Topical Encyclopedia The New Testament provides numerous accounts of Jesus Christ bestowing upon His disciples the power to perform miracles. This divine empowerment served as a testament to the authority of Christ and the truth of the Gospel message. The ability to perform miracles was not an inherent power of the disciples but a gift granted by Jesus to authenticate their ministry and demonstrate the presence of God's Kingdom.Commissioning of the Twelve Apostles In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus explicitly grants His twelve apostles the authority to perform miracles. Matthew 10:1 states, "Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness." This empowerment was part of their commissioning as they were sent out to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven. The Seventy-Two Sent Out Beyond the twelve apostles, Jesus also appointed seventy-two others, sending them out in pairs to every town and place He was about to visit. In Luke 10:9 , Jesus instructs them, "Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’" The success of their mission is reported in Luke 10:17 , where the seventy-two return with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name." The Great Commission Following His resurrection, Jesus further commissions His disciples, promising them the power to perform miraculous signs. In Mark 16:17-18 , He declares, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well." The Acts of the Apostles The Book of Acts provides numerous examples of the apostles exercising this miraculous power. In Acts 2:43 , it is recorded, "A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs." Peter and John, for instance, heal a lame man at the temple gate in Acts 3:6-7 , where Peter says, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" The man is immediately healed, walking and leaping in praise to God. Paul's Apostolic Ministry The Apostle Paul, though not one of the original twelve, also received the power to perform miracles as part of his apostolic ministry. In Acts 19:11-12 , it is noted, "God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them." Purpose and Significance The miracles performed by the disciples served multiple purposes. They confirmed the divine authority of the apostles and the truth of their message, as seen in Hebrews 2:3-4 : "This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will." These miraculous acts were a foretaste of the ultimate restoration and healing that would come with the full realization of God's Kingdom. Nave's Topical Index Mark 3:14,15And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, Nave's Topical Index Mark 16:17,18,20 Library Christ Tells the Disciples the Cause of their Failure. --The Power ... The Resurrection of Christ; his Last Interview with his Disciples ... Whether the Miracles which Christ Worked were a Sufficient Proof ... What Jesus Says of the Meaning of his Miracles Whether Christ Worked Miracles Fittingly on Men? The First Sign --The Marriage in Cana. The First Disciples Copies of Christ's Manner Extracts No. vi. Christ Teaching by Miracles Resources What does it mean that God is a God of miracles? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the spiritual gift of miracles? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about demonic/satanic miracles? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit of Different Kinds Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not to Be: Despised Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not to Be: Neglected Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not to Be: Purchased Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were to be Sought After Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Christ Was Endued With Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated by the Laying on of the Apostles' Hands Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated for the Confirmation of the Gospel Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated for the Edification of the Church Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated: Upon the Preaching of the Gospel Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Counterfeited by Antichrist Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Dispensed According to his Sovereign Will Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Enumerated Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Foretold Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Might be Possessed Without Saving Grace Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Poured out on the Day of Pentecost Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Temporary Nature of Related Terms |
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