In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus speaks to His disciples after His resurrection, before His ascension into heaven. This passage is part of what is often referred to as the Great Commission, where Jesus sends His followers out into the world to spread the Gospel. Here are the verses from the English Standard Version (ESV):

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

These verses highlight the miraculous signs that will follow believers as a testament to the power and truth of Jesus Christ’s message and divinity. The signs serve multiple purposes: to confirm the word of God, to demonstrate the Kingdom of God breaking into the world, and to show God’s power working through believers in Christ. Each of these signs—casting out demons, speaking in new tongues (languages), protection from lethal harm (like serpents or poison), and healing the sick—mirrors aspects of Jesus’ own ministry and that of the early Apostles as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.

It’s crucial to interpret these verses within the broader context of the Bible’s teachings. While God certainly can and does perform miracles, these signs were particularly associated with the Apostolic Age to authenticate the Apostles’ message and ministry in a time when the New Testament was not yet written. Believers are called to place their faith in Jesus, seeking to follow His teachings and live according to His example, trusting in God’s power to work in and through them for His glory. This trust includes the understanding that God’s will is sovereign, and His protection and healing operate within the context of His broader purposes and the ultimate promise of eternal life through faith in Christ.