Mark 16:11

And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:9-13 Better news cannot be brought to disciples in tears, than to tell them of Christ's resurrection. And we should study to comfort disciples that are mourners, by telling them whatever we have seen of Christ. It was a wise providence that the proofs of Christ's resurrection were given gradually, and admitted cautiously, that the assurance with which the apostles preached this doctrine afterwards might the more satisfy. Yet how slowly do we admit the consolations which the word of God holds forth! Therefore while Christ comforts his people, he often sees it needful to rebuke and correct them for hardness of heart in distrusting his promise, as well as in not obeying his holy precepts.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Believed not - This is proof that they did not expect his resurrection; proof that they were not easily deceived, and that nothing but the clearest evidence could undeceive them.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not—This, which is once and again repeated of them all, is most important in its bearing on their subsequent testimony to His resurrection at the risk of life itself.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 16:9"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they, when they had heard that he was alive,.... That is, the apostles, and those that were with them; when they heard the report of Mary Magdalene, that Christ was raised from the dead, and was certainly alive; or of all the women, for the Syriac version reads, "when they heard them saying that he was alive", not only Mary Magdalene, but Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women; for these all related this to the apostles, and the rest; see Luke 24:9.

And had been seen of her; of Mary Magdalene, or "of them"; as the Syriac version reads, and as it is read in one of Beza's copies:

they believed not; the words of Mary, and the other women, for they seemed as idle tales to them, Luke 24:11, imagining they were deceived with the sight of a spectre, or apparition; and fearing the news were too good and great to be true; forgetting the words of their Lord, that he should rise again the third day, and which had been so often repeated to them; and all this through stupidity of mind, occasioned by the trouble and consternation they were in.

Geneva Study Bible

And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Mark 16:11. Comp. Luke 24:10-11; John 20:18.

The fact that θεᾶσθαι apart from this section does not occur in Mark, forms, considering the frequency of the use of the word elsewhere, one of the signs of a strange hand. By ἐθεάθη is not merely indicated that He had been seen, but that He had been gazed upon. Comp. Mark 16:14, and see Tittmann, Synon. p. 120 f.

ἀπιστεῖν does not occur in Mark except here and at Mark 16:16, but is altogether of rare occurrence in the N. T. (even in Luke only in chap. 24)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 16:11. ἐθεάθη, was seen. This verb, used again in Mark 16:14, is foreign to Mk., as is also ἀπιστεῖν, also twice used here (ἠπίστησαν, Mark 16:11; ἀπιστήσας, Mark 16:16).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. had been seen of her] The original word here translated “had been seen” occurs nowhere else in St Mark except here in this section and in Mark 16:14.

believed not] So incredible to them did the whole story appear.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved (ἠπίστησαν). They refused to believe on the bare statement of Mary Magdalene, although M. Renan says, "Sa grande affirmation de femme, 'Il est res-suscitei' a ete la base de la foi de l'humanite." They did not believe her until the risen Lord stood before them. (See 'Speaker's Commentary' (St. Mark), p. 297.) Mark 16:11