Mark 16:17,18

‘And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out devils, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing it will not hurt them in any way. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.'

‘Signs.' That is signs that the Kingly Rule of God has now come and that Jesus has taken His place of authority at the right hand of God. Note that the casting out of devils come first. It is always in Mark a sign of the Kingly Rule of God and demonstrates Jesus' power over Satan (Mark 3:23; Mark 1:27; Mark 3:14; Mark 6:7).

‘Those who believe.' Believers are seen here as one whole. These are special gifts given to some, but because of the unity of all believers, and the ministry of these specially gifted ones to believers and in their name, they are seen as gifts to the whole church.

‘Speak with new tongues.' The other examples are miraculous and not everyday problems. Thus we must see this as the same. There may be here the idea of special help at crucial times in their ministry when faced with a crisis with people whose language they did not know and who did not speak Greek. Compare Acts 2:4; Acts 2:6; Acts 2:8; Acts 2:11. But there they are ‘other tongues' with a special, unique purpose, and intended to be recognised by hearers who spoke those languages as a symbol of the universality of the message. It does however demonstrate the possibility. Tongues are not elsewhere called ‘new'. The glossolalia of 1 Corinthians 12-14 may be in mind but they were a supernatural phenomenon not intended to be understood, only interpreted, and were more for personal use. And if such tongues were mentioned we would also expect mention of prophecy, the greater gift. Thus they do not fit the pattern here.

‘They will take up serpents.' Jesus had already promised this special protection for His disciples (Luke 10:19). Paul experienced it in Melita (Acts 28:3)

‘If they drink any deadly thing it will not hurt them in any way.' This was protection against poisoners. Eusebius cites an example from Papias of how this happened to Justus surnamed Barsabbas. It has been experienced by missionaries of my acquaintance in the present day resulting in the conversion of the poisoner who confessed to his attempt, and to his astonishment that they had survived.

‘They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.' The disciples had already experienced healing in their ministry through anointing with oil (Mark 6:13), and would now also through raising them up (Acts 3:7) and laying on of hands (Acts 9:17; Acts 28:8). See also Acts 5:16; Acts 7:8; Acts 8:7. Others too would experience this power. Notice the certainty. We do not read of those who had this gift failing to heal, unlike modern day ‘faith healers'.