Miracles In The Book Of Acts
The subject of miracles is one of the most controversial of religious topics. In the bible, three Greek words are translated “miracles.” The Greek word dunamis (power) is the word from which we get our word dynamite. The second is the Greek word semeon (sign). A sign is something that is clear and obvious that points to and identifies something that is somewhat hidden. Also, teras (wonders) is sometimes used to indicate that the event could not be explained in any natural way. All three words indicate that bible miracles were obvious supernatural events—not tricks or coincidences.
To see how the bible defines those miracles that are most relevant to us today, we can go through the book of Acts and observe the miracles that occurred once the Lord’s church was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Consider the characteristics of the following:
· On Pentecost itself (Acts 2), a sound like “a mighty rushing wind,” the appearance of “cloven tongues like as of fire” that sat upon the apostles, and the apostles’ ability to speak in about 14 other languages—nothing hidden at all, clearly supernatural and verifiable signs, wonders and powers.
· Other non-specified miracles were performed at this point, but they were strictly “by the hands of the apostles” (Acts 2:43; 4:43; 5:12). It is made clear that no one except the apostles had the power to perform miracles until the events of Acts 6.
· In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a man who was more than 40 years old (4:22) that had never walked prior to this; he leaped in the air (3:8), again a clear sign and power that caused wonder.
· In Acts 5 we have what we might call the first negative miracle, in that it caused death. The context of Acts 5 shows how God demonstrated His power and brought about fear (Acts 5:11) by striking dead Ananias and Sapphira his wife, two people who conspired to lie to the church about a gift that they offered.
· Acts 5:16 shows that the apostles were able to heal all that were sick or vexed with unclean spirits.
· The only remedy that the high priest thought effective was to jail the apostles (Acts 5:18). But they were immediately released by an angel of the Lord (5:19). Acts 5:23 indicates that the doors were not even opened. This would be a very clear sign, power and wonder.
· The first instance of a non-apostle performing a miracle is Steven (Acts 6:8). The apostles had laid hands upon him and six others, one of whom was Phillip (Acts 6:5-6). Stephen was stoned shortly thereafter (Acts 7), and the Christians in general were “scattered abroad … except the apostles” (Acts 8:1).
· Phillip went down to Samaria preaching Christ and validating his words with the miracles that he performed (Acts 8:6). These were clearly superior to the tricks performed by Simon the sorcerer.
· It is clear from the context of Acts 8 that, in general, baptized believers did not have power to perform miracles, and Peter and John were sent to them so that they could receive such power, which was bestowed upon them by the laying on of the apostles hands (Acts 8:18).
· A second negative miracle is recorded in Acts 9. Some say that Paul was converted on the road to Damascus; in reality he was struck blind. The Lord got his attention in this way, but then commanded him to go to Damascus “… and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). Paul was taught the same thing that all other hearers of the gospel were taught, and he obeyed the same commands (Acts 22:16).
· Later on in Acts 9:32f, the scene focuses back on Peter who heals someone who had been sick of palsy for eight years, and then he raised a woman from the dead. Both highly spectacular events.
· In Acts 10 the first gentiles hear the gospel, and some events quite similar to those on Pentecost occur (Acts 10:44f). The fact that these were not common events, however, is made clear in Peter’s explanation back to the Jewish brethren in Acts 11:15-16. If this was common at all conversions, then Peter’s statement that this was like “on us at the beginning” would have no meaning. There are only two instances identified as “baptisms in the Holy Spirit” given in the book of Acts: Acts 2 and Acts 10-11.
· A second incident of a miraculous release from prison is given in Acts 12:7f.
· A third case of a negative miracle is given in Acts 13:8f—an evil man was struck blind.
· In Acts 14:8f, during Paul’s first missionary journey, he healed a man crippled from his mother’s womb. So spectacular and different was this that the people wanted to proclaim that Barnabas was the god Jupiter and Paul was the god Mercury, which, of course, they forbade. Shortly after this Jewish enemies of the gospel persuaded these same people to stone Paul, who miraculously walked away after the stoning (8:20).
· The absence of any miracle in Acts 15 is significant. Here was a major crisis over the doctrine of circumcision that you would think God would easily resolve with a miracle. However, the context of Acts 15 shows that God had already spoken on this subject and so nothing more needed to be revealed or confirmed. Previous miracles were cited as sufficient evidence (Acts 15:12).
· Miracles still continued for the purpose of guiding the apostles and providing confirmation to those who had no other means of validating the gospel. For example, in Acts 16:26f, Paul and Silas are miraculously released from prison, leading to the conversion of the Philippian Jailor and his household.
· In contrast, no miracles were presented to those who could validate the teachings by means of the scriptures (see Acts 17:11), and no miracles were performed during Paul’s trials in Jerusalem (Acts 22-26).
· Since the New Testament had not been written at this point, there was still a need for ongoing revelation. However, the necessity for the apostles to impart these gifts is further evidenced by the events of Acts 19, and specifically, Acts 19:6.
· Some “special miracles” were performed at this time (Acts 19:11-12), indicating the unusual.
· Negative miracles also persisted (Acts 19:13f). Note the effect of this in 19:17.
· The final miracles recorded involve the saving of all aboard after the shipwreck (Acts 27), and Paul’s not being affected by the bite of a venomous snake (Acts 28:1-6), giving confirmation to the gentiles on the remote island of Melita.
If events like this were happening today there would be no way that they could be hidden, nor would there be any reason for them to be hidden. If hidden, they would not be signs. If they followed the pattern above, there would be a wide variety of healings of all types of maladies, giving life to the dead, and notable negative miracles (e.g., people struck dead or blind). Further, in the first century, even the very enemies of Christ knew that miracles were occurring, and knew that they would have no credibility at all if they denied them (see John 11:47; Acts 4:16). Our media today explores even the remotest prospects of the miraculous, and their quest for sensationalism totally assures that if anything like the miracles listed above were occurring, we would be fully aware of it. If we truly believe that the events that are recorded in the book of Acts did occur, then we cannot help but come to the conclusion that these things are not continuing today, as Paul prophesied (1 Cor. 13:8-13).