mk 16:17-18). Verse 20 serves as the powerful conclusion, describing the immediate fulfillment and effective execution of this Great Commission. It depicts the disciples putting Jesus' instructions into practice, illustrating the supernatural partnership between the risen Lord and His chosen heralds. While critical scholarship debates the textual originality of Mark 16:9-20 in the earliest manuscripts, its theological content and portrayal of apostolic ministry are consistent with other New Testament accounts (e.g., Acts, Mt 28). Historically, the early church accepted this passage as describing the foundational activities and divine endorsement of the apostles' mission, emphasizing the crucial role of supernatural signs in authenticating the message to an unbelieving world.

Mark 16 20 Word analysis

• And they went forth (καὶ ἐκεῖνοι ἐξελθόντες - kai ekeinoi exelthontes): Signifies obedient action. "Went forth" indicates a deliberate outward movement, not a passive waiting, directly fulfilling the command to "go" (Mk 16:15). It points to the geographical and missional expansion.
• and preached (ἐκήρυξαν - ekēryxan): From kerysso, "to proclaim as a herald." This means a public, authoritative announcement, not just casual sharing. The content was the good news of Christ, not human philosophy. This highlights the verbal proclamation of the Gospel.
• everywhere (πανταχοῦ - pantachou): Denotes universal scope and reach. It implies the broad extent of their missionary activity, mirroring Jesus' commission to preach to "all the world" and "every creature," reflecting God's desire for the Gospel to reach all peoples.
• the Lord (τοῦ κυρίου - tou Kyriou): Refers unequivocally to Jesus Christ, now ascended and enthroned. It underscores His continued sovereign authority and active involvement in His church's mission, dispelling any notion that the disciples were operating independently.
• working with them (συνεργοῦντος - synergountos): From synergeo, "to work together with," "to cooperate." This is a key theological point, indicating a divine partnership. Human effort is inseparable from divine enablement; the effectiveness of ministry is fundamentally attributed to Christ's power, not human capability. It reveals a dynamic, active presence of Christ empowering His followers.
• and confirming (καὶ βεβαιοῦντος - kai bebaiountos): From bebaioō, meaning "to make firm," "to establish," "to ratify," "to authenticate." This action highlights divine endorsement. God actively validates and proves the truthfulness and authority of the message spoken by His servants.
• the word (τὸν λόγον - ton logon): Refers to the Gospel message itself – the core content of their preaching about Jesus Christ, His death, resurrection, and the salvation He offers. It is God's word, conveyed through human vessels.
• through the accompanying signs (διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων - dia tōn epakolouthountōn sēmeiōn):
  • accompanying (epakolouthountōn): Means "following upon" or "going along with." These signs were not isolated events but were directly linked to and followed the preaching of the Gospel. They served as corroboration.
  • signs (sēmeiōn): Miraculous works (e.g., healings, exorcisms) that serve to point to a greater truth or to validate a message/messenger. They were not for entertainment but as tangible proofs of God's presence and power, authenticating the word preached.
• Amen (ἀμήν - amēn): A transliterated Hebrew word meaning "so be it," "truthfully," or "certainly." At the very end of the chapter, it serves as a powerful affirmation, expressing absolute certainty and truth regarding the commission given and its immediate, divinely-backed fulfillment.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And they went forth and preached everywhere": This phrase captures the immediate, universal obedience of the apostles to Jesus' commissioning. It shows the practical manifestation of the Gospel spreading outward from Jerusalem, driven by direct human agency.
• "the Lord working with them and confirming the word": This highlights the core theological dynamic. The efficacy of human ministry is not self-generated but stems from divine partnership. Jesus' active involvement, even after His ascension, is crucial. The divine work directly authenticates the humanly-proclaimed message.
• "confirming the word through the accompanying signs": This part clarifies the mechanism of divine confirmation. The "signs" were the visible, miraculous means by which God publicly stamped His approval on the spoken "word," providing undeniable proof of its truth and power, thereby validating both the message and the messengers.

Mark 16 20 Bonus section

The depiction in Mark 16:20 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of apostolic ministry and, by extension, all genuine Gospel proclamation. It subtly pushes back against any notion of an impersonal or absent God post-resurrection. Instead, it posits a deeply involved, active Lord who is both the sender and the enabler of His missionaries. The very concept of "confirming the word" highlights that the ultimate authority and veracity of the Gospel do not rest on the messengers' persuasion, but on God's own active witness. While "signs" can manifest in diverse ways—from miraculous physical healing to the internal conviction of the Holy Spirit leading to repentance—the underlying principle remains: God validates His message. This verse assures believers that when they step out in obedience to proclaim His truth, He will never leave them without His power and His validating presence. The concluding "Amen" underscores the profound truth and unwavering certainty of this divine collaboration in the expansion of God's Kingdom.

Mark 16 20 Commentary

Mark 16:20 stands as a triumphant conclusion to Mark's Gospel (in its longer form), summarizing the launch and effectiveness of the early Christian mission. It paints a picture of courageous apostles who, rather than cowering in fear, embraced their divine mandate to propagate the Good News "everywhere." The true power of this verse, however, lies in its clear statement that this evangelistic success was not merely a result of their charisma or eloquence, but was rooted in "the Lord working with them." Jesus, though ascended, was actively engaged in empowering and confirming their message. The "accompanying signs"—miraculous healings, deliverances, and other supernatural displays—were God's unmistakable seal, verifying that the spoken Gospel was truly His authoritative word, infused with divine power. These signs weren't the message themselves but served to validate it, breaking through human skepticism and opening hearts to spiritual truth. The verse sets a foundational pattern for ministry: human proclamation coupled with divine attestation. It is a powerful reminder that genuine spiritual impact flows from divine partnership, not solely from human effort or strategy.

Examples for practical usage:

• Evangelism: Emphasizes that when sharing the Gospel, believers are not alone; the Lord works with them to confirm the truth.
• Ministry Dependence: Calls ministries to depend on divine power, not just human skill or resources, for true effectiveness.
• Gospel Authenticity: Points to God's continued confirmation of His Word in believers' lives, through transformation, healing, and other acts of His Spirit.