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 — the snake-handling and deadly-poison promises are sometimes taken as prescriptive (handling snakes as a test of faith) but are more likely descriptive of protection in the mission context (Acts 28:3–5, Paul's snake survival). The healing by hand-laying extends the apostolic healing ministry throughout the community.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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