Mark 16:17 says that certain signs will follow believers, including casting out demons and speaking in new languages. Jesus is the speaker, and in the longer ending of Mark he is addressing the eleven remaining disciples after his resurrection, just before he commissions them to preach the gospel across the world.
These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages…
Mark 16:17 (WEB)
What Mark 16:17 Means
The verse begins with a promise tied to belief: “These signs will accompany those who believe.” The signs are not presented as the reason anyone is saved or as the proof of faith itself. They are described as things that come alongside a life of trust in Jesus, the way a traveler’s companions walk beside them on the road. The verse does not say every believer will see them, nor does it set a checklist for measuring faith.
The phrase “in my name” points to the authority of Jesus as the source of whatever happens. The disciples do not act on their own strength, but in his name and by his power. The examples given, driving out demons and speaking in new languages, were signs that marked the early spread of the gospel in the book of Acts, where the message reached people who did not share a common tongue.
What the verse does not promise is a guarantee of dramatic experiences for every believer at every time. Christians have read this passage in different ways across the centuries, and careful readers hold that the signs describe the early church’s mission rather than a universal pattern. What remains clear is that Jesus wants his followers to live with confidence in his authority and power.
The Context of Mark 16:17
The Gospel of Mark is one of the earliest of the four Gospels, traditionally associated with John Mark, a companion of Peter. Its audience was likely a Gentile community, and the book moves quickly through the life of Jesus with a strong focus on his actions and authority. The verse appears in the longer ending of Mark, Mark 16:9-20, which most scholars regard as a later addition to the original text, though it has been part of the church’s Bible for centuries.
Just before verse 17, Jesus rebukes the disciples for their unbelief after the resurrection, then sends them to preach the good news to all creation. The signs in verse 17 are given as a sign of confirmation for that mission. Verse 20 closes the passage by saying the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. Read in that light, the verse is about God’s backing for the spread of the gospel, not a private formula for personal benefit.
Key Phrases in Mark 16:17
Acts 2:4
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
(WEB)
This verse describes the disciples speaking in other languages at Pentecost, the moment Mark 16:17 seems to anticipate. Reading it alongside Mark 16:17 shows how the promise took shape in the early church and how the gospel moved outward to people from many nations.
John 14:12
Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.
(WEB)
In this verse Jesus says that those who believe in him will do the works he has done, and even greater ones, because he goes to the Father. It connects the signs of Mark 16:17 to the wider pattern of Jesus sending his followers into his own work.
A Short Prayer From Mark 16:17
Lord Jesus, you have promised to walk with those who trust you, and I want to take that promise seriously today. Help me to act in your name and not my own, trusting that you have the authority and power to work through my small obedience. Give me courage to speak and to serve where you have placed me, and patience to leave the results with you. Keep my heart steady when I cannot see what you are doing, and remind me that you are always faithful to your word. Amen.
