Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 16:18
They shall take up serpents - When it is necessary for the sake of establishing religion, they shall handle poisonous reptiles without injury, thus showing that God was with them to keep them from harm. This was literally fulfilled when Paul shook the viper from his hand. See Acts 28:5-6.Any deadly thing - Any poison usually causing death.Shall not hurt them - There is a similar promise in Isaiah 43:2.They shall lay hands on the sick ... - See instances of this in the Acts of the Apostles, Acts... read more
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 16:17
And these signs - These miracles. These evidences that they are sent from God.Them that believe - The apostles, and those in the primitive age who were endowed with like power. This promise was fulfilled if it can be shown that these signs followed in the case of any who believed, and it is not necessary to suppose that they would follow in the case of all. The meaning is, that they would be the result of faith, or of the belief of the gospel. It is true that they were. These signs were shown... read more