Index: spec/ruby/core/main/private_spec.rb
===================================================================
--- spec/ruby/core/main/private_spec.rb	(revision 62008)
+++ spec/ruby/core/main/private_spec.rb	(working copy)
@@ -11,10 +11,20 @@
     Object.should have_private_method(:main_public_method)
   end
 
-  it "returns Object" do
-    eval("private :main_public_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should equal(Object)
+  ruby_version_is ""..."2.6" do
+    it "returns Object" do
+      eval("private :main_public_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should equal(Object)
+    end
   end
 
+  ruby_version_is "2.6" do
+    it "returns the argument(s) or Object" do
+      eval("private :main_public_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should equal(:main_public_method)
+      eval("private :main_public_method, :main_private_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should eql([:main_public_method, :main_private_method])
+      eval("private", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should equal(Object)
+    end
+  end
+
   it "raises a NameError when given an undefined name" do
     lambda do
       eval "private :main_undefined_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING
Index: spec/ruby/core/main/public_spec.rb
===================================================================
--- spec/ruby/core/main/public_spec.rb	(revision 62008)
+++ spec/ruby/core/main/public_spec.rb	(working copy)
@@ -11,10 +11,20 @@
     Object.should_not have_private_method(:main_private_method)
   end
 
-  it "returns Object" do
-    eval("public :main_private_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should equal(Object)
+  ruby_version_is ""..."2.6" do
+    it "returns Object" do
+      eval("public :main_private_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should equal(Object)
+    end
   end
 
+  ruby_version_is "2.6" do
+    it "returns the argument(s) or Object" do
+      eval("public :main_private_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should equal(:main_private_method)
+      eval("public :main_private_method, :main_public_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should eql([:main_private_method, :main_public_method])
+      eval("public", TOPLEVEL_BINDING).should equal(Object)
+    end
+  end
+
   it "raises a NameError when given an undefined name" do
     lambda do
       eval "public :main_undefined_method", TOPLEVEL_BINDING
Index: spec/ruby/core/module/private_spec.rb
===================================================================
--- spec/ruby/core/module/private_spec.rb	(revision 62008)
+++ spec/ruby/core/module/private_spec.rb	(working copy)
@@ -38,14 +38,28 @@
                   :module_specs_public_method_on_object_for_kernel_private)
   end
 
-  it "returns self" do
-    (class << Object.new; self; end).class_eval do
-      def foo; end
-      private(:foo).should equal(self)
-      private.should equal(self)
+  ruby_version_is ""..."2.6" do
+    it "returns self" do
+      (class << Object.new; self; end).class_eval do
+        def foo; end
+        private(:foo).should equal(self)
+        private.should equal(self)
+      end
     end
   end
 
+  ruby_version_is "2.6" do
+    it "returns the argument(s) or self" do
+      (class << Object.new; self; end).class_eval do
+        def foo; end
+        def bar; end
+        private(:foo).should equal(:foo)
+        private(:foo, :bar).should eql([:foo, :bar])
+        private.should equal(self)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   it "raises a NameError when given an undefined name" do
     lambda do
       Module.new.send(:private, :undefined)
Index: spec/ruby/core/module/protected_spec.rb
===================================================================
--- spec/ruby/core/module/protected_spec.rb	(revision 62008)
+++ spec/ruby/core/module/protected_spec.rb	(working copy)
@@ -39,14 +39,28 @@
                   :module_specs_public_method_on_object_for_kernel_protected)
   end
 
-  it "returns self" do
-    (class << Object.new; self; end).class_eval do
-      def foo; end
-      protected(:foo).should equal(self)
-      protected.should equal(self)
+  ruby_version_is ""..."2.6" do
+    it "returns self" do
+      (class << Object.new; self; end).class_eval do
+        def foo; end
+        protected(:foo).should equal(self)
+        protected.should equal(self)
+      end
     end
   end
 
+  ruby_version_is "2.6" do
+    it "returns the argument(s) or self" do
+      (class << Object.new; self; end).class_eval do
+        def foo; end
+        def bar; end
+        protected(:foo).should equal(:foo)
+        protected(:foo, :bar).should eql([:foo, :bar])
+        protected.should equal(self)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   it "raises a NameError when given an undefined name" do
     lambda do
       Module.new.send(:protected, :undefined)
Index: spec/ruby/core/module/public_spec.rb
===================================================================
--- spec/ruby/core/module/public_spec.rb	(revision 62008)
+++ spec/ruby/core/module/public_spec.rb	(working copy)
@@ -27,15 +27,30 @@
                   :module_specs_private_method_on_object_for_kernel_public)
   end
 
-  it "returns self" do
-    (class << Object.new; self; end).class_eval do
-      def foo; end
-      private :foo
-      public(:foo).should equal(self)
-      public.should equal(self)
+  ruby_version_is ""..."2.6" do
+    it "returns self" do
+      (class << Object.new; self; end).class_eval do
+        def foo; end
+        private :foo
+        public(:foo).should equal(self)
+        public.should equal(self)
+      end
     end
   end
 
+  ruby_version_is "2.6" do
+    it "returns the arugment(s) or self" do
+      (class << Object.new; self; end).class_eval do
+        def foo; end
+        def bar; end
+        private :foo, :bar
+        public(:foo).should equal(:foo)
+        public(:foo, :bar).should eql([:foo, :bar])
+        public.should equal(self)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   it "raises a NameError when given an undefined name" do
     lambda do
       Module.new.send(:public, :undefined)
Index: vm_method.c
===================================================================
--- vm_method.c	(revision 62008)
+++ vm_method.c	(working copy)
@@ -1652,18 +1652,24 @@
 {
     if (argc == 0) {
 	rb_scope_visibility_set(visi);
+        return module;
     }
     else {
 	set_method_visibility(module, argc, argv, visi);
+        if (argc == 1) {
+            return *argv;
+        }
+        else {
+            return rb_ary_new_from_values(argc, argv);
+        }
     }
-    return module;
 }
 
 /*
  *  call-seq:
  *     public                 -> self
- *     public(symbol, ...)    -> self
- *     public(string, ...)    -> self
+ *     public(symbol, ...)    -> aSymbol or [symbol, ...]
+ *     public(string, ...)    -> sString or [string, ...]
  *
  *  With no arguments, sets the default visibility for subsequently
  *  defined methods to public. With arguments, sets the named methods to
@@ -1680,8 +1686,8 @@
 /*
  *  call-seq:
  *     protected                -> self
- *     protected(symbol, ...)   -> self
- *     protected(string, ...)   -> self
+ *     protected(symbol, ...)   -> aSymbol or [symbol, ...]
+ *     protected(string, ...)   -> aString or [string, ...]
  *
  *  With no arguments, sets the default visibility for subsequently
  *  defined methods to protected. With arguments, sets the named methods
@@ -1707,8 +1713,8 @@
 /*
  *  call-seq:
  *     private                 -> self
- *     private(symbol, ...)    -> self
- *     private(string, ...)    -> self
+ *     private(symbol, ...)    -> aSymbol or [symbol, ...]
+ *     private(string, ...)    -> aString or [string, ...]
  *
  *  With no arguments, sets the default visibility for subsequently
  *  defined methods to private. With arguments, sets the named methods