Signs & Wonders

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.

Acts 5:12-16

It seems that, for a time, miracles were part of the Apostles agenda. The signs and wonders performed are described as being done regularly. We must remember that miracles were intended to authenticate the one performing the miracle as a messenger from God. Jesus Himself said, to the religious leaders, that if one does not believe in Him but, believes in the miracles He did, believes in the God who brought to pass the miracle. And, because of the many miracles performed by the Apostles, many people were added to the Jerusalem church. The excitement was so great that the sick, blind and, lame were brought into the street where Peter walked so that his shadows might pass over these people and they would be healed! Even people with unclean spirits (demon possessed) were made clean and healed. All the peoples’ attention was turned to Peter and the other Apostles who were preaching and teaching the salvation of God through belief in the works of Jesus of Nazareth as the Only Begotten Son of God. The religious leaders had already threatened Peter and John to not preach/teach Jesus. But, the Lord kept adding to His church right there in Jerusalem. All of this growth of the early church would be used mightily by God when severe persecution of the Christians began in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem church would be dispersed and the Christians leaving the persecution would become missionaries to other parts of the Roman Empire spreading the gospel to many peoples, tribes and, tongues. Consider Romans 8:28, which says, “God works all things for good to those who believe,” as God working through the persecution to take the Redemption Story to peoples who had never heard of God before. God continues to work today and He wants His children to participate in the spreading of the Gospel to all the world. What can you do today, dear Christian, to go, tell, baptize and, teach all things Christ has taught you in His Holy Word?

Source: S C Ball June 6, 2023