Mark 16:18 is Jesus speaking to his disciples just before his ascension, describing signs that will follow those who believe: they will handle serpents, drink poison without harm, and lay hands on the sick so that they recover. The verse is part of the Lord’s final commission to spread the gospel, so its focus is on the mission and on God working through ordinary believers. It is spoken by the risen Christ to the eleven disciples in Jerusalem, as recorded at the close of the Gospel of Mark.
They will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:18 (WEB)
What Mark 16:18 Means
The phrase “these signs will accompany those who believe” tells us the signs are not the goal in themselves. They point to the authority of the message and the presence of the Lord who is “working with” the disciples, as verse 20 explains. The verse describes what God will do through faithful witnesses, not a guaranteed formula that any believer can use to control outcomes.
The images of serpents and poison draw on a long biblical tradition of God protecting his people from danger. Yet the verse does not promise that believers will never be bitten, poisoned, or ill. Scripture elsewhere shows faithful servants suffering and dying, and this verse should be read alongside that wider witness. What the text does promise is that God’s power can reach into the places where human strength fails.
The sick “will recover” is a statement about God’s willingness to act through his people in acts of compassion. Christians have read it as encouragement for prayer and care for the suffering, while holding that healing remains in God’s hands and is not something any person can command.
The Context of Mark 16:18
The Gospel of Mark is traditionally attributed to John Mark, a companion of Peter, and was written for a largely Gentile audience in the Roman world. Its shortness and vivid action make it a fast-moving account of Jesus as the powerful Son of God who acts with authority over demons, disease, and nature. The ending of the book, including this passage, is the subject of scholarly discussion, since the oldest manuscripts end at verse 8. Most English Bibles retain verses 9 to 20 as part of the church’s received text.
Just before verse 18, Jesus sends his followers to “all the world” with the good news and declares that belief and baptism bring salvation. The signs in verses 17 and 18 are presented as confirmation of that message, not as a separate spiritual achievement. Verse 20 then shows the disciples going out and preaching, with the Lord confirming the word. Read in this setting, the verse is about bearing witness to Christ with God’s backing.
Key Phrases in Mark 16:18
Acts 4:29-30
29 Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
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In this prayer the early church asks for boldness to speak God’s word, and for signs and wonders to be done through the name of Jesus. It shows the same pattern found in Mark 16:18, where the power of God accompanies the testimony of his people.
James 5:14-15
14 Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
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James gives practical instruction for praying over the sick, anointing with oil and asking for healing in the name of the Lord. It shows how the church carried out this kind of ministry and places it within the community of faith.
A Short Prayer From Mark 16:18
Lord Jesus, you sent your disciples into the world with the good news and promised to be with them as they went. Give me the courage to speak of you where I am, and the humility to trust that you do the work through me. When I see someone who is sick or afraid, help me to reach out with compassion and to pray with faith. Whatever the outcome, let me rest in your power and your love. Amen.
