And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues.
σημεια δε τοις πιστευσασιν ταυτα παρακολουθησει εν τω ονοματι μου δαιμονια εκβαλουσιν γλωσσαις λαλησουσιν καιναις
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The faithful, he states, “will be marked by signs - expelling evil spirits, speaking in new languages, and handling serpents, which symbolizes overcoming both physical and spiritual challenges. As it is written, 'I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions,' clearly referring to spiritual struggles” (Luke 10:19).
God has appointed apostles, prophets, and instructors, and has bestowed the gift of healing, which, as you are aware, comes from the Holy Spirit, along with various languages. However, not everyone is an apostle, nor a prophet, nor a teacher, and not all possess the healing gift, nor do all speak in tongues (cf. 1 Cor. 12:30). For the various gifts from God cannot reside wholly within a single person. Each individual receives according to their effort or merit.
The Father has designated the instructors, and the Son has also established them within the Church. Just as the Father grants the gift of healing, the Son does the same. Similarly, where the Father provides the gift of languages, the Son generously gives as well.
He addresses us all as those initiated into the faith regarding the gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit: But these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will handle serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Initially, these gifts were evident in us, the apostles, as we prepared to proclaim the gospel to all creation; eventually, they were also to be shared with those who came to believe through our ministry. These gifts were not intended for the benefit of the individuals performing them but to bring conviction to nonbelievers, so that those who were not swayed by the message might be confronted by the power of these signs.
Do you not trust, dear brethren, because you do not witness these miracles? There was a time when they were essential for the nascent Church. To foster the growth of Faith, it was vital that it be supported by wonders; just as we provide water to young trees until they are well established in the soil, after which we cease watering them. Thus, Paul states, “The Gentiles are a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not” (1 Corinthians 14:22).
We too possess these signs and powers, if we examine them with discernment. The Holy Church continues to carry out spiritually what she accomplished physically through the Apostles. Her priests, empowered by grace to cast out demons, lay hands on the faithful and prevent evil spirits from residing in their hearts—are they not expelling demons? Those believers who abandon the worldly expressions of their past lives, proclaiming the Holy Sacraments and sharing the magnificence and might of their Creator, are they not speaking in new tongues?
One should consider deeply these signs and powers. Indeed, the Holy Church presently fulfills spiritually what was once done physically through the Apostles. When her priests lay hands on the faithful, exercising the grace to cast out demons and disallow evil spirits from occupying their minds, are they not driving out those demons? When the faithful abandon the corrupt language of their former existence, proclaiming the sacred mysteries and offering all the honor and power they can to their Creator, are they not speaking in new tongues? When they expel evil from others' hearts through their righteous guidance, do they not take up serpents...? These miracles are indeed more profound because they affect the spirit rather than the body, bringing resurrection to souls. Such signs, beloved brethren, you too will enact if you wish—God is our witness (cf. Ps. 90:13; Jn. 14:12-14; 1 Cor. 13).
A sign will accompany those who have faith: in my name, demons will be expelled (Mark 16:17). The prayer of Jesus highlights the reality of demons within humanity and their expulsion. This situation echoes the incident when the evil spirit was driven out from the boy possessed after the Lord’s transfiguration. As the boy recognized the Lord approaching, the spirit convulsed him, causing him to fall to the ground in distress. When the Lord ordered the spirit to leave, it reacted with fury, shaking the boy violently for an extended period, rendering him seemingly lifeless. The influence of Satan lingers within humanity unnoticed and misunderstood, yet when the name of the Lord Jesus is invoked by a faithful supplicant, it disturbs the enemy.
This disturbance stirs up all passions within a person, leading them into severe turmoil and manifesting in various strange afflictions of the body. In this context, St. John the Prophet remarked: "We, in our weakness, only need to invoke the name of Jesus, for the passions—often perceived as demons—arise through the mere act of calling upon this name." This illustrates the interconnectedness of passions and demons: demons operate through the passions. When we observe heightened emotions and turmoil during the invocation of Jesus' prayer, we should not succumb to despair or confusion. Instead, we ought to find courage and readiness to engage earnestly in the sacred act of prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus, as it becomes evident that the Jesus Prayer is beginning to work uniquely within us. St. John Chrysostom states: "The recollection of our Lord Jesus Christ’s name provokes the adversary to battle. Through Jesus' prayer, the soul can uncover both evil and good; first, it will recognize the evil in its deepest recesses and then see the good. This prayer can activate the serpent, yet it can also humble him. It can reveal the sin that resides within us and ultimately eliminate it. This prayer can stir up the full force of the enemy in the heart, and it can gradually defeat and eradicate it. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ, penetrating the innermost parts of the heart, will subdue the serpent that inhabits those areas and will redeem and revitalize the soul. Remain steadfast in invoking the name of the Lord Jesus, so that the heart of the Lord and the Lord of the heart may become intertwined, making them one.
Among the wondrous and unfathomable attributes of the name of Jesus is its power to expel demons. This divine power is affirmed by the Lord Himself, who proclaimed that believers in Him would cast out demons in His name (Mark 16:17). It is crucial to recognize the significance of this aspect of Jesus' name, especially for those who practice the Jesus Prayer.
The name of our Lord Jesus Christ is sacred; its power and effects are divine—limitless and life-giving, and far beyond our comprehension. With faith, trust, diligence, and with profound respect and awe, let us engage in the great work of God, as taught by Him: let us practice prayer in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The understanding of the divine power inherent in the name of Jesus carries the full weight of a fundamental doctrine and is essential within the most holy collection of such truths. Any ignorant or blasphemous arguments against the Jesus Prayer bear the hallmarks of heresy.
Another manifestation in Galilee occurred before the entire assembly of the apostles. Initially, some did not recognize Him, likely those who had not been present at His first appearance. He had already informed them in Jerusalem, near the cross where He had affixed the record of our sins, granting the authority to forgive humanity's transgressions. Here, at the intersection of Jewish and Gentile territories, He commissions them to spread the Gospel message to all nations. Perhaps on the same mountain (Matt. 17:1; 28:16), where He had revealed His glorious transfiguration to three selected apostles, receiving honor and glory from God the Father, as Peter noted (2 Pet.
1:16, 17), He had previously instructed them to keep this revelation of His majesty a secret until after His resurrection (Matt. 17:9). Now, He declares that He has assumed all rights granted to Him as the Redeemer of mankind in heaven and on earth. He is no longer merely the king of the Jews; He is now the King of both heaven and earth. Therefore, what they were to do among the Jews must now extend to all nations. They preached repentance here and baptized those who believed in the Messiah; this task must now be carried out across the globe. Previously, they baptized in anticipation of the Messiah; now they would do so in the name of God Himself. While they had engaged in preaching repentance, they had not fully articulated the doctrine they had learned from the Savior; with His departure, they were tasked with declaring to the world what they had received from Him, thereby continuing His ministry with their own. To empower them in this mission, He assured them of His perpetual presence within His church for as long as the world endures, until the kingdom of God is fully manifested on earth. He promised salvation and the power of miracles to those who embraced their message in faith and entered His church through baptism, which the apostles were to wield for the glory of the kingdom and the benefit of their fellow believers (Mk. 16:17, 18).
As the apostles journeyed to share the message of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, they required a distinct authority to overcome the challenges posed by the Cross and to validate that the Christ who bestowed this authority upon them was indeed divine and not merely human. Therefore, the Lord endowed them with this authority. Those who place their faith in Him will experience certain signs: in His name, they shall cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will handle serpents; and if they consume anything poisonous, it will not harm them; they will place their hands on the sick, and they will recover. Regarding these miraculous signs, St.
Gregory the Theologian remarks, “If you, beloved brethren, do not perform those signs essential to the early Church, do not despair of being counted among the faithful. Miracles were crucial for establishing faith, similar to how we tend to young trees with water until their roots settle, after which we cease our watering.” Bishop Michael concurs that this authority was primarily intended for the initial proclaimers of the Gospel and the faithful. The assurance that believers would speak in new languages was realized in the Apostles when, on the day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to communicate in various tongues. This ability was vital for their mission among diverse nations, and they received it miraculously without prior study. Prior to this moment, they had already been casting out demons and healing the sick through the authority entrusted to them by Jesus Christ during His initial commissioning to reach the lost sheep of Israel; now, this authority has been affirmed.
Through His divine power, He has provided us with everything necessary for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3), enabling us to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph. 6:16). This gift serves as the most dependable way to stand against the devil and achieve victory. The first method is invoking His most holy name: Those who believe will be accompanied by these signs: in my name, they will cast out demons (Mk. 16:17). Indeed, as the holy martyr Justin stated, “the power of the name of Christ causes the demons to tremble and fear; even now, captivated by the name of Jesus Christ crucified, they obey us.” Likewise, St.
Gregory the Theologian confirms, “To this day, the demons continue to tremble at the name of Christ; the strength of this name remains undiminished despite our shortcomings.” God has placed limits on the activities of evil spirits, simultaneously steering them toward positive outcomes.
Signs for the faithful: miraculous events that confirm the validity of the proclaimed faith, empowered by that faith to provide greater assurance for believers and to persuade those who do not yet believe. This promise primarily applies to the Apostles, the initial heralds of the Gospel, who are assured of these signs, and extends to all genuine believers, who, through the strength of their faith, can perform wonders for the noble purpose of spreading the Gospel and benefiting the faithful. While this promise is especially evident among the first missionaries of Christianity, as demonstrated by the numerous miracles recorded in the early Church, even today, extraordinary acts continue to occur within the body of Christ, through deeply devoted and holy members.
- In My Name: refer to Mark 6:7, 13, Mark 9:38, and the notes on Matthew 4:24. They shall speak in new tongues—languages they had not previously known or learned—proclaiming the message of the kingdom of God. This promise was realized when the Apostles received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2:4-11), and it continued as they preached the Gospel throughout the world. This was also evident among believers in the Church (see 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28). Though there are few historical instances recorded, the potential for these signs remains through the faithful.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 15 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS