there came darkness throughout all the globe of the earth; and angels came down from the heavens, and rising in the glory (brightness) of the living God they went up together with him, and immediately there was light. Then the women drew near to the sepulchre and saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Compare the account of the resurrection in the Gospel of Peter.
5. The ‘Freer-logion’.
At Mark xvi. 14, W, a fifth-century uncial Greek manuscript of Mark discovered in recent years in Egypt, and purchased by Mr. Freer of Detroit, has: (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) and they made excuse (defended themselves), saying: This age of wickedness and unbelief is under Satan who, by means of unclean spirits, permitteth not men to apprehend the true power of God: therefore do thou now reveal thy righteousness. They, then, said these things unto Christ. And Christ said unto them: The limit of the years of the power of Satan is fulfilled: but other fearful things draw near even upon them for whom, because they had sinned, I was delivered unto death that they may/return unto the truth and sin no more: that they may inherit the spiritual and incorruptible glory of righteousness which is in heaven. But go ye into all the world, &c.
Part of this remarkable addition was already known through St. Jerome, who in the Dialogue against Pelagius, ii. 15, says that it was found in some copies, and especially Greek manuscripts. He has: And they excused themselves (lit. made satisfaction) saying: This age of iniquity and unbelief is under Satan who (which) by unclean spirits suffereth not the true power of God to be perceived: therefore now forthwith reveal thou thy righteousness.
Dr. Swete observes: ‘It seems probable that almost from the beginning there were two recensions (of the Last Twelve Verses) of which one contained our passage and the other did not, and that the latter for some reason was commonly preferred.’ ... ‘The style of the addition does not differ markedly from the language of the rest of the Appendix.’
It is hardly necessary, perhaps, to observe that the Last Twelve Verses of St. Mark and the story of the woman taken in adultery (John vii. 58–viii. 11) form no part of the original text of the Gospels.
To discuss other small additions or supposed additions to the text would take us into the sphere of textual criticism.
B
Of sayings, &c., preserved in other sources the following are the most important:
1. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Quoted by Paul at Miletus, Acts xx. 35.
