Ver. 1. And when the sabbath was past] As God on the first day of the week drew the world out of that abhorred estate of nothing, and brought light out of darkness, so did Christ, on that day, draw his people out of an estate worse than nothing, and “brought life and immortality to light by the gospel,” 2 Timothy 1:10.
Ver. 2. The first day of the week] της μιας σαββατων, one of the sabbaths. So the first day of the world is called, Jom echad, one day; that is, the first day, Genesis 1:5. For as that day was initial to the world, so the day of our Lord’s resurrection is the beginning of our glorification; as in that day light was produced, so Christ rising, the light of righteousness and joy is risen to us. (Gerb. in Harm. Evang.)
Ver. 3. [See Trapp on “Mt 28:5”] [See Trapp on “Mt 28:6”]
Ver. 4. And when they looked] Or, as some read it, when they looked up; for till now they may seem either to have gone plodding on with their eyes downward, or else to have looked on one another, as people use to do when they are conferring.
Ver. 7. Tell his disciples, and Peter] q.d. Tell him howsoever, for he is in great heaviness; and this will be very good news to him. Tell him that Christ is risen again for his justification, Romans 4:25. Or, tell his disciples and Peter, quia ille se prae aliis incredulum ostenderat, as Tolet hath it, because he hath expressed so much unbelief above the rest, and is, therefore, it may be, set here behind all the disciples, as inferior to them.
Ver. 8. Anything to any man] Whom they met with, but hastened to the disciples.
Ver. 9. He appeared first] This honour done to Mary Magdalene, Mark relateth more at large than the rest, though otherwise mostly he be more brief than the rest.
Ver. 10. See Matthew 28:8. [See Trapp on “Mt 28:8”]
Ver. 11. [See Trapp on “Mt 28:8”] [See Trapp on “Mt 28:9”]
Ver. 14. See Luke 24:36 Joh 20:19.
Ver. 15. Preach the gospel] Eckius hence blasphemously inferreth that Christ did never command his apostles to write, but to preach only. To evey creature] That is, 1. To man, who is a little world, an epitome of every creature. 2. To the Gentiles also, who had been denied this favour of the gospel, as if they had been none of God’s creatures.
Ver. 16. He that belleveth] That which you preach. And is baptized] As content to give up himself to Christ, and to receive his mark, making a public profession of the faith. He that believeth not] He saith not, or is not baptized; for it is not the lack, but the contempt of baptism that damneth. Unbelief is a bloody sin, Hebrews 10:26; a heavy sin, John 3:19; a most ungrateful, inexcusable sin, such as shuts a man up close prisoner in the dark dungeon of the law, unto unavoidable destruction, Galatians 3:23. Shall be damned] Here is quick work. God will not stay so long now with people as he did of old, when there was not so much mercy offered. [See Trapp on “Heb 2:3”]
Ver. 17. In my name they shall, &c.] This promise was peculiar to the primitive Christians and to such as lived immediately after Christ’s ascension. That was an extraordinary providence, that when Squier, that traitor, A. D. 1597, had poisoned the pummel of Queen Elizabeth’s saddle when she was to take horse; albeit the season were hot, and the veins open to receive any malignant tainture, yet her body thereupon felt no distemperature, her hand felt no more hurt than Paul’s did when he shook off the viper into the fire. (Speed’s Hist.)
Ver. 18. It shall not hurt them] No more shall the deadly poison of sin hurt those that have drunk it, if they belong to God, provided that they cast it up again quickly by confession, and meddle no more with such a mischief.
Ver. 19. He was received up, &c.] This St Luke more fully sets forth, Luke 24:50,51 Ac 1:9.
Ver. 20. And they went forth] viz. From Jerusalem, according to Isaiah 2:3 Ps 110:2.