QUESTION:  Mark 16:17-20 - Is this something we should be doing today as believers? It sure seems like it because it agrees with "greater works".

VERSE:  Mark 16:17-20.  17 And these signs will accompany those who believe:  In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.  20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

ANSWER: In the context of this passage Jesus is specifically speaking to the eleven disciples. He's describing some of the miraculous gifts that they would receive.  As verse 17 calls out, these gifts were to be "signs" that would serve to validate the apostles and the message they would proclaim about Christ.  They were given for the purpose of establishing the church and when God's revelation was completed in scripture they were no longer needed and ceased to exist.  These gifts essentially died with those to whom they were given.  Hence, we should not expect to see these things today.

QUESTION:  Mark 16:17-20 - Is this something we should be doing today as believers? It sure seems like it because it agrees with "greater works".

VERSE:  Mark 16:17-20.  17 And these signs will accompany those who believe:  In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.  20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

ANSWER: In the context of this passage Jesus is specifically speaking to the eleven disciples. He's describing some of the miraculous gifts that they would receive.  As verse 17 calls out, these gifts were to be "signs" that would serve to validate the apostles and the message they would proclaim about Christ.  They were given for the purpose of establishing the church and when God's revelation was completed in scripture they were no longer needed and ceased to exist.  These gifts essentially died with those to whom they were given.  Hence, we should not expect to see these things today.