Who was Jesus speaking to in Mark 16:17?

Question:
I need some help figuring something out. Mark 16:17 says, "signs will accompany those who have believed" and then proceeds to name some signs and wonders. I recognize that the whole context is the apostles unbelief, and that not ALL believers will show signs and wonders of this sort. I see that it is the apostles who will show these signs.

Pentecostal will say, "Those who have believed, sounds like every believer to me." What do I need to ultimately help people see that Jesus is not speaking about all believers throughout history? Help?

Answer:
Mark 16:17 must be viewed in light of all other Scripture. Scripture cannot contradict itself. When people try to make Mark 16:17 mean that these signs will accompany any person who believes, instead of any apostle who believed (which is who Jesus was talking to in Mark 16:17), they have to take the unfounded position that all believers get all the miraculous gifts. We know that is not true.

1 Corinthians 12:28-30 says, "And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?"

Not all Christians had the miraculous gifts. 1 Corinthians 12 proves that. Therefore Mark 16:17 CANNOT mean that whoever believes in Jesus will do all those miracles. It must be referring to the apostles only.

Remember, always ask who was talking, when they were talking, what were they talking about and WHO were they talking to. When you answer those questions you will see from the context that Jesus was rebuking the apostles for their unbelief and calling them to preach, obey and spread the Gospel. Jesus promised the Apostles that any of them who believed him would do these miraculous things.

From the book of ACTS we can establish that the apostles did do these things. In fact, that was the proof of their apostleship. The miracles were unique signs of an apostle not all believers.

2 Corinthians 12:12 "The things that mark an apostle, signs, wonders and miracles, were done among you with great perseverance."

When you compare the signs and wonders of Jesus to the easily faked healings of modern charlatans like Benny Hinn, you will see the difference between Benny the con-man and the wonders and signs of the apostles as foretold in Mark 16:17-18 and fulfilled in the book of ACTS.