Reference: Miracles
Fausets
Three distinct New Testament Greek words represent miracles: seemeion, "a sign"; teras, "a prodigy"; dunamis, "a mighty work." Septuagint uses seemeion and teras for Hebrew 'owt and mopheth (Ex 7:9). Seemeion, "sign," views the miracle as evidence of a divine commission: Joh 3:2, "no man can do these signs (Greek) which Thou doest except God be with him" (Joh 9:30,33; 15:24; Lu 7:19-22); teras, "prodigy" or "wonder," expresses the effect on the spectator; dunamis, "mighty work," marks its performance by a superhuman power (Ac 2:22; 2Co 12:12; 2Th 2:9). The "sign" is God's seal, attestation, or proof of a revelation being genuine. Jesus' miracles were not merely wonders but signs; signs not merely of His power, but of the nature of His ministry and of His divine person.
A grand distinction peculiar to Christianity is, it won the world to it in an age of high civilization, through a few preachers of humble position, on the evidence of miracles. Basing its claim on miracles the creed of the slave became eventually the faith of the Caesars. Muhammed on the contrary, even in a half-enlightened age and country, pretended no miracle. Christ and His apostles still less than Mahomet among friends would have dared to allege miracles, in the midst of hostile Jews and skeptical Romans, unless they were true. This claim is the more striking, since John the Baptist, though coming "in the spirit and power of Elias," the great miracle worker of the Old Testament, never claimed miraculous power; so far is Scripture from indiscriminately gratifying men's love of the marvelous at the cost of truth.
Similarly, Abraham, David, and other Old Testament heroes never appear as miracle workers. Early Christian writers, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Origen, occasionally appeal to miracles in proof of Christianity; but state that their pagan opponents, admitting the facts, attributed them to magic; which accounts for the fewness of their references to miracles. The Jewish writings, as the Sepher Toldoth Jeshu, also the extant fragments of Celsus, Porphyry, and Julian, admit the fact of the miracles, though ascribing them to magic and evil spirits. In the case of the resurrection (Mt 28:11-15) and the cure of the blind man (John 9) the Jews made a self confuted charge of fraud. The early Christian apologists allege in support of Christianity:
(1) the greatness, number, completeness, and publicity of the miracles;
(2) the beneficial tendency of the doctrine;
(3) the connection of the miracles with prophecy and the whole scheme of redemption from Adam to Christ. The miracles must have been altogether different from the wonders of exorcists, magicians, etc.; else they would not have gained for the gospel so wide and permanent an acceptance. The effect of Philip's ministry on the Samaritans, in opposition to Simon Magus (Acts 8), proves this. The holy character of Christ and His apostles, and the tendency of Christianity to promote truth and virtue, are against the origination of the miracles from evil spirits or jugglery. In the fourth century miracles had ceased (Chrysostom on 1 Corinthians 11-13); in the third, miracles are alleged, but are suspicious, as wrought among those already believing and predisposed to accept prodigies credulously. The ecclesiastical miracles are not attested by inspired writers. The apostles alone could transmit the power of working miracles to others. Cornelius was an exception, being the firstfruit of the Gentiles.
But Philip could not impart it; Peter and John must come to confer on his Samaritan converts miraculous gifts, by laying on of hands (Ac 8:15-20; 10:44-46; 19:6; Mr 16:17-18). Christianity being once proved and attested to us, the analogy of God's dealings leads us to expect He would leave it to make its way by ordinary means; the edifice being erected, the scaffolding is taken down; perpetual miracle is contrary to His ways. The ecclesiastical miracles alleged are ambiguous, or tentative, or legendary, i.e. resembling known products of human credulity and imposture. Many are childish, and palpably framed for superstitious believers, rather than as evidences capable of bearing critical scrutiny. Most of them are not told until long after their presumed occurrence. Herein the New Testament miracles wholly differ from them. The Christian miracles are:
(1) Recorded by contemporaries.
(2) In the same country.
(3) Not based on transient rumor, but confirmed by subsequent investigation, and recorded in independent accounts.
(4) Not naked history, but the history combined with the institution and with the religion of our day, as also with the time and place of the miracle recorded and of Christianity's origin.
(5) With particular specification of names, places, dates, and circumstances.
(6) Not requiring merely otiose assent, as the popular superstitions on which nothing depends, but claiming to regulate the opinions and acts of people.
(7) Not like popish miracles in Roman Catholic countries, in affirmation of opinions already formed, but performed amidst enemies, converting men from their most cherished prejudices; there was no anterior persuasion to lay hold of, Jesus' miracles gave birth to the sect; frauds might mix with the progress, but could not have place in the commencement of the religion.
(8) Not an imaginary perception, as Socrates' demon; the giving sight to the blind leaves a lasting effect; in those of a mixed nature the principal miracle is momentary, but some circumstance combined with it is permanent; Peter's vision might be a dream, but the message of Cornelius could not have been; the concurrence could only be supernatural.
(9) Not tentative, where out of many trials some succeed, as the ancient oracles, cures wrought by relics, etc.
(10) Not doubtful miracles, as the liquefaction of Januarius' blood, cures of nervous ailments.
(11) Not stories which can be resolved into exaggerations.
(12) Not gradual, but instantaneous for the most part (Lu 18:43); not incomplete; not merely temporary, but complete and lasting.
(13) Witnessed to at the cost of suffering and death. (Paley, Evidences of Christianity.)
A miracle is not a "violation of the laws of nature" (Hume), but the introduction of a new agent. Such introduction accords with human experience, for we see an intelligent agent often modifying the otherwise uniform laws of nature. "Experience" informs us of human free will counteracting the lower law of gravitation. Infinitely more can the divine will introduce a new element, counteracting, without destroying, lower physical law; the higher law for a time controls and suspends the action of the lower. Or, "law" being simply the expression of God's will, in miracles God's will intervenes, for certain moral ends, to suspend His ordinary mode of working. The wise men following the star, and then receiving further guidance from the Scripture word, illustrate the twofold revelation, God's works, and God's word, the highest guide. Both meet in the Incarnate Word (Matthew 2; 2Pe 1:19-21). As disturbance has entered the world by sin, as nature visibly attests, God must needs miraculously interfere to nullify that disturbance.
Hume alleged against miracles their contrariety to "experience," and that experience shows testimony to be often false. But "experience" is not to be limited to our time and knowledge. The "experience" of the witnesses for Christianity attests the truth of miracles. However improbable miracles are under ordinary circumstances, they are probable, nay necessary, to attest a religious revelation and a divine commission. "In whatever degree it is probable that a revelation should be communicated to mankind at all, in the same degree is it probable that miracles should be wrought" (Paley, Evidences of Christianity). That they are out of the ordinary course of nature, so far from being an objection, is just what they need to be in order to be fit signs to attest a revelation. It is as easy to God to continue the ordinary course of the rest of nature, with the change of one part, as of all the phenomena without any change. It is objected, miracles "interrupt the course of nature."
But as that course really compri
See Verses Found in Dictionary
"When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Do a wonder for yourselves,' you will say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake.'"
Thus says Yahweh, "By this you will know that I [am] Yahweh. Look, I [am about to] strike with the staff that is in my hand the water that is in the Nile, and it will be changed to blood. And the fish that [are] in the Nile will die, and the Nile will stink, and [the] Egyptians will be unable to drink water from the Nile." '" read more. And Yahweh said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch your hand out over the waters of Egypt and over their rivers, over their canals, and over their pools and over all of their reservoirs of water, so that they become blood,' and blood will be in all the land of Egypt and in [vessels of] wood and of stone." And Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh had commanded, and he raised the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile before the eyes of Pharaoh and before the eyes of his servants, and all of the water that was in the Nile was changed to blood. And the fish that [were] in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, and [the] Egyptians were not able to drink water from the Nile, and the blood was in all the land of Egypt.
And he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, "[Let it be] according to your word so that you will know that there is no one like Yahweh our God.
But on that day I will distinguish the land of Goshen, where my people are staying, by there not being flies there, so that you will know that I [am] Yahweh in the midst of the land. And I will put a distinction between my people and your people; this sign will be tomorrow.'"
And Yahweh set an appointed time, saying, "Tomorrow Yahweh will do this thing in the land."
Look, about [this] time tomorrow, I [am] going to cause very severe hail to rain, the like of which has not been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.
And the hail struck in all the land of Egypt all that [was] in the field, from human to animal, and the hail struck all the vegetation of the field and smashed every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the {Israelites} [were], there was no hail.
But if you [are] refusing to release my people, look, I [am] about to bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. And they will cover the surface of the land, and no one will be able to see the land, and they will eat the remainder of what is left--what is left over for you from the hail--and they will eat every sprouting tree [belonging] to you from the field.
And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and they settled in all the territory of Egypt, very {severe}. Before it there were not locusts like them, nor will there be after it.
And Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens, and there was darkness of night in all the land of Egypt [for] three days. No one could see his brother, and {because of it no one could move from where they were} [for] three days, but there was light for the {Israelites} in their dwellings.
{And} in the middle of the night, Yahweh struck all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who [was] in the prison house and every firstborn of an animal.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes,
And all the people [were] seeing the thunder and the lightning and the sound of the ram's horn and the mountain smoking, and the people saw, and they trembled, and they stood at a distance.
For the cloud of Yahweh [was] on the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it [by] night before the eyes of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.
And the ransom of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the {Israelites} who are excessive over the Levites,
"These words Yahweh spoke to your whole assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire and the very thick cloud [with] a loud voice, and {he did not add anything}, and [then] he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. {And then} {when you heard} the voice from the midst of the darkness, and [as] the mountain [was] burning with fire, and [and] all the heads of your tribes and your elders approached me,
Your clothing did not wear out {on you}, and your feet did not swell [during] these forty years.
"If a prophet stands up in your midst or a dreamer of dreams and he gives to you a sign or wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes [about] that he spoke to you, {saying}, 'Let us go after other gods (those whom you have not known), and let us serve them,' read more. you must not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer, for Yahweh your God {is testing you to know whether you love} Yahweh your God with all of your heart and with all [of] your inner self. You shall go after Yahweh your God, and him you shall revere, and his commandment you shall keep, and to his voice you shall listen, and him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast. But that prophet or the dreamer of that dream shall be executed, for he spoke falsely about Yahweh your God, the [one] bringing you out from the land of Egypt and the [one] redeeming you from the house of slavery, in order to seduce you from the way that Yahweh your God commanded you to go in it; so [in this way] you shall purge the evil from your midst.
the waters flowing down from above stood [still]; they stood up [in] one heap very far from Adam, the city that [is] beside Zarethan, while [the waters] flowing down to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, {were completely cut off}; and the people crossed [over] opposite Jericho.
Israel served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who lived long after Joshua, and who had known all the work that Yahweh did for Israel.
And the people served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who saw all the great work Yahweh had done for Israel.
But the angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why do you ask my name? It [is too] wonderful." And Manoah took the {young goat} and the grain offering, and he offered [it] to Yahweh on the rock, to the one who performs miracles. And Manoah and his wife [were] watching.
[He is the one] who alone stretches out [the] heavens and [who] tramples on [the] waves of [the] sea.
For a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. And the dominion will be on his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Then [the] eyes of [the] blind shall be opened, and [the] ears of [the] deaf shall be opened. Then [the] lame shall leap like the deer, and [the] tongue of [the] dumb shall sing for joy, for waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
to open [the] blind eyes, to bring [the] prisoner out from [the] dungeon, those who sit [in] darkness from [the] house of imprisonment.
However, he was the one who lifted up our sicknesses, and he carried our pain, yet we ourselves assumed him stricken, struck down [by] God and afflicted.
"{I continued watching} until thrones were placed and an Ancient of Days sat; his clothing [was] like white snow and the hair of his head [was] like pure wool and his throne [was] a flame of fire and its wheels [were] burning fire. A stream of fire issued forth and flowed {from his presence}; thousands [upon] thousands served him and ten thousand [upon] ten thousand stood before him. The judge sat, and [the] books were opened. read more. "{I continued watching} then because of the noise of the boastful words of the horn [who was] speaking; {I continued watching} until the beast was slain and its body was destroyed, and it was given [over] to burning with fire. And [as for] the remainder of the beasts, {their dominion was taken away}, but a prolongation {of their life} was given to them for a season and a time. "{I continued watching} in the visions of the night, and look, with the clouds of heaven [one] like a son of man was coming, and he came to the Ancient of Days, and {was presented} before him.
And it will happen afterward thus: I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your elders will dream dreams; your young men shall see visions. And also on the male slaves and on the female slaves, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. read more. And I will {set} wonders in the heavens, and on earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be changed to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh.
" 'I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication, and they will look to me whom they pierced, and they shall mourn over him, as one wails over an only child, and they will grieve bitterly over him as [one] grieves bitterly over a firstborn.
And he went around through all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
And behold, a leper approached [and] worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to make me clean."
And [when] Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down and suffering with a fever.
Now [when it] was evening, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed, and he expelled the spirits with a word. And he healed all {those who were sick}, in order that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, who said, "He himself took away our sicknesses, and carried away our diseases."
And he said to them, "Why are you fearful, [you] of little faith?" Then he got up [and] rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm.
And behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher, and [when] Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Have courage, child, your sins are forgiven."
[As] he was saying these [things] to them, behold, one of the rulers came [and] knelt down before him, saying, "My daughter has just now died, but come, place your hand on her and she will live!"
And behold, a woman who had been suffering with a hemorrhage twelve years approached from behind [and] touched the edge of his cloak,
And [as] Jesus was going away from there, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" And [when he] came into the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." read more. Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be done for you." And their eyes were opened, and Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See [that] no one finds out."
Now [as] they were going away, behold, they brought to him a demon-possessed man [who was] unable to speak.
And Jesus was going around all the towns and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness.
Now [when] John heard in prison the deeds of Christ, he sent [word] by his disciples [and] said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" read more. And Jesus answered [and] said to them, "Go [and] tell John what you hear and see:
And behold, [there was] a man who had a withered hand, and they asked him, saying, "Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?" in order that they could accuse him.
Now Jesus, [when he] learned of [it], withdrew from there, and many followed him, and he healed them all.
And all the crowds were amazed and began saying, "Perhaps this one is the Son of David!"
And [as he] got out, he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them and healed their sick.
But Jesus said to them, "They do not {need} to go away. You give them [something] to eat."
And [when] the men of that place recognized him, they sent [word] into that whole surrounding region, and they brought to him all those {who were sick}. And they were imploring him that they might only touch the edge of his cloak, and all those who touched [it] were cured.
And behold, a Canaanite woman from that district came [and] cried out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter [is] severely possessed by a demon!"
And large crowds came to him, having with them [the] mute, blind, lame, crippled, and many others, and they put them down at his feet, and he healed them.
he took the seven loaves and the fish and [after he] had given thanks, he broke [them] and began giving [them] to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.
An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah!" And he left them [and] went away.
And after six days Jesus took along Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.
and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water.
But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast [a line with] a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And [when you] open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that [and] give [it] to them for me and you."
And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
And Jesus entered the temple [courts] and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling doves.
And the blind and the lame came up to him in the temple [courts] and he healed them.
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear, and will produce great signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
"And immediately after the tribulation of those days, 'the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.'
And [while] they were going, behold, some of the guard of soldiers went into the city [and] reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. And [after they] had assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a rather large sum of money to the soldiers, read more. telling [them], "Say 'His disciples came during the night [and] stole him [while] we were sleeping.' And if this [matter] is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and {keep you out of trouble}." So they took the money [and] did as they were told, and spread abroad this report among the Jews until this very day.
saying, "{Leave us alone}, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
And [as] he was getting out of the boat, immediately from the tombs a man with an unclean spirit went to meet him,
And he commanded them strictly that no one should learn of this, and said to give her [something] to eat.
And he was not able to do any miracle in that place except to lay his hands on a few sick [people] [and] heal [them]. And he was astonished because of their unbelief.
And he said to her, "Because of this statement, go! The demon has gone out of your daughter."
And he ordered them that they should say nothing, but as much as he ordered them [not to], they proclaimed [it] even more instead.
And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought to him a blind man and implored him that he would touch him.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will expel demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes. And if they drink any deadly [poison] it will never hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and {they will get} well."
And when he stopped speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."
And it happened that on the next [day] he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. And as he approached the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, his mother's only son, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
And he came up [and] touched the bier, and those who were carrying [it] stopped. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"
sent [them] to the Lord, saying, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" And [when] the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?'" read more. In that hour he healed many [people] of diseases and suffering and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind [people]. And he answered [and] said to them, "Go [and] tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear; the dead are raised, the poor have good news announced to [them].
But some of them said, "By Beelzebul the ruler of demons he expels demons!" And others, [in order to] test [him], were demanding from him a sign from heaven.
And behold, a woman [was there] who had a spirit {that had disabled her} [for] eighteen years, and she was bent over and not able to straighten herself up completely.
And [as] he was entering into a certain village, ten men met [him]--lepers, who stood at a distance.
Now it happened that as he drew near to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting on the side of the road begging.
And immediately he regained [his] sight and began to follow him, glorifying God. And all the people, [when they] saw [it], gave praise to God.
But Jesus answered [and] said, "{Stop! No more of this!}" And he touched [his] ear [and] healed him.
So the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign do you show to us, because you are doing these [things]?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up!" read more. Then the Jews said, "This temple has been under construction forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name [because they] saw his signs which he was doing.
This man came to him at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that [you are] a teacher who has come from God, for no one is able to perform these signs that you are performing unless God were with him."
This man, [when he] heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, went to him and asked that he come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.
And a certain man was there who had [been] thirty-eight years in his sickness.
But he answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."
But from the crowd many believed in him and were saying, "Whenever the Christ comes, he will not perform more signs than this man has done, [will he]?"
So the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees. And they said to them, "{Why} did you not bring him?" The officers replied, "Never has a man spoken like this!"
And [as he] went away, he saw a man blind from birth.
The man answered and said to them, "For the remarkable thing is this, that you do not know where he is from, and he opened my eyes!
And Jesus said,]] "For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind!" [Some] of the Pharisees who were with him heard these [things] and said to him, "We are not also blind, [are we]?" read more. Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.
If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.
If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.
So when he said to them, "I am [he]," {they drew back} and fell to the ground.
Now Jesus also performed many other signs in the presence of the disciples which are not recorded in this book, but these [things] are recorded in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that [by] believing you may have life in his name.
And he said to them, "Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find [some]." So they threw [it], and were no longer able to haul it in from the large number of the fish.
"Israelite men, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, just as [you] yourselves know--
"Israelite men, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, just as [you] yourselves know--
But Peter said, "Silver and gold {I do not possess}, but what I have, this I give to you--in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!"
let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man stands before you healthy! This one is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become {the cornerstone}. read more. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among people by which we must be saved."
who went down [and] prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. (For he had not yet fallen on any of them, {but they had only been baptized} in the name of the Lord Jesus.) read more. Then they placed [their] hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now Simon, [when he] saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, offered them money, saying, "Give to me also this power, so that whomever I place [my] hands on may receive the Holy Spirit!" But Peter said to him, "May your silver {be destroyed along with you}, because you thought {you could acquire} the gift of God by means of money!
[While] Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message. And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, read more. for they heard them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter said,
And [when] Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim a gospel to you contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed! As we said before, and now I say again, if anyone is proclaiming a gospel [to] you contrary to what you have received, let him be accursed!
whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,
But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come, for people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, read more. hardhearted, irreconcilable, slanderous, without self-control, savage, with no interest for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God, maintaining a form of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid these [people]. For from these are those who slip into houses and captivate foolish women loaded down with sins, led by various kinds of desires, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. And {just as} Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth, people corrupted in mind, disqualified concerning the faith.
[while] God was testifying at the same time by signs and wonders and various miracles and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to his will.
and we possess [as] more reliable the prophetic word, to which you do well [if you] pay attention to [it] as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, recognizing this above all, that every prophecy of scripture does not come about from one's own interpretation, read more. for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even every one who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Yes, amen.
And I saw another beast coming up from the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he was speaking like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast on behalf of him, and he causes the earth and those who live in it to worship the first beast {whose fatal wound had been healed}. read more. And he performs great signs, so that he even causes fire from heaven to come down to the earth before people. And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it has been granted to him to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who has the wound of the sword and [yet] lived. And it was given to him to put breath into the image of the beast, in order that the image of the beast both spoke and caused that all those, unless they worshiped the image of the beast, should be killed.
And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs before him, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.
Hastings
MIRACLES
1. The narratives
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When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she lay down under Balaam, so {Balaam became angry}, and he struck the donkey with [his] staff.
you must not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer, for Yahweh your God {is testing you to know whether you love} Yahweh your God with all of your heart and with all [of] your inner self.
[Whenever] what the prophet spoke in the name of Yahweh, the thing does not take place and [does] not come [about], that [is] the thing that Yahweh has not spoken to him. Presumptuously the prophet spoke it; you shall not fear that prophet."
Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh, on the day Yahweh gave the Amorites over to the {Israelites}, and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun in Gibeon, stand still, and moon, in the valley of Aijalon." And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until [the] nation took vengeance [on] its enemies. Is it not written in the scroll of Jashar? The sun stood still in the middle of the heaven and was not in haste to set for about a full day. read more. There has not been a day like this before it or after, that Yahweh listened to the voice of man; for Yahweh fought for Israel.
Isaiah the prophet called to Yahweh, and he brought back the shadow on the steps where it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz, backwards ten steps.
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down! For it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On [their] hands they will lift you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "On the other hand it is written, 'You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.'"
And extending his hand he touched him, saying, "I am willing, be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go, as you have believed it will be done for you." And the slave was healed at that hour.
And he touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him.
And he said to them, "Why are you fearful, [you] of little faith?" Then he got up [and] rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. And the men were astonished, saying, "What sort of [man] is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" read more. And [when] he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from among the tombs met him, very violent, so that no one was able to pass by along that road.
But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your stretcher and go to your home."
But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your stretcher and go to your home."
But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Have courage, daughter! Your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that hour.
But when the crowd had been sent out, he entered [and] took her hand, and the girl got up.
Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be done for you."
And [after] the demon had been expelled, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished, saying, "{This has never been seen before} in Israel!"
Heal those who are sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, expel demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Then he began to reproach the towns in which the majority of his miracles had been done, because they did not repent:
Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand," and he stretched [it] out, and it was restored [as] healthy as the other [one].
Then a demon-possessed man [who was] blind and mute was brought to him. And he healed him so that the [man who was] mute could speak and see.
And he did not perform many miracles in that place because of their unbelief.
And he commanded the crowds to recline for a meal on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish [and] looking up to heaven, he gave thanks. And [after] breaking [them], he gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.
And Peter answered him [and] said, "Lord, if {it is you}, command me to come to you on the water!"
Then Jesus answered [and] said to her, "O woman, your faith [is] great! Let it be done for you as you want." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah!" And he left them [and] went away.
And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him and the boy was healed from that hour.
But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast [a line with] a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And [when you] open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that [and] give [it] to them for me and you."
But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast [a line with] a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And [when you] open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that [and] give [it] to them for me and you."
And having compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they received [their] sight and followed him.
And seeing a single fig tree by the road, he went to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. And he said to it, "May there be no more fruit from you {forever}, and the fig tree withered at once.
And seeing a single fig tree by the road, he went to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. And he said to it, "May there be no more fruit from you {forever}, and the fig tree withered at once.
And Jesus approached [and] spoke to them, saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age."
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"
And his ears were opened and {his difficulty in speaking was removed} and he began to speak normally.
Then he placed his hands on his eyes again, and he opened his eyes and was cured, and could see everything clearly.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will expel demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes. And if they drink any deadly [poison] it will never hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and {they will get} well."
And [when they] did this, they caught a very large number of fish, and their nets began to tear.
And [when he] saw [it], Simon Peter fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, Lord, because I am {a sinful man}!"
And his disciples reported to John about all these [things]. And summoning a certain two of his disciples, John
And [when he] saw her, Jesus summoned [her] and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability!"
Now when the head steward tasted the water which had become wine and did not know where it was from--but the servants who had drawn the water knew--the head steward summoned the bridegroom
This beginning of signs Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee, and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
So Jesus said to him, "Unless you [people] see signs and wonders, you will never believe!"
So Jesus said to him, "Unless you [people] see signs and wonders, you will never believe!"
Jesus said to him, "Go, your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he departed.
"But I have a testimony greater than John's, for the works which the Father has given to me that I should complete them--the very works which I am doing--[these] testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
Now [when] the people saw the sign that he performed, they began to say, "This one is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world!"
And he said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated "sent"). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes above and said, "Father, I give thanks to you that you hear me. And I know that you always hear me, but for the sake of the crowd standing around I said [it], so that they may believe that you sent me."
The one who had died came out, his feet and his hands bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped with a facecloth. Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go."
But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them [the things] which Jesus had done.
But as many signs [as] he had performed before them, they did not believe in him,
Believe me that I [am] in the Father and the Father [is] in me; but if not, believe because of the works themselves.
And he said to them, "Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find [some]." So they threw [it], and were no longer able to haul it in from the large number of the fish.
And fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were being performed by the apostles.
And taking hold of him by the right hand, he raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
And [when] Ananias heard these words, he fell down [and] died. And great fear came on all those who heard about [it].
And immediately she fell down at his feet and died. So [when] the young men came in, they found her dead, and carried [her] out [and] buried [her] with her husband.
Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people through the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.
so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and put [them] on cots and mats so that [when] Peter came by, at least [his] shadow would fall on some of them.
And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison.
Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
And Simon himself also believed, and [after he] was baptized he was {keeping close company with} Philip. And [when he] saw the signs and great miracles that were taking place, he was astonished.
And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed yourself!" And immediately he got up.
But Peter sent [them] all outside, and, falling to [his] knees, he prayed. And turning toward the body, he said, "Tabitha, get up!" And she opened her eyes, and [when she] saw Peter, she sat up.
And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals!" And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me!"
And now behold, the hand of the Lord [is] against you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun {for a while}. And immediately mist and darkness fell over him, and he was going around looking for [people] to lead [him] by the hand.
This man listened [while] Paul was speaking. {Paul}, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
And she was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed and turning around, said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out {immediately}.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were unfastened.
so that even handkerchiefs or work aprons {that had touched his skin} were carried away to those who were sick, and [their] diseases left them and the evil spirits came out [of them].
But Paul went down [and] threw himself on him, and putting his arms around [him], said, "Do not be distressed, for his life is in him."
And [when] Paul had gathered a large number of sticks and was placing [them] on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat [and] fastened itself on his hand.
And it happened that the father of Publius was lying down, afflicted with fever and dysentery. Paul went to {him} and [after] praying, he placed [his] hands on him [and] healed him.
to another {miraculous powers}, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues.
and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues.
For I passed on to you {as of first importance} what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised up on the third day according to the scriptures,
and that he was buried, and that he was raised up on the third day according to the scriptures,
whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Morish
No sincere believer in the inspiration of scripture can have a doubt as to real miracles having been wrought by the power of God both in O.T. and N.T. times. It is philosophy so-called, or scepticism, that mystifies the subject. Much is said about 'the laws of nature;' and it is confidently affirmed that these are irrevocable and cannot be departed from. To which is added that laws of nature previously unknown are frequently being discovered, and if our forefathers could witness the application of some of the more recent discoveries, as the computer, mobile telephone, etc., they would judge that miracles were being performed. So, it is argued, the actions recorded in scripture as miracles, were merely the bringing into use some law of nature which had been hidden up to that time.
All this is based upon a fallacy. There are no laws of nature, as if nature made its own laws: there are laws in nature, which God in His wisdom as Creator was pleased to make; but He who made those laws has surely the same power to suspend them when He pleases. Though laws in nature hitherto unknown are being discovered from time to time, they in no way account for such things as dead persons being raised to life, the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the lame walking, and demons being cast out of those who were possessed by them. Neither has natural philosophy discovered any law that will account for such a thing as an iron axe-head swimming in water. The simple truth is that God, for wise purposes, allowed some of the natural laws to be suspended, and at times He put forth His almighty power, as in supplying the Israelites with manna from heaven, and in feeding thousands from a few loaves and fishes, or by recalling life that had left the body.
The words translated 'miracle' in the O.T. are
1. oth, 'a sign,' as it is often translated, and in some places 'token.' Nu 14:22; De 11:3.
2. mopheth, 'a wonder,' as it is mostly translated: it is something out of the ordinary course of events. Ex 7:9; De 29:3.
3. pala, 'wonderful, marvellous.' Jg 6:13.
Moses was enabled to work miracles for two distinct objects. One was in order to convince the children of Israel that God had sent him. God gave him three signs to perform before them: his rod became a serpent, and was again a rod; his hand became leprous, and was then restored; and he could turn the water of the Nile into blood. Ex 4:1-9.
The other miracles, wrought by him in Egypt, were to show to Pharaoh the mighty power of God, who said, I will "multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt . . . . and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt." Ex 7:3-5. The ten plagues followed, which were miracles or signs of the power of God
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And Moses answered, and he said, "And if they do not believe me and they do not listen to my voice, but they say, 'Yahweh did not appear to you?'" And Yahweh said to him, "What [is] this in your hand?" And he said, "A staff." read more. And he said, "Throw it onto the ground." And he threw it onto the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses fled from it. And Yahweh said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and grasp [it] by its tail"--" (And he reached out his hand and grabbed it, and it became a staff in his palm.)-- "so that they may believe that Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, appeared to you, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Yahweh said to him again, "Put your hand into the fold of your garment." And he put his hand into the fold of his garment, and he took it out, and, {to his surprise}, his hand [was] afflicted with a skin disease, like snow. And he said, "Return your hand to the fold of your garment." And he returned his hand to the fold of his garment, and he took it out from the fold of his garment, and, {to his surprise}, it was restored like the rest of his body. "{And} if they do not believe you and they will not listen to the voice of the former sign, [then] they will believe the voice of the latter sign. {And} if they also do not believe the second of these signs and they will not listen to your voice, [then] you must take water from the Nile and pour [it] onto the dry ground, and the water that you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground."
And I myself will harden the heart of Pharaoh, and I will make my signs and my wonders numerous in the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I will put my hand into Egypt and bring out my divisions, my people, the {Israelites}, from the land of Egypt with great punishments. read more. And [the] Egyptians will know that I [am] Yahweh when I stretch out my hand over Egypt and bring the {Israelites} out from their midst."
"When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Do a wonder for yourselves,' you will say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake.'" And Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and they did so, as Yahweh had commanded. And Aaron threw his staff before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a snake. read more. And Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did likewise with their secret arts. Each threw down his staff, and they became snakes, and Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.
And Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh had commanded, and he raised the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile before the eyes of Pharaoh and before the eyes of his servants, and all of the water that was in the Nile was changed to blood. And the fish that [were] in the Nile died, and the Nile stank, and [the] Egyptians were not able to drink water from the Nile, and the blood was in all the land of Egypt. read more. And the magicians of Egypt did likewise with their secret arts, and Pharaoh's heart was hard, and he did not listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken. And Pharaoh turned and went to his house, and {he did not take also this to heart}. And all of [the] Egyptians dug around the Nile [for] water to drink, because they were unable to drink from the water of the Nile. And seven days passed after Yahweh struck the Nile.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and bring up the frogs on the land of Egypt.'" And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs went up and covered the land of Egypt. read more. And the magicians did likewise with their secret arts, and they brought up frogs over the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray to Yahweh, and let him remove the frogs from me and from my people, and let me release the people so that they can sacrifice to Yahweh." And Moses said to Pharaoh, "{I leave to you the honor} over me. When shall I pray for you and for your servants and for your people to cut off the frogs from you and from your houses? They will be left only in the Nile." And he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, "[Let it be] according to your word so that you will know that there is no one like Yahweh our God. And the frogs will depart from you and from your house and from your servants. They will be left only in the Nile." And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried out to Yahweh over the matter of the frogs that he had brought on Pharaoh. And Yahweh did according to the word of Moses, and the frogs died from the houses, from the courtyards, and from the fields. And they piled them [in] countless heaps, and the land stank.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the land, and it will become gnats in all the land of Egypt.'" And he did so, and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and he struck the dust of the land, and it became gnats on the humans and on the animals; all of the dust of the land became gnats in all the land of Egypt. read more. And the magicians did so with their secret arts to bring out the gnats, but they were not able, and the gnats were on the humans and on the animals.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Start early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Look, [he is] going out to the water, and you must say to him, 'Thus says Yahweh, "Release my people so that they may serve me." But if you are not [about to] release my people, look, I [am about] to send out flies among you and among your servants and among your people and in your houses; and the houses of Egypt will fill up with the flies and also the ground that they are on. read more. But on that day I will distinguish the land of Goshen, where my people are staying, by there not being flies there, so that you will know that I [am] Yahweh in the midst of the land. And I will put a distinction between my people and your people; this sign will be tomorrow.'" And Yahweh did so, and a {severe} [swarm of] flies came to the house of Pharaoh and the house of his servants and in all the land of Egypt; the land was ruined because of the flies.
look, the hand of Yahweh [is] about to be [present with] a very {severe} plague on your livestock that are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the cattle, and on the sheep and goats. But Yahweh will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, and not a thing will die from all [that belongs] to the {Israelites}.'" read more. And Yahweh set an appointed time, saying, "Tomorrow Yahweh will do this thing in the land." And Yahweh did this thing the next day; all the livestock of Egypt died, but from the livestock of the {Israelites} not one died.
And Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take for yourselves full handfuls of soot from a smelting furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heavens before the eyes of Pharaoh. And it will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and it will become on humans and on animals a skin sore sprouting blisters in all the land of Egypt." read more. And they took the soot of the smelting furnace, and they stood before Pharaoh, and Moses sprinkled it toward the heavens, and it became skin sores sprouting blisters on humans and on animals. And the magicians were not able to stand before Moses because of the skin sores, for the skin sores were on the magicians and on all [the] Egyptians.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand to the heavens, and let there be hail in all the land of Egypt, on human and on animal and on all the vegetation of the field in the land of Egypt." And Moses stretched out his staff to the heavens, and Yahweh gave thunder and hail, and fire went [to the] earth, and Yahweh caused hail to rain on the land of Egypt. read more. And there was hail, and fire [was] flashing back and forth in the midst of the very severe hail, the like of which was not in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. And the hail struck in all the land of Egypt all that [was] in the field, from human to animal, and the hail struck all the vegetation of the field and smashed every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the {Israelites} [were], there was no hail.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt with the locusts so that they may come up over the land of Egypt, and let them eat all the vegetation of the land, all that the hail left behind." And Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh drove an east wind into the land all that day and all night. The morning came, and the east wind had brought the locusts. read more. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and they settled in all the territory of Egypt, very {severe}. Before it there were not locusts like them, nor will there be after it. And they covered the surface of all the land, and the land was dark [with them], and they ate all the vegetation of the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left, and no green was left in the trees nor in the vegetation of the field in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh hurried to call Moses and Aaron, and he said, "I have sinned against Yahweh your God and against you. And now forgive my sin surely this time, and pray to Yahweh your God so that he may only remove from me this death." And he went out from Pharaoh, and he prayed to Yahweh. And Yahweh turned a very strong {west wind} and lifted up the locusts and thrust them into the {Red Sea}, and not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the heavens so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt and so that [a person can] feel darkness." And Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens, and there was darkness of night in all the land of Egypt [for] three days. read more. No one could see his brother, and {because of it no one could move from where they were} [for] three days, but there was light for the {Israelites} in their dwellings.
{And} in the middle of the night, Yahweh struck all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who [was] in the prison house and every firstborn of an animal. And Pharaoh got up [at] night, he and all his servants and all Egypt, and a great cry of distress was in Egypt because there was not a house where there was no one dead.
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yahweh moved the sea with a strong east wind all night, and he made the sea [become] dry ground, and the waters were divided. And the {Israelites} entered the middle of the sea on the dry land. The waters [were] a wall for them on their right and on their left. read more. And [the] Egyptians gave chase and entered after them--all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his charioteers--into the middle of the sea. And during the morning watch, Yahweh looked down to the Egyptian camp [from] in the column of fire and cloud, and he threw the Egyptian camp into a panic. And he removed the wheels of their chariots [so that] they drove them with difficulty, and [the] Egyptians said, "We must flee away from Israel because Yahweh [is] fighting for them against Egypt." And Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, and let the waters return over [the] Egyptians, over their chariots, and over their charioteers." And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned {at daybreak} to its normal level, and [the] Egyptians [were] fleeing {because of it}, and Yahweh swept [the] Egyptians into the middle of the sea. And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the charioteers--all the army of Pharaoh coming after them into the sea. Not {even} one survived among them. But the {Israelites} walked on the dry land in the middle of the sea. The waters [were] a wall for them on their right and on their left. And Yahweh saved Israel on that day from the hand of Egypt, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore of the sea. And Israel saw the great hand that Yahweh displayed against Egypt, and the people feared Yahweh, and they believed in Yahweh and in Moses his servant.
And they came to Marah, and they were not able to drink water from Marah because it was bitter. Therefore {it was named} Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" read more. And he cried out to Yahweh, and Yahweh showed him [a piece of] wood, and he threw [it] into the water, and the water became sweet. There he made a rule and regulation for them, and there he tested them.
And the layer of dew came up, {and there} on the face of the desert was a fine granular substance, fine like frost on the ground. And the {Israelites} saw, and they said {to each other}, "What [is] this?" because they did not know what it [was]. And Moses said to them, "That [is] the bread that Yahweh has given to you as food. read more. This [is] the word that Yahweh commanded, 'Gather from it, {each according to what he can eat}, an omer per person [according to] the number of you. You each shall take [enough] for whoever [is] in his tent.'" And the {Israelites} did so, and they gathered, some more and some less. And [when] they measured with the omer, the one gathering more had no surplus, and the one gathering less had no lack; they gathered {each according to what he could eat}. And Moses said to them, "Let no one leave any of it until morning." But they did not listen to Moses. Some people left [some] of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. And they gathered it morning by morning, {each according to what he could eat}, and it melted [when] the sun was hot. And when it was the sixth day, they gathered twice [as much] bread, two omers for one [person], and all the leaders of the community came and told Moses. And he said to them, "This is what Yahweh has said. Tomorrow [is] a rest period, a holy Sabbath for Yahweh. Bake what you [want to] bake, and boil what you [want to] boil. Put aside all the surplus for yourselves for safekeeping until the morning." And they put it aside until the morning, as Moses had commanded, and it did not make a stench, and not a maggot was in it. And Moses said, "Eat it today, because today is a Sabbath for Yahweh. Today you will not find it in the field. Six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day, [the] Sabbath, it will not be [present] on it." And on the seventh day [some] of the people went out to gather, and they did not find [any]. And Yahweh said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep my commands and my laws? See, because Yahweh has given to you the Sabbath, therefore he is giving to you on the sixth day bread for two days. Stay, {each in his location}; let no one go from his place on the seventh day." And the people rested on the seventh day. And the house of Israel called its name "manna." And it [was] like coriander seed, white, and its taste [was] like a wafer with honey. And Moses said, "This is the word that Yahweh has commanded. 'A full omer of it [is] for safekeeping for your generations so that they will see the bread that I fed you in the desert when I brought you from the land of Egypt.'" And Moses said to Aaron, "Take one jar and put there a full omer of manna. Leave it before Yahweh for safekeeping for your generations." As Yahweh had commanded Moses, so Aaron left it before the testimony for safekeeping. And the {Israelites} ate the manna forty years, until their coming to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until their coming to the border of the land of Canaan.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Go on before the people and take with you [some] from the elders of Israel, and the staff with which you struck the Nile take in your hand, and go. Look, I [will be] standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out from it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so before the eyes of the elders of Israel. read more. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the {Israelites} and because of their testing Yahweh [by] saying, "Is Yahweh in our midst or not?"
And Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu each took his censer, and they put fire in them and placed incense on it; then they presented {before} Yahweh illegitimate fire, which he had not commanded them. So fire went out {from before} Yahweh, and it consumed them so that they died {before} Yahweh.
But because all the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the desert yet tested me these ten times and did not listen to my voice,
But because all the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the desert yet tested me these ten times and did not listen to my voice,
And it happened, as soon as he finished {speaking} all these words, the ground that [was] under them split open. The land opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their houses and every person {that belonged to Korah} and all the property. read more. They went down alive [to] Sheol, they and all that belonged to them, and the land covered over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. All Israel who [were] around them fled at their cry, because they said, "Lest the land swallow us up!" And fire went out from Yahweh, and it consumed the two hundred and fifty men presenting the incense. And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "Say to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, '{Take out} the censers from among the place of burning because they are sacred, and scatter the fire outside. The censers of these {who have sinned} at the cost of their lives, let them be made into gilded leafing plating for the altar; because they presented them {before Yahweh}, they are holy; and they will be a sign for the {Israelites}.'" Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers that the ones who were burned presented, and they hammered them out thinly [as] plating for the altar; [it was] a memorial for the {Israelites}, so that {no strange man} who is not from {the offspring} of Aaron should approach the presence [of] Yahweh to burn a smoke offering; he will not be like Korah and his company, just as Yahweh had spoken to him by the hand of Moses.
Then the next day, Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi blossomed and put forth a flower and produced blossoms, and it produced almonds.
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the staff and summon the community, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will give water. Bring out for them water from the rock, and let the community and their livestock drink." read more. So Moses took the staff from {before} Yahweh just as he command him, and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly to the presence of the rock, and he said to them, "Please listen, you rebels; can we bring out water for you from this rock?" Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice. And abundant water went out, and the community and their livestock drank.
And Yahweh said to Moses, "Make for yourself a snake and place it on a pole. When anyone is bitten and looks at it, that person will live." So Moses made a snake of bronze, and he placed it on the pole; whenever a snake bit someone, and that person looked at the snake of bronze, he lived.
So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey, and he went with the princes of Moab. But {God became angry} because he was going, and the angel of Yahweh stood in the road as an adversary to him; he [was] riding on his donkey, and two servants were with him. read more. The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, and the donkey turned aside from the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back [to] the road. The angel of Yahweh stood in the narrow path of the vineyards, [with] {a wall on either side}. When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she pressed herself into the wall, and she pressed the foot of Balaam into the wall, so he struck her again. Then the angel of Yahweh went further ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was not a way to turn aside [to the] right or left. When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she lay down under Balaam, so {Balaam became angry}, and he struck the donkey with [his] staff. Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What did I do to you that you struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you made a mockery of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!" The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life until this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" He said, "No." Then Yahweh exposed the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, and he bowed down and worshiped to his face. The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why have you struck this donkey three times? Look, I have come out as an adversary because your conduct is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from my face, then I would have killed you and kept her alive." Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned because I did not know that you [were] standing to meet me in the road. Now, {if it is displeasing to you}, I will turn back." The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only the word that I will speak to you." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
and his signs and his deeds that he did in the midst of Egypt to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to all [of] his land,
And it happened, when the people set out from their tents to cross [over] the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant were {ahead of the people}. When those carrying the ark came up to the Jordan, and the priests carrying the ark dipped their feet in the edge of the water (the Jordan was flowing over its banks during all the days of harvest), read more. the waters flowing down from above stood [still]; they stood up [in] one heap very far from Adam, the city that [is] beside Zarethan, while [the waters] flowing down to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, {were completely cut off}; and the people crossed [over] opposite Jericho. And the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firmly on the dry land in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation finished crossing the Jordan.
So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry the trumpets of the rams' horns before the ark of Yahweh." And he said to the people, "Go forward and march around the city, and let the armed [men] pass before the ark of Yahweh. read more. {And when Joshua spoke} to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the presence of Yahweh went forward and they blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh followed behind them. And the armed [men] went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they were blowing the trumpets. But Joshua commanded the people, saying, "You will not shout, and you will not let your voice be heard; a word will not go out from your mouth until the day I say to you 'Shout!' Then you will shout." And the ark of Yahweh went around the city, {circling once}, and they came [into] the camp and spent the night in the camp. Then Joshua got up early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of Yahweh. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of the rams' horns before the ark of Yahweh went on continually, and they blew on the trumpets. And the armed [men] went before them, and [the] rear guard came after the ark of Yahweh, while the trumpets blew continually. And they marched around the city once on the second day, and they returned [to] the camp. They did [this] for six days. Then on the seventh day they rose early at dawn, and they marched around the city in this manner seven times. [It was] only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time the priests blew on the trumpets, and Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For Yahweh has given you the city. The city and all that is in it will be devoted to Yahweh; only Rahab the prostitute and all who [are] with her in the house will live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. As for you, keep [away] from the things devoted to destruction so that you do not take them and bring about your own destruction, making the camp of Israel an object for destruction, bringing trouble upon it. But all of the silver and gold, and the items of bronze and iron, [are] holy to Yahweh, and they must go to Yahweh's treasury." So the people shouted, and they blew on the trumpets. And when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout, and the wall fell flat. {The people charged, each one straight ahead into the city}, and they captured it. And they utterly destroyed {by the edge of the sword} all who [were] in the city, both men and women, young and old, ox, sheep, and donkey. Then Joshua said to the two men who spied on the land, "Go [to] the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, just as you swore to her." So the young men who were spies went and brought Rahab and her father and mother, her brothers, and all who were with her. And they brought all her family out and set them outside the camp of Israel. And they burned the city and all that [was] in it with fire; they put only the silver and gold, and the items of copper and iron, [into] the treasury of the house of Yahweh. But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute {and her family} and all who [were] with her, and she has lived in the midst of Israel until this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh, on the day Yahweh gave the Amorites over to the {Israelites}, and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun in Gibeon, stand still, and moon, in the valley of Aijalon." And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until [the] nation took vengeance [on] its enemies. Is it not written in the scroll of Jashar? The sun stood still in the middle of the heaven and was not in haste to set for about a full day. read more. There has not been a day like this before it or after, that Yahweh listened to the voice of man; for Yahweh fought for Israel.
Gideon said to him, "Excuse me, my lord. [If] Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, 'Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?' But now Yahweh has forsaken us; he has given us into the palm of Midian."
Gideon said to him, "Excuse me, my lord. [If] Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, 'Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?' But now Yahweh has forsaken us; he has given us into the palm of Midian."
It happened at the moment the king heard the word of the man of God that he cried out against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, "Seize him!" But his hand which he stretched out to him was paralyzed, and he was not able to draw it back to himself. Then the altar was torn [apart] and the ashes from the altar poured out according to the sign which the man of God had announced by the word of Yahweh. read more. Then the king responded and said to the man of God, "Please entreat the favor of Yahweh your God, and pray for me that my hand may return to me." So the man of God entreated the face of Yahweh, and the hand of the king returned to him, as it was in the beginning.
For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: 'The jar of flour will not be emptied and the jug of olive oil will not run out until the day Yahweh gives rain on the surface of the earth.'" So she went and did according to the word of Elijah; then [both] she and he ate with her household for many days. read more. The jar of flour was not emptied and the jug of olive oil did not run out, according to the word of Yahweh which he spoke by the hand of Elijah. It happened after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; and his illness was very severe until there was no breath left in him. She said to Elijah, "{What do you have against me}, O man of God, [that] you have come to me to make known my guilt and to cause my son to die?" Then he said to her, "Give me your son." He took him from her lap and carried him up to the upper room where he was staying, and he laid him on his bed. Then he called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, are you also causing evil to come upon the widow with whom I [am] dwelling as an alien by causing her son to die?" He stretched himself out on the child three times and called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, please let the life of this child return within him." Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned within him, and he lived. Elijah then took the child and brought him down from the upper room to the house and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, "Look, your son [is] alive." Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now this I know, that you [are] a man of God and the word of Yahweh in your mouth [is] truth."
Then fifty men from the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite [them] at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water. It divided {in two}, and the two of them crossed over on dry land.
Then they [were] walking, talking as they went. Suddenly a fiery chariot with horses of fire [appeared] and separated between the two of them. Elijah went up in the storm [to] the heavens
He took Elijah's cloak that had fallen from upon him and struck the water. Then he said, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?" So he also struck the water, and it divided {in two}, and Elisha crossed over.
The men of the city said to Elisha, "Please now, the location of the city [is] good, as my master can see, but the water [is] bad and the land unproductive." So he said, "Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. read more. Then he went out to the spring of waters and threw the salt [into it] there and said, "Thus says Yahweh, 'I hereby purify these waters; let there be no longer any death or unproductiveness from it.'" Then the waters were purified until this very day according to the word of Elisha that he spoke.
He said, "Thus says Yahweh, 'Make this wadi {full of cisterns},' for thus says Yahweh, 'You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this wadi will be full of water; and you and all of your livestock and your animals shall drink.' read more. And since this is too trivial in the eyes of Yahweh, he will also give Moab into your hand, and you shall defeat every fortified city, every choice city, and you shall fell every good tree. All of the springs of water you shall stop up, and every tract of good land you shall ruin with the stones." It happened in the morning about the time of the [morning] offering, that water was suddenly coming from the direction of Edom and the land was filled with water.
Elisha asked her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" Then she said, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of olive oil." Then he said to her, "Go, ask for yourself [some] containers from the streets, from all your neighbors. {You must collect as many empty containers as you can}! read more. You must also go and shut the door behind you and your children, and you must pour out [oil] into all of these containers and set the filled [ones] aside." So she went from him, and she shut the door behind her and her children. They [were] bringing [containers] to her, and she [kept] pouring. It happened that when the containers were full, she said to her son, "Bring near me another container," but he said to her, "There is not another container." Then the olive oil stopped flowing. So she came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the olive oil and repay your debt. You and your sons can live on what is left over."
When Elisha came to the house, here [was] the boy dead, lying on his bed. He went and closed the door behind the two of them and prayed to Yahweh. read more. Then he went up and lay upon the child and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his palms on his palms. As he bent down over him, the flesh of the boy became warm. He returned and went {to and fro} in the house one time, then he went up and bent over him. Then the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. [Elisha] called to Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her and she came to him; then he said, "Pick up your son." She came and fell at his feet and bowed down to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out. So Elisha returned to Gilgal. Now the famine [was] in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his servant, put on the large pot and cook a stew for the sons of the prophets. One went out to the field to gather herbs, and he found a {wild vine} and gathered wild gourds from it [and] filled his cloak. Then he came and cut them into the pot of stew, but they did not know [what they were]. They served the men to eat, but when they ate from the stew, they cried out and said, "There [is] death in the pot, man of God!" They were not able to eat [it]. Then he said, "Bring [some] flour," and he threw it into the pot. He then said, "Serve the people and let them eat." There was nothing harmful in the pot. A man came from Baal-Shalishah and brought food to the man of God: firstfruits and twenty loaves of barley bread, with ripe grain in his sack. He said, "Give [it] to the people and let them eat." Then his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred men?" He said, "Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus Yahweh says, 'They shall eat and have some left over.'" So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of Yahweh.
Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go, you must wash seven times in the Jordan, then your flesh shall return to you, and you shall be clean." But Naaman became angry and he went and said, "Look, I said to myself, 'Surely he will come out, stand, call upon the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hands over the spot; then he would take away the skin disease.' read more. Are not the Abana and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all of the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them that I may be clean?" Then he turned and left in anger. But his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, [if] the prophet had spoken a difficult thing to you to do, would you not have done [it]? [Why not] even when he says to you, 'Wash and you shall be clean'?" So he went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh returned as the flesh of a small boy, and he was clean.
It happened as the one [was] felling the log, that the iron ax fell into the water. He called out and said, "Oh, no! My master, it was borrowed!" Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" So he showed him the place, and then he cut off a stick and threw [it] there and made the iron ax float. read more. Then he said, "Pick [it] up for yourself," so he stretched out his hand and took it.
And it happened that they [were] burying a man; suddenly they saw the marauding band, so they threw the man in the grave of Elisha. [As he] went [in], the man touched the bones of Elisha, and became alive and got up on his feet!
Isaiah said, "This [is] the sign for you from Yahweh that Yahweh will do the thing that he has promised: Shall the shadow advance ten steps or shall it return ten steps?" Hezekiah answered, "It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. No, but let the shadow return backwards ten steps." read more. Isaiah the prophet called to Yahweh, and he brought back the shadow on the steps where it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz, backwards ten steps.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with anger and the image of his face was changed {toward} Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, [so he] {ordered and said} to heat up the one furnace seven times what was usual to heat [it] up. And he commanded {the strongest men of the guards} who [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and to throw [them] into the furnace of blazing fire. read more. Then these men were bound with their garments, their trousers and their turbans and their [other] clothing, and they were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. {Therefore} {because} the word of the king was severe and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed these men who lifted up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. But these men, the three of them, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell down into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, [and they] were bound. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and he rose up in haste [and] he asked, saying to his advisers, "[Did] we not throw three men, bound, into the midst of the fire? They answered, saying to the king, "Certainly, O king!" {He answered}, saying, "Look, I see four men unbound walking in the midst of the fire and there is no damage to them, and the appearance of the fourth [man] resembles the son of a god." Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire, [and] he called out, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, {servants} of the Most High God, come out and come here!" And the satraps, the prefects, the governors and the advisors of the king [were] assembling, [and] they saw these men, that the fire had no power over their bodies, and the hair of their heads was not singed, and their garments were not harmed, and the smell of fire did not come from them.
Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought in and they threw [him] into {the lion pit}. {The king said} to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve {faithfully}, may he rescue you!" And a stone was brought and it was put on the entrance of the pit, and the king sealed it with his signet [ring] and with the signet [rings] of his lords, so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel. read more. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night in fasting, and no food was brought in before him and his sleep fled from him. Then the king got up at daybreak, at first light, and he went {in haste} to {the lion pit}. And {when he came near} to the pit, he cried out to Daniel with distressed voice, [and] the king {spoke} and said to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, your God whom you serve faithfully, was he able to rescue you from the lions?" Then Daniel spoke to the king, "O king, live {forever}! My God sent his angel and he shut the mouth of the lions and they did not hurt me, {because} before him {I was found} blameless, and also before you, O king, I have not done [any] wrong." Then the king was exceedingly glad over it and commanded [that] Daniel be lifted up from the pit; and [there] was not any wound found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
And behold, a leper approached [and] worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to make me clean." And extending his hand he touched him, saying, "I am willing, be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. read more. And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them." Now [when] he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my slave is lying paralyzed in my house, terribly tormented!" And he said to him, "I will come [and] heal him." And the centurion answered [and] said, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. But only say the word and my slave will be healed. For I also am a man under authority who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does [it]." Now [when] Jesus heard [this], he was astonished, and said to those who were following [him], "Truly I say to you, I have found such great faith with no one in Israel. But I say to you that many will come from east and west and {be seated at the banquet} with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!" And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go, as you have believed it will be done for you." And the slave was healed at that hour. And [when] Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down and suffering with a fever. And he touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him.
And [as] he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, a great storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being inundated by the waves, but he himself was asleep. read more. And they came [and] woke him, saying, "Lord, save [us]! We are perishing!" And he said to them, "Why are you fearful, [you] of little faith?" Then he got up [and] rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. And the men were astonished, saying, "What sort of [man] is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" And [when] he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from among the tombs met him, very violent, so that no one was able to pass by along that road. And behold, they cried out, saying, "{What do you have to do with us}, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" Now a long way from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons implored him, saying, "If you are going to expel us, send us into the herd of pigs." And he said to them, "Go!" So they departed [and] went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed headlong down the steep slope into the sea and drowned in the water. Now the herdsmen fled and went into the town [and] reported everything, including the things concerning the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and [when they] saw him, they implored [him] that he would depart from their region.
And behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher, and [when] Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Have courage, child, your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming!" read more. And knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your stretcher and go to your home." And he got up [and] went to his home.
[As] he was saying these [things] to them, behold, one of the rulers came [and] knelt down before him, saying, "My daughter has just now died, but come, place your hand on her and she will live!" And Jesus and his disciples got up [and] followed him. read more. And behold, a woman who had been suffering with a hemorrhage twelve years approached from behind [and] touched the edge of his cloak,
And behold, a woman who had been suffering with a hemorrhage twelve years approached from behind [and] touched the edge of his cloak, for she said to herself, "If only I touch his cloak I will be healed."
for she said to herself, "If only I touch his cloak I will be healed." But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Have courage, daughter! Your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that hour.
But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Have courage, daughter! Your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that hour. And [when] Jesus came into the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd, read more. he said, "Go away, because the girl is not dead, but is sleeping." And they ridiculed him. But when the crowd had been sent out, he entered [and] took her hand, and the girl got up. And this report went out into that whole region. And [as] Jesus was going away from there, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" And [when he] came into the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be done for you." And their eyes were opened, and Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See [that] no one finds out." But they went out [and] spread the report about him in that whole region. Now [as] they were going away, behold, they brought to him a demon-possessed man [who was] unable to speak. And [after] the demon had been expelled, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished, saying, "{This has never been seen before} in Israel!"
And behold, [there was] a man who had a withered hand, and they asked him, saying, "Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?" in order that they could accuse him. But he said to them, "What man will there be among you who will have one sheep and if this one fell into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift [it] out? read more. Then to what degree [is] a man worth more than a sheep? So then, it is permitted to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand," and he stretched [it] out, and it was restored [as] healthy as the other [one].
Then a demon-possessed man [who was] blind and mute was brought to him. And he healed him so that the [man who was] mute could speak and see.
Now [when it] was evening, the disciples came to him saying, "The place is desolate and the hour {is late}. Release the crowds so that they can go away into the villages [and] purchase food for themselves." But Jesus said to them, "They do not {need} to go away. You give them [something] to eat." read more. And they said to him, "We do not have [anything] here except five loaves and two fish." So he said, "Bring them here to me." And he commanded the crowds to recline for a meal on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish [and] looking up to heaven, he gave thanks. And [after] breaking [them], he gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. Now those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
But the boat was already many stadia distant from the land, being beaten by the waves, because the wind was against [it]. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. read more. But the disciples, [when they] saw him walking on the sea, were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Have courage, I am [he]! Do not be afraid!" And Peter answered him [and] said, "Lord, if {it is you}, command me to come to you on the water!" So he said, "Come!" And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But [when he] saw the strong wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus extended his hand [and] caught him and said to him, "[You] of little faith! Why did you doubt?" And [when] they got into the boat, the wind abated. So those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God!"
And departing from there, Jesus went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that district came [and] cried out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter [is] severely possessed by a demon!" read more. But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came up [and] asked him, saying, "Send her away, because she is crying out after us!" But he answered [and] said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came [and] knelt down before him, saying, "Lord, help me!" And he answered [and] said, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw [it] to the dogs!" So she said, "Yes, Lord, for even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered [and] said to her, "O woman, your faith [is] great! Let it be done for you as you want." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
And Jesus summoned his disciples [and] said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have remained with me three days already and do not have anything to eat, and I do not want to send them away hungry lest they give out on the way." And the disciples said to him, "Where in [this] desolate place {can we get} so much bread that such a great crowd could be satisfied?" read more. And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" So they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." And commanding the crowd to recline for a meal on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish and [after he] had given thanks, he broke [them] and began giving [them] to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven baskets full. Now those who ate were four thousand men, in addition to women and children.
And [when they] came to the crowd, a man approached him, kneeling down before him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water. read more. And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to heal him." And Jesus answered [and] said, "O unbelieving and perverse generation! {How long} will I be with you? {How long} must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!" And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him and the boy was healed from that hour.
Now [when] they arrived in Capernaum, the ones who collected the double drachma [tax] came up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the double drachma [tax]?" He said, "Yes." And [when he] came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes--from their own sons, or from foreigners?" read more. And [when he] said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast [a line with] a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And [when you] open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that [and] give [it] to them for me and you."
And behold, [there were] two blind men sitting beside the road. [When they] heard that Jesus was passing by, they called out, saying, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" And the crowd rebuked them so that they would be quiet. But they called out all the more, saying, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" read more. And Jesus stopped, called them, and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, that our eyes be opened!" And having compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they received [their] sight and followed him.
Now early in the morning, [as he] was returning to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a single fig tree by the road, he went to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. And he said to it, "May there be no more fruit from you {forever}, and the fig tree withered at once. read more. And [when they] saw [it], the disciples were astonished, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" And Jesus answered [and] said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will do not only [what was done to] the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea," it will happen! And whatever you ask in prayer, [if you] believe, you will receive."
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear, and will produce great signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
And so then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, saying, "{Leave us alone}, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" read more. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And [after] convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that [they began] to discuss with one another, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him." And the report about him then went out everywhere in the whole surrounding region of Galilee.
Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying down, suffering with a fever, and at once they told him about her. And he came [and] raised her up [by] taking hold of her hand, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
And a leper came to him, entreating him and kneeling down, saying to him, "If you are willing, you are able to make me clean." And becoming angry, he stretched out his hand [and] touched [him], and said to him, "I am willing; be made clean." read more. And immediately the leprosy went away from him and he was made clean. And warning him sternly, he sent him away at once. And he said to him, "See to it that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and bring for your cleansing [the things] which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. But he went out [and] began to proclaim [it] freely and to spread abroad the account, so that he was no longer able to enter publicly into a town. But he was staying outside in deserted places, and they were coming to him from all directions.
And they came bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four [of them]. And [when] they were not able to bring [him] to him because of the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. And [after] digging through, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying. read more. And [when] Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they were reasoning like this within themselves, said to them, "Why are you considering these [things] in your hearts? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Get up and pick up your stretcher and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"--he said to the paralytic-- "I say to you, get up, pick up your stretcher, and go to your home." And he got up and immediately picked up his stretcher [and] went out in front of [them] all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen [anything] like this!"
And leaving the crowd, they took him along, as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. And a great storm of wind developed, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already being filled [with water]. read more. And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, is it not a concern to you that we are perishing?" And he woke up [and] rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Be quiet! Be silent!" And the wind abated and there was a great calm. And he said to them, "Why are you fearful? Do you not yet have faith?" And {they were terribly frightened} and began to say to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
And they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. And [as] he was getting out of the boat, immediately from the tombs a man with an unclean spirit went to meet him, read more. who {lived} among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him any longer, not even with a chain, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the shackles had been shattered. And no one was strong [enough] to subdue him. And during every night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was crying out and cutting himself with stones. And [when he] saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. And crying out with a loud voice he said, "{What have I to do with you}, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me!" (For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!") And he was asking him "{What is your name}?" And he said to him, "My name [is] Legion, because we are many." And he was imploring him many [times] that he would not send them out of the region. Now a large herd of pigs was there at the hill feeding, and they implored him, saying, "Send us to the pigs so that we may enter into them." And he permitted them. And the unclean spirits came out [and] entered into the pigs, and the herd--about two thousand--rushed headlong down the steep slope into the sea and were drowned in the sea. And their herdsmen fled and reported [it] in the town and in the countryside, and they came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting [there] clothed and in his right mind--the one who had had the legion--and they were afraid. And those who had seen [it] described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man, and about the pigs. And they began to urge him to depart from their region. And [as] he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed began to implore him that he could go with him. And he did not permit him, but said to him, "Go to your home to your [people] and tell them all that the Lord has done for you, and [that] he has had mercy on you." And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him, and they were all astonished.
And one of the rulers of the synagogue came--Jairus by name--and [when he] saw him, he fell down at his feet. And he was imploring him many [times], saying, "My little daughter {is at the point of death}! Come, lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and will live." read more. And he went with him, and a large crowd was following him and pressing around him. And [there was] a woman who was {suffering from hemorrhages} twelve years.
And [there was] a woman who was {suffering from hemorrhages} twelve years. And she had endured many [things] under many physicians, and had spent {all that she had} and had received no [help] at all, but instead {became worse}.
And she had endured many [things] under many physicians, and had spent {all that she had} and had received no [help] at all, but instead {became worse}. [When she] heard about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind [him] [and] touched his cloak,
[When she] heard about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind [him] [and] touched his cloak, for she was saying, "If I touch just his clothing, I will be healed!"
for she was saying, "If I touch just his clothing, I will be healed!" And immediately her {hemorrhage stopped} and she realized in her body that she was healed of her suffering.
And immediately her {hemorrhage stopped} and she realized in her body that she was healed of her suffering. And immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself [that] power had gone out from himself, turned around in the crowd [and] said, "Who touched my clothing?"
And immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself [that] power had gone out from himself, turned around in the crowd [and] said, "Who touched my clothing?" And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing upon you, and you say 'Who touched me?'"
And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing upon you, and you say 'Who touched me?'" And he was looking around to see the one who had done this.
And he was looking around to see the one who had done this. So the woman, frightened and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.
So the woman, frightened and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. But he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be well from your suffering."
But he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be well from your suffering." [While] he was still speaking, they came from the synagogue ruler's [house] saying, "Your daughter has died. Why trouble the Teacher further?" read more. But Jesus, ignoring {what was said}, told the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid--only believe!" And he did not allow anyone to follow along with him except Peter and James and John, the brother of James. And they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and saw a commotion, and [people] weeping and wailing loudly. And [when he] entered, he said to them, "Why are you agitated and weeping? The child is not dead, but is sleeping." And they began laughing at him. But he sent [them] all out [and] took along the father and mother of the child, and those [who were] with him, and went in to where the child was. And taking hold of the child's hand, he said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"), and immediately the girl stood up and began walking around (for she was twelve years old). And {immediately they were utterly and completely astonished}. And he commanded them strictly that no one should learn of this, and said to give her [something] to eat.
And the hour had already become late [when] his disciples came up to him, saying, "The place is desolate and the hour [is] already late. Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding farms and villages [and] purchase something to eat for themselves." read more. But he answered [and] said to them, "You give them [something] to eat." And they said to him, "Should we go [and] purchase bread for two hundred denarii and give [it] to them to eat?" And he said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go look!" And [when they] found out, they said, "Five, and two fish." And he ordered them all to recline in groups on the green grass. And they reclined in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish [and] looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves and gave [them] to his disciples so that they could set [them] before them. And he distributed the two fish to [them] all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up the broken pieces, twelve baskets full, and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
And [when] evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he [was] alone on the land. And he saw them being beaten in their rowing because the wind was against them. Around the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he was wanting to pass by them. read more. But [when] they saw him walking on the sea, they thought that it was a ghost, and they cried out. For they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke with them and said to them, "Have courage, I am [he]! Do not be afraid!" And he went up with them into the boat, and the wind abated. And {they were extraordinarily} astounded within themselves,
They ran about [through] that whole region and began to carry around those {who were sick} on stretchers, wherever they heard that he was. And wherever he would go, into villages or into towns or to farms, they would put those who were sick in the marketplaces and would implore him that if they could touch even the edge of his cloak. And all those who touched it were healed.
And from there he set out [and] went to the region of Tyre. And [when he] entered into a house, he wanted no one to know, and [yet] he was not able to escape notice. But immediately a woman whose young daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, [when she] heard about him, came [and] fell down at his feet, read more. Now the woman was a Greek--a Syrophoenician by nationality--and she was asking him that he would expel the demon from her daughter. And he said to her, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw [it] to the dogs!" But she answered and said to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." And he said to her, "Because of this statement, go! The demon has gone out of your daughter." And [when she] went to her home, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone. And again he went away from the region of Tyre [and] came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, and they were imploring him that he would place his hand on him. And he took him away from the crowd by himself [and] put his fingers into his ears, and [after] spitting, he touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!"). And his ears were opened and {his difficulty in speaking was removed} and he began to speak normally. And he ordered them that they should say nothing, but as much as he ordered them [not to], they proclaimed [it] even more instead. And they were amazed beyond all measure, saying, "He has done all [things] well! He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!"
And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought to him a blind man and implored him that he would touch him. And he took hold of the blind man's hand [and] led him outside the village, and [after] spitting in his eyes, he placed his hands on him [and] asked him, "Do you see anything?" read more. And looking up he said, "I see people, for I see [them] like trees walking around." Then he placed his hands on his eyes again, and he opened his eyes and was cured, and could see everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even go into the village."
And [when they] came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. And immediately the whole crowd, [when they] saw him, were amazed, and ran up to [him] [and] greeted him. read more. And he asked them, "What are you arguing [about] with them?" And one [individual] from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought to you my son who has {a spirit that makes him mute}. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes paralyzed. And I told your disciples that they should expel it, and they were not able [to do so]. And he answered them [and] said, "O unbelieving generation! {How long} will I be with you? {How long} must I put up with you? Bring him to me!" And they brought him to him. And [when he] saw him, the spirit immediately convulsed him, and falling on the ground, he began to roll around, foaming at the mouth. And he asked his father how long it was since this had been happening to him. And he said, "From childhood. And often it has thrown him both into fire and into water, in order that it could destroy him. But if you are able [to do] anything, have compassion on us [and] help us!" But Jesus said to him, "If you are able! All [things] [are] possible for the one who believes!" Immediately the father of the child cried out [and] said, "I believe! Help my unbelief!" Now [when] Jesus saw that a crowd was running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter into him no more!" And it came out, screaming and convulsing [him] greatly, and he became as if [he were] dead, so that most [of them] said, "He has died!" But Jesus took hold of his hand [and] raised him up, and he stood up.
And they came to Jericho. And [as] he was setting out from Jericho along with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road. And [when he] heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" read more. And many [people] warned him that he should be quiet. But he was crying out {even more loudly}, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped [and] said, "Call him." And they called the blind man [and] said to him, "Have courage! Get up! He is calling you." And he threw off his cloak, jumped up, [and] came to Jesus. And Jesus answered him [and] said, "What do you want {me to do} for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabboni, that I may regain [my] sight." And Jesus said to him, "Go, your faith has healed you." And immediately he regained [his] sight and began to follow him on the road.
And on the next day [as] they were departing from Bethany, he was hungry. And [when he] saw from a distance a fig tree that had leaves, he went [to see] if perhaps he would find anything on it. And [when he] came up to it he found nothing except leaves, because it was not the season for figs. read more. And he responded [and] said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you any more {forever}!" And his disciples heard [it]. And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered into the temple [courts] [and] began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple [courts], and overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling doves. And he did not permit anyone to carry objects through the temple [courts]. And he began to teach and was saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations,' but you have made it a cave of robbers!" And the chief priests and the scribes heard [it], and began considering how they could destroy him. For they were afraid of him because the whole crowd was astounded by his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city. And [as they] passed by early in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. And Peter remembered [and] said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered!" And Jesus answered [and] said to them, "Have faith in God! Truly I say to you that whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be [done] for him. For this [reason] I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received [it], and it will be [done] for you.
The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will expel demons, they will speak in new tongues, read more. they will pick up snakes. And if they drink any deadly [poison] it will never hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and {they will get} well."
And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, "Ha! {Leave us alone}, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" read more. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent and come out of him!" And [after] throwing him down in their midst, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all. And amazement came upon [them] all, and they began to talk with one another, saying, "What word [is] this? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!" And news about him went out into every place of the surrounding region. And [after he] set out from the synagogue, he went into Simon's house. And Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a high fever, and they asked him on behalf of her. And he stood over her [and] rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she got up [and] began to serve them.
Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around him and hearing the word of God, he was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats there beside the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them [and] were washing their nets. read more. And he got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, [and] asked him to put out from the land a little. And he sat down [and] began to teach the crowds from the boat. And when he stopped speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered [and] said, "Master, [although we] worked hard through the whole night, we caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets." And [when they] did this, they caught a very large number of fish, and their nets began to tear. And they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come [and] help them, and they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink. And [when he] saw [it], Simon Peter fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, Lord, because I am {a sinful man}!" For amazement had seized him and all those [who were] with him at the catch of fish that they had caught, and so also [were] James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were business partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid! From now on you will be catching people!" And [after they] brought [their] boats to the land, they left everything [and] followed him. And it happened that while he was in one of the towns, {there was} a man {covered with leprosy}. And [when he] saw Jesus, he fell down on [his] face [and] begged him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to make me clean." And extending [his] hand he touched him, saying, "I am willing; be clean." And immediately the leprosy went away from him. And he ordered him, "Tell no one, but go [and] show yourself to the priest and bring [the offering] for your cleansing just as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. But the report about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering to hear [him] and to be healed of their illnesses.
And behold, men [came] carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and place [him] before him. And [when they] did not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof [and] let him down through the roof tiles with the stretcher into the midst [of them], in front of Jesus. read more. And [when he] saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?" But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered [and] said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?' But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he said to the one who was paralyzed, "I say to you, 'Get up and pick up your stretcher [and] go to your home.'" And immediately he stood up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, [and] went away to his home, glorifying God. And amazement seized [them] all, and they began to glorify God. And they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen wonderful things today!"
Now it happened that on another Sabbath he entered into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there, and his right hand was withered. So the scribes and the Pharisees were watching closely [to see] if he would heal on the Sabbath, in order that they could find [a reason] to accuse him. read more. But he knew their thoughts and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Get up and stand in the middle," and he got up [and] stood there. And Jesus said to them, "I ask you whether it is permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy [it]?" And [after] looking around at them all, he said to him, "Stretch out your hand," and he did, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury, and began discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.
After he had finished all his statements in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. Now a certain centurion's slave, who was esteemed by him, {was sick} [and] was about to die. read more. So [when he] heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to him, asking him that he would come [and] cure his slave. And [when they] came to Jesus, they began imploring him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy [that] you grant this for him, because he loves our nation and he himself built the synagogue for us." So Jesus went with them. Now by this time he was not far away from the house, [and] the centurion sent friends, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. For this reason neither did I consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word and my slave must be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does [it]." And [when] Jesus heard these [things], he marveled at him, and turning around to the crowd that was following him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!" And [when they] returned to the house, those who had been sent found the slave healthy. And it happened that on the next [day] he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. And as he approached the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, his mother's only son, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. And [when] the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep!" And he came up [and] touched the bier, and those who were carrying [it] stopped. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and he gave him to his mother. And fear seized [them] all, and they began to glorify God, saying, "A great prophet has appeared among us!" and "God has visited to help his people!" And this report about him went out in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.
Now it happened that on one of the days both he and his disciples got into a boat, and he said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they set sail, and [as] they were sailing, he fell asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were being swamped and were in danger. read more. And they came [and] woke him up, saying, "Master, master! We are perishing!" So he got up [and] rebuked the wind and the billowing waves of water and they ceased, and it became calm. And he said to them, "Where [is] your faith?" But they were afraid [and] were astonished, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water and they obey him?" And they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And [as] he got out on the land, a certain man from the town met [him] who had demons and for a considerable time had not worn clothes and did not live in a house, but among the tombs. And [when he] saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "{What do I have to do with you}, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me!" For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, and he was bound with chains and shackles [and] was guarded, and breaking the bonds he would be driven by the demon into the deserted places.) So Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many demons had entered into him. And they began imploring him that he would not order them to depart into the abyss. Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding there on the hill, and they implored him that he would permit them to enter into those [pigs]. And he permitted them. So the demons came out of the man [and] entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed headlong down the steep slope into the lake and were drowned. And [when] the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and reported [it] in the town and in the countryside. So they went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting [there] clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus, and they were afraid. And those who had seen [it] reported to them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. And all the people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, because they had been seized with great fear. So he got into the boat [and] returned. And the man from who the demons had gone out was begging him to stay with him, but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home and tell all that God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.
And behold, a man {who was named} Jairus came, and this man was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at the feet of Jesus [and] began imploring him to come to his house, because {he had} an only daughter, about twelve years [old], and she was dying. Now as he was going, the crowds were pressing against him. read more. And a woman who was {suffering from hemorrhages} for twelve years (who, [although she] had spent all [her] assets on physicians, was not able to be healed by anyone)
And a woman who was {suffering from hemorrhages} for twelve years (who, [although she] had spent all [her] assets on physicians, was not able to be healed by anyone) came up behind [him] [and] touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately {her hemorrhaging} stopped.
came up behind [him] [and] touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately {her hemorrhaging} stopped. And Jesus said, "Who [is] the one who touched me?" And [when they] all denied [it], Peter said, "Master, the crowds are pressing you hard and crowding [you]!"
And Jesus said, "Who [is] the one who touched me?" And [when they] all denied [it], Peter said, "Master, the crowds are pressing you hard and crowding [you]!" But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, because I know power has gone out from me."
But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, because I know power has gone out from me." And [when] the woman saw that she did not escape notice, she came trembling and falling down before him. In the presence of all the people, she told for what reason she had touched him, and that she was healed immediately.
And [when] the woman saw that she did not escape notice, she came trembling and falling down before him. In the presence of all the people, she told for what reason she had touched him, and that she was healed immediately. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace." [While] he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue ruler's [house], saying, "Your daughter is dead! Trouble the Teacher no longer!" read more. But Jesus, [when he] heard [this], replied to him, "Do not be afraid! Only believe, and she will be healed." Now [when he] came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him except Peter and John and James and the father and mother of the child. And they were all weeping and mourning for her, but he said, "Do not weep! For she is not dead, but is sleeping." And they began laughing at him, [because they] knew that she was dead. But he took her hand [and] called, saying, "Child, get up." And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately, and he ordered [something] to be given to her to eat. And her parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
Now the day began to be far spent, and the twelve came up [and] said to him, "Send away the crowd so that they can go into the surrounding villages and farms to obtain lodging and find provisions, because we are here in a desolate place. But he said to them, "You give them [something] to eat!" And they said, "{We have no} more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go [and] purchase food for all these people." read more. (For there were about five thousand men.) So he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." And they did so, and had [them] all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, [and] looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them and began giving [them] to the disciples to set before the crowd. And [they] all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up by them--twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Now it happened that on the next day, [when] they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, saying, "Teacher, I beg you to look with concern on my son, because he is my only [son]! read more. And behold, a spirit seizes him and suddenly he screams, and it convulses him with foam and rarely withdraws from him, battering him severely. And I begged your disciples that they would expel it, and they were not able [to do so]." So Jesus answered [and] said, "O unbelieving and perverted generation! {How long} will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!" And [while] he was still approaching, the demon threw him down and convulsed [him]. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
And he was expelling a mute demon. Now it happened that [when] the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished.
And behold, a woman [was there] who had a spirit {that had disabled her} [for] eighteen years, and she was bent over and not able to straighten herself up completely. And [when he] saw her, Jesus summoned [her] and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability!" read more. And he placed [his] hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, answered [and] said to the crowd, "There are six days on which it is necessary to work. Therefore come [and] be healed on them, and not on the day of the Sabbath!" But the Lord answered and said to him, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you untie his ox or [his] donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead [it] away to water [it]? And this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound {eighteen} long years--is it not necessary that she be released from this bond on the day of the Sabbath?" And [when] he said these [things], all those who opposed him were humiliated, and the whole crowd was rejoicing at all the splendid things that were being done by him.
And it happened that while traveling toward Jerusalem, he was passing through {the region between} Samaria and Galilee. And [as] he was entering into a certain village, ten men met [him]--lepers, who stood at a distance. read more. And they raised [their] voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" And [when he] saw [them] he said to them, "Go [and] show yourselves to the priests." And it happened that as they were going, they were cleansed. But one of them, [when he] saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. And he fell on [his] face at his feet, giving thanks to him. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered [and] said, "Were not ten cleansed? And where [are] the nine? Was no one found to turn back [and] give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Get up [and] go your way. Your faith has saved you."
Now it happened that as he drew near to Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting on the side of the road begging. And [when he] heard a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. read more. And they told him, "Jesus the Nazarene is passing by." And he called out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, that he should be silent, but he cried out {even more loudly}, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stopped [and] ordered him to be brought to him. And [when] he approached, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And he said, "Lord, that I may regain [my] sight. And Jesus said to him, "Regain [your] sight! Your faith has saved you." And immediately he regained [his] sight and began to follow him, glorifying God. And all the people, [when they] saw [it], gave praise to God.
And a certain one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered [and] said, "{Stop! No more of this!}" And he touched [his] ear [and] healed him.
And on the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding. read more. And [when the] wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine!" And Jesus said to her, "What {does your concern have to do with me}, woman? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do [it]!" Now six stone water jars were set there, in accordance with the ceremonial cleansing of the Jews, each holding two or three measures. Jesus said to them, "Fill the water jars with water." And they filled them to the brim. And he said to them, "Now draw [some] out and take [it] to the head steward. So they took [it]. Now when the head steward tasted the water which had become wine and did not know where it was from--but the servants who had drawn the water knew--the head steward summoned the bridegroom and said to him, "{Everyone} serves the good wine first, and whenever they are drunk, the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" This beginning of signs Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee, and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
Now he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And [there] was at Capernaum a certain royal official whose son was sick. This man, [when he] heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, went to him and asked that he come down and heal his son, for he was about to die. read more. So Jesus said to him, "Unless you [people] see signs and wonders, you will never believe!" The royal official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" Jesus said to him, "Go, your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he departed. Now [as] he was going down, his slaves met him, saying that his child was alive. So he inquired from them the hour at which he had gotten better. Then they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." So the father knew that [it was] that same hour at which Jesus said to him, "Your son will live," and he himself believed, and his whole household. Now this [is] again a second sign Jesus performed [when he] came from Judea into Galilee.
{Then Jesus, when he looked up} and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread so that these [people] can eat?" (Now he said this to test him, because he knew what he was going to do.) read more. Philip replied to him, "Two hundred denarii [worth of] bread would not be enough for them, in order that each one could receive a little." One of his disciples, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many [people]?" Jesus said, "Make the people recline." (Now [there] was a lot of grass in the place.) So the men reclined, approximately five thousand [in] number. Then Jesus took the bread, and [after he] had given thanks, he distributed [it] to those who were reclining--likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, "Gather the remaining fragments so that nothing is lost." So they gathered [them], and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Now [when] the people saw the sign that he performed, they began to say, "This one is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world!"
Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea. And getting into a boat, they began to go to the other side of the sea, to Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. read more. And the sea began to be stirred up [because] a strong wind was blowing. Then [when they] had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were afraid. But he said to them, "[It] is I! Do not be afraid!" So they were wanting to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land to which they were going.
Then Jesus, deeply moved within himself again, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying on it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the one who had died, said to him, "Lord, he is stinking already, because it has been four days." read more. Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes above and said, "Father, I give thanks to you that you hear me. And I know that you always hear me, but for the sake of the crowd standing around I said [it], so that they may believe that you sent me." And [when he] had said these [things], he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The one who had died came out, his feet and his hands bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped with a facecloth. Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go."
After these [things] Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now he revealed [himself] in this way: Simon Peter and Thomas (who was called Didymus) and Nathanael from Cana in Galilee and the [sons] of Zebedee and two others of his disciples were together. read more. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing!" They said to him, "We also are coming with you." They went out and got into the boat, and during that night they caught nothing. Now [when it] was already early morning, Jesus stood on the beach. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish to eat, [do you]? They answered him, "No." And he said to them, "Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find [some]." So they threw [it], and were no longer able to haul it in from the large number of the fish. Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" So Simon Peter, [when he] heard that it was the Lord, tied around himself his outer garment (for he was naked) and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net of fish, because they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away. So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire laid [there], and a fish lying on [it], and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just now caught." So Simon Peter got into [the boat] and hauled the net to the land, full of large fish--one hundred fifty-three--and [although there] were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come, eat breakfast!" But none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" [because they] knew that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave [it] to them, and the fish likewise. This [was] now [the] third [time] Jesus was revealed to the disciples [after he] had been raised from the dead.
Now there are also many other [things] that Jesus did, which--if they were written down one after the other--I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.
"Israelite men, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, just as [you] yourselves know--
Now a certain man {named} Simon had been in the city practicing magic and astonishing the people of Samaria, saying he was someone great.
And [when they] had crossed over the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain man, a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name [was] Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul [and] wished to hear the word of God. read more. But Elymas the magician (for his name is translated in this way) opposed them, attempting to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
and many of those who practiced magic brought together [their] books [and] burned [them] up in the sight of everyone. And they counted up their value and found [it was] {fifty thousand silver coins}.
Indeed, the signs of an apostle have been done among you with all patient endurance, both signs and wonders and deeds of power.
whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,
The greeting [is] by my hand, Paul's, which is {a sign of genuineness} in every letter: {this is how I write}.
And he performs great signs, so that he even causes fire from heaven to come down to the earth before people. And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it has been granted to him to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who has the wound of the sword and [yet] lived.
Smith
Miracles.
A miracle may be defined to be a plain and manifest exercise by a man, or by God at the call of a man, of those powers which belong only to the Creator and Lord of nature; and this for the declared object of attesting that a divine mission is given to that man. It is not, therefore, the wonder, the exception to common experience, that constitutes the miracle, as is assumed both in the popular use of the word and by most objectors against miracles. No phenomenon in nature, however unusual, no event in the course of God's providence, however unexpected, is a miracle unless it can be traced to the agency of man (including prayer under the term agency), and unless it be put forth as a proof of divine mission. Prodigies and special providences are not miracles. (A miracle is not a violation of the laws of nature. It is God's acting upon nature in a degree far beyond our powers, but the same king of act as our wills are continually exerting upon nature. We do not in lifting a stone interfere with any law of nature, but exert a higher force among the laws. Prof. Tyndall says that "science does assert that without a disturbance of natural law quite as serious as the stoppage of an eclipse, or the rolling of the St. Lawrence up the falls of Niagara, no act of humiliation, individual or nation, could call one shower from heaven." And yet men by firing cannon during battle can cause a shower: does that cause such a commotion among the laws of nature? The exertion of a will upon the laws does not make a disturbance of natural law; and a miracle is simply the exertion of God's will upon nature. --ED.) Again, the term "nature" suggests to many persons the idea of a great system of things endowed with powers and forces of its own --a sort of machine, set a-going originally by a first cause, but continuing its motions of itself. Hence we are apt to imagine that a change in the motion or operation of any part of it by God would produce the same disturbance of the other parts as such a change would be likely to produce in them if made by us or by any other natural agent. But if the motions and operations of material things be produced really by the divine will, then his choosing to change, for a special purpose, the ordinary motion of one part does not necessarily or probably imply his choosing to change the ordinary motions of other parts in a way not at all requisite for the accomplishment of that special purpose. It is as easy for him to continue the ordinary course of the rest, with the change of one part, as of all the phenomena without any change at all. Thus, though the stoppage of the motion of the earth in the ordinary course of nature would be attended with terrible convulsions, the stoppage of the earth miraculously, for a special purpose to be served by that only, would not of itself be followed by any such consequences. (Indeed, by the action of gravitation it could be stopped, as a stone thrown up is stopped, in less than two minutes, and yet so gently as not to stir the smallest feather or mote on its surface. --ED.) From the same conception of nature as a machine, we are apt to think of interferences with the ordinary course of nature as implying some imperfection in it. But it is manifest that this is a false analogy; for the reason why machines are made is to save us trouble; and, therefore, they are more perfect in proportion as they answer this purpose. But no one can seriously imagine that the universe is a machine for the purpose of saving trouble to the Almighty. Again, when miracles are described as "interferences with the law of nature," this description makes them appear improbable to many minds, from their not sufficiently considering that the laws of nature interfere with one another, and that we cannot get rid of "interferences" upon any hypothesis consistent with experience. The circumstances of the Christian miracles are utterly unlike those of any pretended instances of magical wonders. This difference consists in -- (1) The greatness, number, completeness and publicity of the miracles. (2) In the character of the miracles. They were all beneficial, helpful, instructive, and worthy of God as their author. (3) The natural beneficial tendency of the doctrine they attested. (4) The connection of them with a whole scheme of revelation extending from the origin of the human race to the time of Christ.
Watsons
MIRACLES. A miracle, in the popular sense, is a prodigy, or an extraordinary event, which surprises us by its novelty. In a more accurate and philosophic sense, a miracle is an effect which does not follow from any of the regular laws of nature, or which is inconsistent with some known law of it, or contrary to the settled constitution and course of things. Accordingly, all miracles presuppose an established system of nature, within the limits of which they operate, and with the order of which they disagree. Of a miracle in the theological sense many definitions have been given. That of Dr. Samuel Clarke is: "A miracle is a work effected in a manner unusual, or different from the common and regular method of providence, by the interposition of God himself, or of some intelligent agent superior to man, for the proof or evidence of some particular doctrine, or in attestation of the authority of some particular person." Mr. Hume has insidiously or erroneously maintained that a miracle is contrary to experience; but in reality it is only different from experience. Experience informs us that one event has happened often; testimony informs us that another event has happened once or more. That diseases should be generally cured by the application of external causes, and sometimes at the mere word of a prophet, and without the visible application of causes, are facts not inconsistent with each other in the nature of things themselves, nor irreconcilable according to our ideas. Each fact may arise from its own proper cause; each may exist independently of the other; and each is known by its own proper proof, whether of sense or testimony. As secret causes often produce events contrary to those we do expect from experience, it is equally conceivable that events should sometimes be produced which we do not expect. To pronounce, therefore, a miracle to be false, because it is different from experience, is only to conclude against its general existence from the very circumstance which constitutes its particular nature; for if it were not different from experience, where would be its singularity? or what particular proof could be drawn from it, if it happened according to the ordinary train of human events, or was included in the operation of the general laws of nature? We grant that it does differ from experience; but we do not presume to make our experience the standard of the divine conduct. He that acknowledges a God must, at least, admit the possibility of a miracle. The atheist, that makes him inseparable from what is called nature, and binds him to its laws by an insurmountable necessity; that deprives him of will, and wisdom, and power, as a distinct and independent Being; may deny even the very possibility of a miraculous interposition, which can in any instance suspend or counteract those general laws by which the world is governed. But he who allows of a First Cause in itself perfect and intelligent, abstractedly from those effects which his wisdom and power have produced, must at the same time allow that this cause can be under no such restraints as to be debarred the liberty of controlling its laws as often as it sees fit. Surely, the Being that made the world can govern it, or any part of it, in such a manner as he pleases; and he that constituted the very laws by which it is in general conducted, may suspend the operation of those laws in any given instance, or impress new powers on matter, in order to produce new and extraordinary effects.
In judging of miracles there are certain criteria, peculiar to the subject, sufficient to conduct our inquiries, and warrant our determination. Assuredly they do not appeal to our ignorance, for they presuppose not only the existence of a general order of things, but our actual knowledge of the appearance which that order exhibits, and of the secondary material causes from which it, in most cases, proceeds. If a miraculous event were effected by the immediate hand of God, and yet bore no mark of distinction from the ordinary effects of his agency, it would impress no conviction, and probably awaken no attention. Our knowledge of the ordinary course of things, though limited, is real; and therefore it is essential to a miracle, both that it differ from that course, and be accompanied with peculiar and unequivocal signs of such difference. We have been told that the course of nature is fixed and unalterable, and therefore it is not consistent with the immutability of God to perform miracles. But, surely, they who reason in this manner beg the point in question. We have no right to assume that the Deity has ordained such general laws as will exclude his interposition; and we cannot suppose that he would forbear to interfere where any important end could be answered. This interposition, though it controls, in particular cases, the energy, does not diminish the utility, of those laws. It leaves them to fulfil their own proper purposes, and affects only a distinct purpose, for which they were not calculated. If the course of nature implies the general laws of matter and motion, into which the most opposite phenomena may be resolved, it is certain that we do not yet know them in their full extent; and, therefore, that events, which are related by judicious and disinterested persons, and at the same time imply no gross contradiction, are possible in themselves, and capable of a certain degree of proof. If the course of nature implies the whole order of events which God has ordained for the government of the world, it includes both his ordinary and extraordinary dispensations, and among them miracles may have their place, as a part of the universal plan. It is, indeed, consistent with sound philosophy, and not inconsistent with pure religion, to acknowledge that they might be disposed by the supreme Being at the same time with the more ordinary effects of his power; that their causes and occasions might be arranged with the same regularity; and that, in reference chiefly to their concomitant circumstances of persons and times, to the specific ends for which they were employed, and to our idea of the immediate necessity there is for a divine agent, miracles would differ from common events, in which the hand of God acts as efficaciously, though less visibly. On this consideration of the subject, miracles, instead of contradicting nature, might form a part of it. But what our limited reason and scanty experience may comprehend should never be represented as a full and exact view of the possible or actual varieties which exist in the works of God.
2. If we be asked whether miracles are credible, we reply, that, abstractedly considered, they are not incredible; that they are capable of indirect proof from analogy, and of direct, from testimony; that in the common and daily course of worldly affairs, events, the improbability of which, antecedently to all testimony, was very great, are proved to have happened, by the authority of competent and honest witnesses; that the Christian miracles were objects of real and proper experience to those who saw them; and that whatsoever the senses of mankind can perceive, their report may substantiate. Should it be asked whether miracles were necessary, and whether the end proposed to be effected by them could warrant so immediate and extraordinary an interference of the Almighty, as such extraordinary operations suppose; to this we might answer, that, if the fact be established, all reasonings a priori concerning their necessity must be frivolous, and may be false. We are not capable of deciding on a question which, however simple in appearance, is yet too complex in its parts, and too extensive in its object, to be fully comprehended by the human understanding. Whether God could or could not have effected all the ends designed to be promoted by the Gospel, without deviating from the common course of his providence, and interfering with its general laws, is a speculation that a modest inquirer would carefully avoid; for it carries on the very face of it a degree of presumption totally unbecoming the state of a mortal being. Infinitely safer is it for us to acquiesce in what the Almighty has done, than
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Jesus answered [and] said to them, "Go [and] tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news announced to [them].
But the Pharisees, [when they] heard [it], said, "This man does not expel demons except by Beelzebul the ruler of demons!" But knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. read more. And if Satan expels Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if someone is devout and does his will, he listens to this one. From {time immemorial} it has not been heard that someone opened the eyes of one born blind. read more. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything!"
Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe! The deeds that I do in the name of my Father, these testify about me.
If I do not do the deeds of my Father, do not believe me.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs! If we allow him [to go on] in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."