It is tough to remember the chapter and verse for every one of the references repeated in conversations and discussions. It is also true that many references are not to the Bible, but to conventional wisdom, attempting to boost one's assertion by claiming it is in the Bible. (Popular in my youth was the reference in a song sung by Willie Nelson to Jesus' turning the stones into loaves. It worked well for his socially conscience lyrics; but it was a misquote of scripture.)
My devotional guide had me read what are most commonly referred to as the "additional verses of Mark." Realizing that the oldest versions of Mark's Gospel end at verse 8, verses included in later scrolls are relegated to footnotes in the RSV and NRSV translations. But they are given full weight and attention in other translations.
It is these verses that it is noted that Jesus' followers are to go into the world and spread the Good News. NOTHING will be able to stop them or harm them. It is here that the promise is made "These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents...."
This is the place in the Bible where it says this. It is a collection of verses you are highly unlikely to hear read on a Sunday morning in one of our ELCA congregations. But when our bothers and sisters of an evangelical ilk speak of such signs as proof of the Spirit's presence they are not misquoting nor are they restating conventional wisdom. If one claims to believe that which is written 10 verses earlier (the tomb is empty) then why would you not believe what is stated here?
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