Mark 16:14

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) Afterward he appeared unto the eleven.—See Notes on Luke 24:36-43.

Benson Commentary

Mark 16:14. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat — Namely, on the evening of the day on which he rose. Concerning this appearance of Christ, see notes on Luke 24:36-43, where it is related at large. And upbraided them with their unbelief &c. — “That after so many assurances from his own mouth that he would rise again the third day; and after the testimony of so many eye-witnesses, that he had performed his promise, they believed not. And if this be attributed to them as culpable unbelief, and hardness of heart, surely those persons must much more be guilty of these sins, who, after the testimony of these apostles, and five hundred more eye-witnesses of his resurrection; after the ocular testimony of a multitude of Christians in different parts of the world, touching the mighty miracles performed in his name by the apostles, the chosen witnesses of his resurrection, and by many others, who believed it and were baptized into this faith, for a whole age together, do yet continue to disbelieve that resurrection, and the faith confirmed by it.” — Whitby.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:14-18 The evidences of the truth of the gospel are so full, that those who receive it not, may justly be upbraided with their unbelief. Our blessed Lord renewed his choice of the eleven as his apostles, and commissioned them to go into all the world, to preach his gospel to every creature. Only he that is a true Christian shall be saved through Christ. Simon Magus professed to believe, and was baptized, yet he was declared to be in the bonds of iniquity: see his history in Ac 8:13-25. Doubtless this is a solemn declaration of that true faith which receives Christ in all his characters and offices, and for all the purposes of salvation, and which produces its right effect on the heart and life; not a mere assent, which is a dead faith, and cannot profit. The commission of Christ's ministers extends to every creature throughout the world, and the declarations of the gospel contain not only truths, encouragements, and precepts, but also most awful warnings. Observe what power the apostles should be endued with, for confirming the doctrine they were to preach. These were miracles to confirm the truth of the gospel, and means of spreading the gospel among nations that had not heard it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven - Judas was dead, and the apostles were then called "the eleven." This was done even when one of them was absent, as Thomas was on this occasion. See the "Harmony of the Accounts of the Resurrection, Appearances, and Ascension of Christ," at the close of the notes on Matthew.

As they sat at meat - The word meat here means food, or meals. As they were reclining at their meals.

And upbraided them ... - Rebuked them, or reproached them. This was done because, after all the evidence they had had of his resurrection, still they did not believe. This is a most important circumstance in the history of our Lord's resurrection. Never were people more difficult to be convinced of anything than they were of that fact. And this shows conclusively that they had not conspired to impose on the world; that they had given up all for lost when he died; that they did not expect his resurrection; and all this is the strongest proof that he truly rose. They were not convinced until it was impossible for them longer to deny it. Had they expected it, they would have caught easily at the slightest evidence, and would have turned every circumstance in favor of such an event. It may be added that it was impossible that eleven men of good natural understanding should have been deceived in so plain a case. They had been with Jesus three years; they perfectly knew his features, voice, manner; and it is not credible that they should have been deceived by anyone who might have pretended to have been the Lord Jesus.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

13. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them, &c.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

This most probably is the appearance mentioned Luke 24:36 John 20:19. See Poole on "Luke 24:36". See Poole on "John 20:19".

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven,.... Apostles; for this was now the number of them, Judas being gone from them, and dead; and they were so called, though Thomas was not now with them, because their whole company consisted of this number: this appearance of Christ to them was on the same first day of the week, at evening, John 20:19, though it must be very late at night; for it was after the two above disciples were returned from Emmaus, where Christ and they had supped together; see Luke 24:29;

as they sat at meat; or "sat together"; being assembled together, and the doors shut fast for fear of the Jews, John 20:19, and so the Arabic renders it, "while they were gathered together"; and the Persic version, "who being gathered together were sitting": nor does the word necessarily signify sitting at meat; nor is it very likely that they should be eating so late at night; though it is probable they had been eating, as seems from Luke 24:41;

and upbraided them with their unbelief, and hardness of heart: not but that their hearts were very contrite for their sinful carriage to Christ; and very much humbled they were under the present dispensation: their hearts were much affected, and they were filled with sorrow and trouble for the loss of Christ; but in this point their unbelief increased by their fears, and so much prevailed, that all that were said by one, and another, made no impression on them: and a great aggravation of their incredulity, and a reason of Christ's upbraiding them in this manner were,

because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen; as Mary Magdalene, and the other women, and Cleophas, and the other disciple that was with him, who were eyewitnesses that he was risen from the dead; and such as might have been depended on.

Geneva Study Bible

{c} Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

(c) The evangelist did not consider the chronological sequence of events, but rather what took place, which he divided into three parts: The first shows how he appeared to the women, the second to his disciples, the third to his apostles, and therefore he says finally.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Mark 16:14. Ύστερον] not found elsewhere in Mark, does not mean: at last (Vulgate, Luther, Beza, Schulthess, and many others), although, according to our text, this appearance was the last (comp. Matthew 21:37), but: afterwards, subsequently (Matthew 4:2; Matthew 21:29; John 13:36), which certainly is a very indefinite specification.

The narrative of this appearance confuses very different elements with one another. It is manifestly (see Mark 16:15) the appearance which according to Matthew 28:16 took place on the mountain in Galilee; but ἀνακειμένοις (as they reclined at table) introduces an altogether different scenery and locality, and perhaps arose from a confusion with the incident contained[185] in Luke 24:42 f., or Acts 1:4 (according to the view of συναλιζόμενος as convescens); while also the reproaching of the unbelief is here out of place, and appears to have been introduced from some confusion with the history of Thomas, John 20, and with the notice contained in Luke 24:25; for which the circumstance mentioned at the appearance on the mountain, Matthew 28:17 (οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν), furnished a certain basis.

ΑὐΤΟῖς ΤΟῖς ἝΝΔΕΚΑ] ipsis undecim. Observe the ascending gradation in the three appearances—(1) to Mary; (2) to two of His earlier companions; (3) to the eleven themselves. Of other appearances in the circle of the eleven our author knows nothing; to him this was the only one. See Mark 16:19.

ὅτι] equivalent to ΕἸς ἘΚΕῖΝΟ ὍΤΙ, Luke 16:3; John 2:18; John 9:17; John 11:51; John 16:9; 2 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 11:10.

[185] Beza, Calovius, and others wrongly explain ἀνακειμ. as: una sedentibus. Comp. Mark 14:18.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 16:14. ὕστερον, at a later time; vague indication, here only. It is difficult to identify this appearance with any one mentioned in the other Gospels. What follows in Mark 16:15, containing the final commission, seems to point to the farewell appearance in Galilee (Matthew 28:16), but the ἀνακειμένοις (Mark 16:14) takes us to the scene related in Luke 24:36-43, though more than the Eleven were present on that occasion. The suggestion has been made (Meyer, Weiss, etc.) that the account here blends together features taken from various appearances. The main points for the narrator are that Jesus did appear to the Eleven, and that He found them in an unbelieving mood.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

14–18. The Appearance to the Eleven

14. Afterward] That is on the evening of the day of the Resurrection, when the two disciples returning from Emmaus had recounted their tale of joy, and the others had told them of the appearance to St Peter.

as they sat at meat] On this occasion, when they were terrified at His sudden appearing (Luke 24:37), and thought they were looking at a spectre or phantom, He calmed their fears by (a) bidding them take note of His Hands and His Feet, by (b) eating in their presence of broiled fish (Luke 24:41-43), and by (c) reiterating His salutation, “Peace be unto you” (John 20:21).

and upbraided them] Their new-born joy still struggled with bewilderment and unbelief (Luke 24:21), and one of their number, St Thomas, was absent altogether, having apparently thrown away all hope.

hardness of heart] Compare His words (a) after the feeding of the Five and Four Thousand, and (b) to the disciples journeying towards Emmaus, Luke 24:25.

them which had seen him] Of the five appearances after the Resurrection vouchsafed on the world’s first Easter-Day four had already taken place before this interview. (i) To Mary Magdalene, (ii) to the other ministering women, (iii) to the two journeying to Emmaus, (iv) to St Peter.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 16:14. Ὕστερον, lastly) The last of His appearances, not absolutely, but of those which Mark describes; [and which occurred on the very day of the resurrection. For Mark adds: When the eleven sat at meat; and therefore he does not speak of the appearance on the mountain of Galilee, which He Himself touches on most briefly, in Mark 16:7, and Matthew 28:16, expressly records.—Harm., p. 604.]—ἀνακειμένοις, as they sat at meat) At the time when men are most exhilarated by the coming of those whom they were earnestly wishing for.—αὐτοῖς, themselves) together.—ὠνείδισε, He upbraided) This takes for granted that the proofs of the resurrection were undoubted. [A wholesome putting of them to shame.—V. g.]—καὶ σκληροκαρδίαν, and hardness of heart) Faith and a tender heart are always conjoined.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - And afterward (ὕστερον δὲ) he was manifested (ἐφανερώθη) unto the eleven themselves (αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἔνδεκα) as they sat at meat. There is an emphasis here on the word "themselves." The former appearances had been to persons not having any official character. But now he appears to the eleven apostles, when they were all gathered together at the close of that memorable day. "Unto the eleven." If, as seems evident, this appearance refers to the day of our Lord's resurrection, there would be only ten present; for Thomas was not then with them. Still, they might be called the eleven, because the apostolic college was reduced to eleven after the betrayal by Judas; so that they might still be called the eleven, although Thomas was absent. St. Bernard says on this, "If Christ comes and is present when we sit at meat, how much more when we kneel in prayer!" He upbraided them (ὠνείδισε). This is a strong word of rebuke. They ought to have received the testimony of competent witnesses. But their doubts were only removed by the evidence of their senses; just as afterwards in the case of Thomas. St. Mark is always careful to record the rebukes administered by our Lord to his apostles. Mark 16:14

Vincent's Word Studies

Afterward (ὕστερον)

Not found elsewhere in Mark. Often in Matthew.