Note 10 at Mr 16:17: Some people have tried to get around these verses by saying that they were not found in some of the oldest manuscripts. The only reason that people desire to explain these scriptures away is because their lives don't match up with them. Instead of changing themselves, they would rather change the scriptures.

We still have the same authority today that Jesus gave His disciples to cast out devils. Speaking in tongues is still a supernatural gift to every believer who will receive it. We are still supposed to walk in victory over the devil, and if a true believer lays hands on the sick, they will recover. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Heb 13:8).

Note 11 at Mr 16:17: When Jesus said that we would do these signs in His name, He was referring to doing these signs through His power and ability. He gave us His power of attorney.

Note 12 at Mr 16:17: Casting out devils is not a special ministry for only some in the body of Christ. It is the right of every believer. No one who reads the Bible can deny that Jesus and the disciples cast demons out of people. Still some don't believe that this has any relevance to us today. All they have to do is look around at the depravity in our society, and they can see that we still have demon possession today (see note 3 at Mr 1:32).

Note 13 at Mr 16:17: Speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit discussed in 1Co 12-14. It is one of the first miraculous manifestations that accompanies receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Ac 2:4, 10:46, and 19:6).

There are two different kinds of speaking in tongues. 1Co 13:1 says we can speak with the tongues of man or of angels. The tongues of men is speaking of known languages such as what took place on the Day of Pentecost (Ac 2:4-6). This is the gift to supernaturally speak a known language without having been taught it, and it comes for the purpose of witnessing, as on the Day of Pentecost. There is also a gift of tongues that is speaking in a heavenly language (what 1Co 13:1 calls the tongues of angels). This is a language that is not known to the speaker (1Co 14:2 and 14) but allows the believer to communicate directly with the Lord through the Spirit. There is another kind of speaking in tongues that equals prophecy if it is interpreted (1Co 14:5).

Not every believer will speak in known languages, as on the Day of Pentecost, or prophesy in the assembly through a message in tongues and an interpretation (1Co 12:30), but every believer who receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost can speak in the tongues that are for the purpose of edification (1Co 14:4).