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but the Apostles were not the only ones.

How so the subject, throughout this paragraph is the apostles. "He told them", the apostles And these signs will accompany be witnessed by those who believe: In my name they, the apostles will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 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." --Mark 16:15-18

I don't want to sound mean, but I'm not sure you could be further off the mark here.

First, the apostles are not the subject throughout the paragraph. Sure, He's talking to them the whole time, but he is discussing what the status of "whoever believes." If I said, "I told smug that whoever posts on this thread will get a dollar," does that mean only you can claim the dollar, because I was talking to you, or does it mean I was discussing with you the people who post on this thread?

Actually, there are several other reasons within the paragraph that He cannot be referring to the apostles only, and I'll be glad to detail them, but let's move on.

Then there's this:

And these signs will accompany be witnessed by those who believe

Well, here's what accompany means:

ac com pa ny–verb (used with object)
1. to go along or in company with; join in action: to accompany a friend on a walk.
2. to be or exist in association or company with: Thunder accompanies lightning.
3. to put in company with; cause to be or go along; associate (usually fol. by with): He accompanied his speech with gestures.
4. Music. to play or sing an accompaniment to or for.
–verb (used without object)
5. to provide the musical accompaniment.

Do you see anything in there that is the equivalent of witnessing something?

Here's the accompany entry from the thesaurus:

associate with, attend, chaperon, come along, conduct, consort, convoy, date, draft*, drag*, escort, follow, go along, guard, guide, hang out*, keep company, lead, look after, shadow, shlep along*, show about, show around, squire, stick to*, string along*, tag along*, tailgate*, take out, usher, add, appear with, append, be connected, belong to, characterize, co-occur, coexist, coincide with, come with, complete, follow, go together, happen with, join with, occur with, supplement
Antonyms: abandon, desert, forsake, leave

Still, nothing that mean witnessed by. One also wonders...if Timothy or Luke were bitten by a snake while preaching the Gospel, would they have dropped dead? They weren't Apostles, but were doing the same work. Why would God want to protect just 13 guys? What spiritual ratinale would there be for only those studying under Jesus directly being empowered to drive out demons and heal the sick?

I'll look up which Greek word is used in the verse, but if it's a word for "witnessed by" I will be very, very surprised, because it would change the rest of the paragraph to nonsense.

Uh... what translation is THIS from?

Your post...	NIV	KJV	ASV
"He told them", the apostles And these signs will accompany be witnessed by those who believe: In my name they, the apostles will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 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." --Mark 16:15-18	15. He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 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."	15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.	15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. 17. And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 18. they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.