Introduction to the Corinthian Epistles, Part 2: Review of the Miraculous Sign Gifts Recorded in Acts:

Jim Humphrey

Our last study reviewed the elements of the Gospel of the Kingdom taught by Peter and the 12 for the Nation of Israel compared to the Gospel of the Grace of God revealed to the Apostle Paul for both individual Jews and Gentiles and it argued that Paul taught the Gospel of the Grace throughout his ministry. Noting 1st Corinthians is Paul’s only epistle that mentions the sign gifts I re-examined the book of Acts to identify every occasion where signs, wonders and miracles are mentioned to put the teaching of Corinthians in perspective. As near as I can tell, following is a description of all signs, wonders and miracles in Acts:

  • All the Jews who believed the Kingdom message (that Jesus was Israel’s Messiah) who were gathered in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, were filled with the Holy Spirit and received the gift of tongues, Acts 2:1 – 6; they were of one heart and soul and they all shared everything in common, Acts 4:31 – 33.
  • Peter in particular and the rest of the 12 Apostles in general performed wonders and signs by the power from God in accordance with the Kingdom message:
  • many wonders and signs were done by the 12 Apostles, Acts 2:43;
  • Peter healed a man who had been lame from birth, Acts 3:2 – 8;
  • by the hands of the 12 Apostles many signs and wonders were wrought among the Jews, Acts 5:12;
  • the sick were laid on beds and couches in the street and were healed when Peter’s shadow passed over them; multitudes of sick and demon possessed from cities around Jerusalem were brought to Jerusalem and all were healed, Acts 5:15 – 16;
  • an angel of the Lord freed the 12 Apostles from prison, Acts 5:17 – 20;
  • in the town of Lydda (in Israel) Peter healed Aeneas who had been confined to bed with palsy for 8 years, Acts 9:32 – 34;
  • Peter was used to raise Tabitha, aka Dorcas from the dead in Joppa, a seaside city in Israel, Acts 9:36 – 42;
  • an angel freed Peter from prison, Acts 12:5 – 12.
  • The Gentile Roman Centurion Cornelius and his household in Caesarea (Israel) spoke in tongues when they believed Peter’s Gospel, Acts 10:44 – 47.

Note: God’s plan for the Nation of Israel was for them to be a Kingdom of Priests, a Holy Nation, Exodus 19:6, and thus minister to Gentiles throughout the world for salvation, Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 60:3. However, Israel failed because of self-righteousness; they could not even attain to God’s plan for themselves, much less reach out to Gentile Nations. However, Israel assuredly will fulfill God’s plan some day in the future, but only when God Himself intervenes by filling them with His Holy Spirit, Ezekiel 37:1 – 14. Only then will Israel be a Nation of Priests, Zechariah 8:20 – 23.

Thus, we can see a three-fold purpose in the Lord sending Peter to the Gentile Cornelius; one, God chose Cornelius and his household to be saved; two, it gave Peter insight into God’s desire to save Gentiles so Peter would later bless the Apostle Paul’s mission to bring his Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles; three, it was a pattern or foretaste of that time in the future when the nation of Israel will fulfill God’s Word for them to be a Nation of Priests, ministering to the Gentiles in the future Kingdom reign of Christ.

  • Stephen, one of 7 men chosen by the 12 apostles to distribute goods from the common treasury to the Kingdom saints in Jerusalem did great wonders and miracles, Acts 6:8.
  • Philip, another of the 7 with Stephen did great wonders and miracles, including casting out unclean spirits, healing those with palsies and the lame in Samaria, Acts 8:5 – 7.

Note: after an angel freed Peter from prison, Acts 12:5 – 12, there is no mention in Acts of a miracle or sign by either Peter or those associated with him. He is subsequently mentioned only once, that being when he testified to the Jewish Council in Jerusalem about how God sent him to testify to the Gentile Cornelius and his household who believed and received the Holy Spirit, just like Jews who believed; indicating no difference between believing Jews and Gentiles, Acts 15:6 – 11. After Peter’s speech, Paul and Barnabas told of the miracles and wonders God performed among the Gentiles by them; but instead of Peter, it was James who gave approval to Paul and Barnabas’ mission to the Gentiles, Acts 15:12 – 21.

  • Saul/Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, cast temporary blindness on a Jew named Barjesus, aka Elymas when he attempted to turn the Gentile Roman ruler Sergius Paulus from the Gospel taught by Paul, Acts 13:6 – 12.

Note: this first miracle and sign performed by the Apostle Paul is significant. It is a turning point from Peter’s Kingdom message to Israel, to Paul’s message to the Gentiles. The purpose is twofold; first, the Gentile Roman ruler Sergious Paulus believed the Gospel of God’s Grace and was saved. The Lord had commissioned Paul to take his Name before Gentiles, Kings and the Children of Israel. The Greek word translated “kings” in Acts 9:15 means “leader of the people, prince, commander” and Sergious Paulus meets that definition. Second, the temporary blinding of the Jew Barjesus Elymas signified the temporary blinding of Israel and the beginning of the age of the Gospel of God’s Grace extended to the Gentiles (as well as individual Jews.) The Nation of Israel’s temporary blindness has lasted almost 2000 years now, Romans 11:1 – 8, but God will someday take away that blindness, Romans 11:25 – 32.

  • Paul alone or Paul, Barnabas or Silas performed miracles, signs and wonders:
  • at Iconium in Galatia, Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel in the Synagogue resulting in both Jews and Gentiles believing. Even after the unbelieving Jews stirred up dissention, Paul and Barnabas continued preaching the Gospel and performed signs and wonders, Acts 14:1 – 3;
  • Paul healed a lame man from birth at Lystra in Galatia, Acts 14:8 – 10;
  • Still in Lystra, Galatia, Paul was miraculously revived after being stoned and thought to be dead, Acts 14:19 – 20;
  • Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem where they told Peter, James and the Kingdom saints about the miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them, Acts 15:7 – 12;
  • In Philippi, Paul cast out an unclean spirit of divination from a young woman, Acts 16:16 – 18;
  • Still in Philippi, Paul and Silas were miraculously sprung from prison by an earthquake, Acts 16:25 – 30;
  • Paul encountered 12 men in Ephesus who previously had believed and were baptized with the baptism of John the Baptist. However, they had not heard the Holy Spirit had been sent. Paul did not baptize them again but laid his hands on them, imparting the Holy Spirit on them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied, i.e., they spoke so those of another language understood them while proclaiming the Word of God revealed to them by the Holy Spirit, Acts 19:1 – 7;

Note: John the Baptist’s mission was to prepare the way for Jesus Christ who would subsequently baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, Matthew 3:1 – 12. Therefore, since these 12 Jewish men had been baptized with the baptism of John the Baptist, they knew about the promise of the Holy Spirit but obviously had not heard He had come on the Day of Pentecost. This demonstrates Paul’s apostleship; God used him to fulfill John’s Gospel to these believing Jews. I believe at this time Paul preached the Gospel of Grace to them, but the Holy Spirit came upon them because of John the Baptist’s prophesy. It’s also noteworthy that this event occurred in Acts right after mention of Apollos who also only knew the baptism of John the Baptist. However, in Apollos case, Aquilla, and Pricilla brought him up to date with Paul’s Gospel, Acts 18:24 – 26.

  • Paul taught both Jews and Gentiles in Ephesus for 2 years during which God wrought special miracles by his hands; so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons and they were healed, and evil spirits departed, Acts 19:9 – 12.
  • Later in Ephesus, after returning from his trip to Greece, Paul took up alive the young man Eutychus who was killed when he fell asleep and fell from the 3rd floor while listening to Paul, who preached until midnight, Acts 20:7 – 10.
  • In Malta, after being shipwrecked, Paul was not hurt what-so-ever after being bitten by a poisonous snake and then he proceeded to heal many on that island from various diseases, Acts 28:3 – 9.

Observations:

  • Every miracle documented in Acts were performed by Jews with one exception; the Centurion Cornelius and his household, who spoke with tongues.
  • All miracles and wonders by Peter and the 12 documented in Acts were confined to the Land of Israel and Samaria.
  • Paul performed more miracles than Peter and all of Paul’s were performed outside of the Land of Israel. Paul was an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and was not a bit behind any of the Lord’s Apostles; thus, he performed the miracles of an Apostle, signs, and wonders with power, 2 Corinthians 11:5; 2 Corinthians 12:11 – 12. See also https://www.faith-studies.com/article-volume-4-number-28.
  • The Acts account does not mention any signs, wonders or miracles in Corinth.

 

 

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