Mark, I gave a very quick look at Dr. Thomas Constable’s Bible Commentary (one of my seminary profs) and here is what he wrote...
Mark 16:8 (TCENB): Many evangelicals believe that the present ending is the inspired one, and for reasons presently unknown to us it was not a part of existing copies of some very old manuscripts. Another evangelical view is that Mark ended his Gospel with verse 8, or his ending beyond verse 8 was lost. Someone else or others compiled an ending out of accounts of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances under divine inspiration and added them to form an appropriate ending to Mark’s Gospel. I favor the former evangelical view, though the more basic issue is the inspiration of verses 9–20. I believe these verse are divinely inspired.
Ok, I am just bewildered by the snakes and drinking poison. I am not planning on doing either one. 🙃😁🤔 Anyway, it’s after midnight where I am, so it’s time to bow out for a bit. 😴
By the way, since I am a faithful fanboi, I am having fun playing with my new IPhone X. 👍😂
And isn’t it interesting that God included the scene where Paul was reaching for fire wood and a deadly viper bit him but he just shook the snake off, astonishing the none believing onlookers who were moved to share the spectacle, no doubt preparing some hearts to receive the Gospel thereafter?