Snake Handling and Poison
William Branham's account of Roy E. Davis drinking poison to win converts shows how Branham's early Pentecostal ministry was connected to dangerous snake-handling and poison-drinking traditions built around Mark 16, while also revealing Branham's habit of using disclaimers to distance himself from reckless practices even as he praised and legitimized them; by claiming that Davis drank sulfuric acid before thousands, that Branham's group had a notarized statement, and that fifteen hundred people received the Holy Ghost afterward, Branham transformed a hazardous spectacle into a miracle story that reinforced Davis's authority, Branham's association with him, and the extreme supernatural claims surrounding their early revival work.
During the years in which William Branham toured the country with Roy E. Davis promoting Pentecostalism, most likely during his 1939 healing ministry, William Branham and Roy E. Davis allegedly converted "fifteen hundred people" to the Pentecostal faith by drinking poison. Like many ministers in the dangerous sect of snake handling and poison drinking,[1] William Branham focused heavily upon Mark 16:17-18.[2]. In fact, Branham referenced the passage over nine hundred times from 1947-1965 alone, on the transcripts that remain available to the public.
When Branham spoke favorably about the poison-drinking doctrines, he did so in double-speak. He praised Davis for winning converts, and said that "we got a notary public's statement" including himself in the "we". Yet he started out by saying, "now I'm not telling people to do that". After making that disclaimer, however, Branham qualified it by saying, "unless the Holy Ghost is with you." Those listening who were against snake handling and poison drinking doctrines heard the disclaimer, while those who were aligned with Branham in favor of the doctrines felt that the "Holy Ghost was with them." The over-arching theme for this statement was that Davis imparted the "Holy Ghost" into thousands of people by drinking poison, and William Branham bragged about his involvement and the "notary public's statements", while in the same breath saying that he "don't believe in bringing things [poison]" as though he was not involved.
"So it was the Holy Spirit moving. So when he made that challenge again, he let out a big "Ha-ha” and held his watch up. "If there’s a God, I’ll die in a minute.” Waited for a minute and said, "Didn’t I tell you wasn’t no such a thing? Ha, ha, ha,” like that, laughed out like that. So Roy when he made that challenge said, "Why not some of you guys out there believe that God’s so real,” said, "try this sulfuric acid test.” Now, now, I’m not telling people to do that. Don’t you do it unless the Holy Ghost is with you. See? Now, I don’t believe in taking up serpents, or… I believe if I was baptizing out in the water, and a serpent grabbed me, I’d throw him out on the bank and go ahead and baptize like Paul did or something like that. Or somebody slip poison to me, I’d trust God for my healing. That’s right. But I don’t believe in bringing things, say, "Come here and I’ll show you I can do it.” I think that’s wrong. That’s right. But Brother Davis walked up to the platform. We got a notary public’s statement on this. He walked up there. He said, "Christian people,” about two or three thousand setting there, he said, "I’m twenty-five years old.” He said, "I’m a minister of the Gospel,” and he said, "I—I know that my God is able to deliver me from that,” but said, "nevertheless, if He does or does not, I’ll never let that infidel stand there with that in his hand and challenge God’s Word.” He said, "I’ll meet you in glory.” Grabbed it out of his hand…?… and drank ever drop of it right down, stood there and preached the Gospel, and about fifteen hundred people received the baptism of the Holy Ghost setting in the meeting. Hallelujah. Yes, sir.
Branham, William. 1953, September 7. Lord, Show Us The Father And It Sufficeth Us (53-0907A).