Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 16:15

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation." — Mark 16:15 (ASV)

In this rendition of the Great Commission (cf. Matthew 28:18–20), the author gives an unusually wide scope for preaching (cf. 14:9). Belief and baptism are so closely associated that they are conceived of as virtually a single act. The inward reception (belief) is immediately followed by the external act or witness to that faith (baptism). The result is salvation. Refusal to believe results in judgment. One of the primary themes of this entire section (vv.9–20) is the importance of belief and the sinfulness of unbelief.