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
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Then he made a tour through the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Reign, and healing all the sickness and disease of the people.
A leper came up and knelt before him, saying, "If you only choose, sir, you can cleanse me";
When he entered Capharnahum an army-captain came up to him and appealed to him,
On entering the house of Peter, Jesus noticed his mother-in-law was down with fever,
Now when evening came they brought him many demoniacs, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all the invalids ??17 that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, He took away our sicknesses and he removed our diseases.
He said to them, "Why are you afraid? How little you trust God!" Then he got up and checked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
There a paralytic was brought to him, lying on a pallet; and when Jesus saw the faith of the bearers he said to the paralytic, "Courage, my son! your sins are forgiven."
As he said this, an official came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter is just dead; do come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."
Now a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his robe;
As Jesus passed along from there, he was followed by two blind men who shrieked, "Son of David, have pity on us!" When he went indoors the blind men came up to him, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can do this?" They said, "Yes, sir." read more. Then he touched their eyes and said, "As you believe, so your prayer is granted," and their eyes were opened. Jesus sternly charged them, "See, nobody is to know of this."
As they went out, a dumb man was brought to him, who was possessed by a daemon,
Then Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Reign, and healing every disease and complaint.
Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the Coming One? Or are we to look out for someone else?" read more. Jesus answered them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see:
Now a man with a withered hand was there; so in order to get a charge against him they asked him, "Is it right to heal on the sabbath?"
but as Jesus knew of it he retired from the spot. Many followed him, and he healed them all,
And all the crowds were amazed; they said, "Can this be the Son of David?"
So when he disembarked he saw a large crowd, and out of pity for them he healed their sick folk.
Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; give them some food yourselves."
The men of that place recognized him and sent all over the surrounding country, bringing him all who were ill and begging him to let them touch the mere tassel of his robe ??and all who touched it got perfectly well.
And a woman of Canaan came out of these parts and wailed, "Have pity on me, Lord, O Son of David! My daughter is cruelly possessed by a daemon."
And large crowds came to him bringing the lame, and the blind, the dumb, the maimed, and many others; they laid them at his feet, and he healed them.
He took the seven loaves and the fish and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.
"It is an evil and disloyal generation that craves a Sign, and no Sign shall be given to it except the Sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away.
Six days afterwards Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John, and led them up a high hill by themselves;
"Ah, sir," he said, "have pity on my son; he is an epileptic and he suffers cruelly, he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
However, not to give any offence to them, go to the sea, throw a hook in, and take the first fish you bring up. Open its mouth and you will find a five-shilling piece; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
Large crowds followed him and he healed them there.
Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all who were buying and selling inside the temple; he upset the tables of the money-changers and the stalls of those who sold doves,
Blind and lame people came up to him in the temple and he healed them.
for false Christs and false prophets will rise and bring forward great signs and wonders, so as to mislead the very elect, ??if that were possible.
Immediately after the misery of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not yield her light, the stars will drop from heaven and the orbs of the heavens will be shaken.
While they were on their way, some of the sentries went into the city and reported all that had taken place to the high priests, who, after meeting and conferring with the elders, gave a considerable sum of money to the soldiers read more. and told them to say that "his disciples came at night and stole him when we were asleep." "If this comes to the ears of the governor," they added, "we will satisfy him and see that you have no trouble about the matter." So the soldiers took the money and followed their instructions; and this story has been disseminated among the Jews down to the present day.
"Jesus of Nazaret, what business have you with us? Have you come to destroy us? We know who you are, you are God's holy One."
And as soon as he stepped out of the boat a man from the tombs came to meet him, a man with an unclean spirit
But he strictly forbade them to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.
There he could not do any miracle, beyond laying his hands on a few sick people and curing them. He was astonished at their lack of faith. Then he made a tour round the villages, teaching.
He said to her, "Well, go your way; the daemon has left your daughter, since you have said that."
Jesus forbade them to tell anyone about it, but the more he forbade them the more eagerly they made it public;
Then they reached Bethsaida. A blind man was brought to him with the request that he would touch him.
And for those who believe, these miracles will follow: they will cast out daemons in my name, they will talk in foreign tongues, they will handle serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."
When he stopped speaking, he said to Simon, "Push out to the deep water and lower your nets for a take."
It was shortly afterwards that he made his way to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. Just as he was near the gate of the town, there was a dead man being carried out; he was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town were with her.
Then he went forward and touched the bier; the bearers stopped, and he said, "Young man, I bid you rise."
So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, "Are you the Coming One? Or are we to look out for someone else?" When the men reached Jesus they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask if you are the Coming One or if we are to look out for someone else?" read more. Jesus at that moment was healing many people of diseases and complaints and evil spirits; he also bestowed sight on many blind folk. So he replied, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard; that the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and to the poor the gospel is preached.
but some of them said, "It is by Beelzebul the prince of daemons that he casts out daemons." Others by way of tempting him demanded he should give them a Sign from heaven.
there was a woman who for eighteen years had suffered weakness from an evil spirit; indeed she was bent double and quite unable to raise herself.
On entering one village he was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance
As he approached Jericho, it chanced that a blind man was seated beside the road begging.
Instantly he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people gave praise to God when they saw this.
Jesus said, "Let me do this at least," and cured him by touching his ear.
Then the Jews accosted him with the words, "What sign of authority have you to show us, for acting in this way?" Jesus replied, "Destroy this sanctuary and I will raise it up in three days." read more. "This sanctuary took forty-six years to build," the Jews retorted, "and you are going to raise it up in three days!" He meant the sanctuary of his body, however,
When he was in Jerusalem at the festival of the passover, many people believed in his name, as they witnessed the Signs which he performed.
he came one night to Jesus and said, "Rabbi, we know you have come from God to teach us, for no one could perform these Signs of yours unless God were with him."
when he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went to him and begged him to come down and cure his son, who was at the point of death.
Now one man was there, whose illness had lasted thirty-eight years.
The reply of Jesus was, "As my Father has continued working to this hour, so I work too."
Indeed many of the people believed in him, saying, "When the Christ does come, will he perform more Signs than this man?"
Then the attendants went back to the high priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why have you not brought him with you?" The attendants replied, "No man ever spoke as he does."
As he passed along he saw a man who had been blind from his birth;
The man replied to them, "Well, this is astonishing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he has opened my eyes!
Then said Jesus, "It is for judgment that I have come into this world, to make the sightless see, to make the seeing blind." On hearing this the Pharisees who were beside him asked, "And are we blind?" read more. Jesus replied, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty; but, as it is, you claim to have sight ??and so your sin remains."
They would not be guilty, if I had not done deeds among them such as no one has ever done; but, as it is, they have seen ??and they have hated ??both me and my Father.
They would not be guilty, if I had not done deeds among them such as no one has ever done; but, as it is, they have seen ??and they have hated ??both me and my Father.
When he said, "I am he," they fell back and dropped to the ground;
Many another Sign did Jesus perform in presence of his disciples, which is not recorded in this book; but these Signs are recorded so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing may have life through his Name.
So he told them, "Throw your net on the right of the boat, and you will have a take." At this they threw the net, and now they could not haul it in for the mass of fish.
Men of Israel, listen to my words. Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs which God performed by him among you (as you yourselves know),
Men of Israel, listen to my words. Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs which God performed by him among you (as you yourselves know),
But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, [get up and] walk!"
you and the people of Israel must all understand that he stands before you strong and well, thanks to the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead. He is the stone despised by you builders, which has become head of the corner. read more. There is no salvation by anyone else, nor even a second Name under heaven appointed for us men and our salvation."
who came down and prayed that the Samaritans might receive the holy Spirit. (As yet it had not fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) read more. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the holy Spirit. Now Simon noticed that the holy Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles' hands; so he brought them money, saying, "Let me share this power too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the holy Spirit." Peter said to him, "Death to you and your money, for dreaming you could buy the gift of God!
While Peter was still speaking, the holy Spirit fell upon all who listened to what he said. Now the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed that the gift of the holy Spirit had actually been poured out on the Gentiles ??46 for they heard them speak with 'tongues' and magnify God. At this Peter asked,
and after Paul laid his hands on them the holy Spirit came upon them, they spoke with 'tongues' and prophesied.
Now even though it were myself or some angel from heaven, whoever preaches a gospel that contradicts the gospel I preached to you, God's curse be on him! I have said it before and I now repeat it: whoever preaches a gospel to you that contradicts the gospel you have already received, God's curse be on him!
Mark this, there are hard times coming in the last days. For men will be selfish, fond of money, boastful, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreverent, read more. callous, relentless, scurrilous, dissolute, and savage; they will hate goodness, they will be treacherous, reckless and conceited, preferring pleasure to God ??5 for though they keep up a form of religion, they will have nothing to do with it as a force. Avoid all such.
Some of them worm their way into families and get hold of the women-folk who feel crushed by the burden of their sins ??wayward creatures of impulse, who are always curious to learn and never able to attain the knowledge of the Truth. read more. For these guides of theirs are hostile to the Truth, just as Jannes and Jambres were hostile to Moses; they are depraved in mind and useless for all purposes of faith.
while God corroborated their testimony with signs and wonders and a variety of miraculous powers, distributing the holy Spirit as it pleased him.
and thus we have gained fresh confirmation of the prophetic word. Pray attend to that word; it shines like a lamp within a darksome spot, till the Day dawns and the daystar rises within your hearts ??20 understanding this, at the outset, that no prophetic scripture allows a man to interpret it by himself;
for prophecy never came by human impulse, it was when carried away by the holy Spirit that the holy men of God spoke.
Lo, he is coming on the clouds, to be seen by every eye, even by those who impaled him, and all the tribes of earth will wail because of him: even so, Amen.
Then I saw another Beast rising from the land; he had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exerts the full authority of the first Beast in his presence, causing the earth and its inhabitants to worship the first Beast, whose deadly wound was healed. read more. He performs amazing miracles, even making fire descend from heaven on earth in the sight of men, and by dint of the miracles he is allowed to perform in presence of the Beast, he seduces the dwellers on earth; he bids the dwellers on earth erect a statue to the Beast who lived after being wounded by the sword, and to this statue of the Beast he was allowed to impart the breath of life, so that the statue of the Beast should actually speak. He has everyone put to death who will not worship the statue of the Beast,
But the Beast was seized, together with the false Prophet who had performed in his presence the miracles by means of which he seduced those who received the mark of the Beast and worshipped his statue; both of them were flung alive into the lake of fire that blazes with brimstone,
Hastings
MIRACLES
1. The narratives
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said to him, "If you are God's son, throw yourself down; for it is written, He will give his angels charge of you; they will bear you on their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone." Jesus said to him, "It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God."
so he stretched his hand out and touched him, with the words, "I do choose, be cleansed." And his leprosy was cleansed at once.
Then Jesus said to the captain, "Go; as you have had faith, your prayer is granted." And the servant was cured at that very hour.
so he touched her hand; the fever left her and she rose and ministered to him.
He said to them, "Why are you afraid? How little you trust God!" Then he got up and checked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Men marvelled at this; they said, "What sort of man is this? the very winds and sea obey him!" read more. When he reached the opposite side, the country of the Gadarenes, he was met by two demoniacs who ran out of the tombs; they were so violent that nobody could pass along the road there.
But to let you see the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins" ??he then said to the paralytic, "Get up, lift your pallet, and go home."
But to let you see the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins" ??he then said to the paralytic, "Get up, lift your pallet, and go home."
Then Jesus turned round, and when he saw her he said, "Courage, my daughter, your faith has made you well." And the woman was well from that hour.
But after the crowd had been put out, he went in and took her hand, and the girl rose up.
Then he touched their eyes and said, "As you believe, so your prayer is granted,"
and when the daemon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke. Then the crowd marvelled; they said, "Such a thing has never been seen in Israel!"
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out daemons; give without paying, as you have got without paying;
Then he proceeded to upbraid the towns where his many miracles had been performed, because they would not repent.
Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was quite restored, as sound as the other.
Then a blind and dumb demoniac was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
There he could not do many miracles owing to their lack of faith.
Then he ordered the crowds to recline on the grass, and after taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, blessed them, and after breaking the loaves handed them to the disciples, and the disciples handed them to the crowds.
Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is really you, order me to come to you on the water."
At that Jesus replied, "O woman, you have great faith; your prayer is granted as you wish." And from that hour her daughter was cured.
"It is an evil and disloyal generation that craves a Sign, and no Sign shall be given to it except the Sign of Jonah." Then he left them and went away.
So Jesus checked the daemon and it came out of him, and from that hour the boy was healed.
However, not to give any offence to them, go to the sea, throw a hook in, and take the first fish you bring up. Open its mouth and you will find a five-shilling piece; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
However, not to give any offence to them, go to the sea, throw a hook in, and take the first fish you bring up. Open its mouth and you will find a five-shilling piece; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
Then Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and they regained their sight at once and followed him.
and noticing a fig tree by the roadside he went up to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you after this!" And instantly the fig tree withered up.
and noticing a fig tree by the roadside he went up to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you after this!" And instantly the fig tree withered up.
Then Jesus came forward to them and said, "Full authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth;
and teach them to obey all the commands I have laid on you. And I will be with you all the time, to the very end of the world."
But Jesus checked it; "Be quiet," he said, "come out of him."
Then his ears were [at once] opened and his tongue freed from its fetter ??he began to speak correctly.
At this he laid his hands on his eyes once more, and the man stared in front of him; he was quite restored and saw everything distinctly.
And for those who believe, these miracles will follow: they will cast out daemons in my name, they will talk in foreign tongues, they will handle serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."
And when they did so, they enclosed a huge shoal of fish, so that their nets began to break.
But when Simon Peter saw it he fell at the knees of Jesus, crying, "Lord, leave me; I am a sinful man."
Then the corpse sat up and began to speak; and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Jesus noticed her and called to her, "Woman, you are released from your weakness."
and when the manager of the feast tasted the water which had become wine, not knowing where it had come from (though the servants who had drawn it knew), he called the bridegroom
Jesus performed this, the first of his Signs, at Cana in Galilee, thereby displaying his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you never will believe."
Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you never will believe."
Jesus told him, "Go yourself, your son is alive." The man believed what Jesus told him, and started on his journey.
But I possess a testimony greater than that of John, for the deeds which the Father has granted me to accomplish, the very deeds on which I am engaged, are my testimony that the Father has sent me.
Now when the people saw the Sign he had performed, they said, "This really is the Prophet who is to come into the world!"
saying, "Go and wash them in the pool of Siloam" (Siloam meaning 'sent'). So off he went and washed them, and went home seeing.
Then they removed the boulder, and Jesus, lifting his eyes to heaven, said, "Father, I thank thee for listening to me. (I knew thou wouldst always listen to me, but I spoke on account of the crowd around, that they might believe thou hast sent me.)"
Out came the dead man, his feet and hands swathed in bandages, and his face tied up with a towel. Jesus said, "Untie him, and let him move."
But some of them went off to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done;
Now for all the Signs he had performed before them, they did not believe in him ??38 that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: Lord, who has believed what they heard from us, And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Believe me, I am in the Father and the Father is in me: ??or else, believe because of the deeds themselves.
So he told them, "Throw your net on the right of the boat, and you will have a take." At this they threw the net, and now they could not haul it in for the mass of fish.
Awe fell on everyone, and many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles [in Jerusalem].
And catching him by the right hand he raised him. Instantly his feet and ankles grew strong,
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and expired. (Great awe came over all who heard of it.)
Instantly she fell down at their feet and expired. The younger men came in to find her dead; they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
[Move first half of vs to start of vs 15] Many miracles and wonders were performed among the people by the apostles. Now they all without exception met in the portico of Solomon.
In fact, invalids were actually carried into the streets and laid on beds and mattresses, so that, when Peter passed, his shadow at anyrate might fall on one or other of them.
they laid hands on the apostles and put them into the public prison,
Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, performed great wonders and miracles among the people.
indeed Simon himself believed, and after his baptism kept close to Philip, utterly astonished to see the signs and striking miracles which were taking place.
"Aeneas," said Peter, "Jesus the Christ cures you! Get up and make your bed!" He got up at once.
Peter put them all outside; then he knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, rise." She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
and the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." He did so. Then said the angel, "Put on your coat and follow me."
See here, the Lord's hand will fall on you, and you will be blind, unable for a time to see the sun." In a moment a dark mist fell upon him, and he groped about for someone to take him by the hand.
He heard Paul speaking, and Paul, gazing steadily at him and noticing that he had faith enough to make him better,
She did this for a number of days. Then Paul turned in annoyance and told the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you out of her!" And it left her that very moment.
all of a sudden there was a great earthquake which shook the very foundations of the prison; the doors all flew open in an instant and the fetters of all the prisoners were unfastened.
people even carried away towels or aprons he had used, and at their touch sick folk were freed from their diseases and evil spirits came out of them.
but Paul went downstairs, threw himself upon him, and embraced him. "Do not lament," he said, "the life is still in him."
Now Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper crawled out with the heat and fastened on his hand.
His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him.
one has prophecy, another the gift of distinguishing spirits, another the gift of 'tongues' in their variety, another the gift of interpreting 'tongues.'
That is to say, God has set people within the church to be first of all apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, and speakers in 'tongues' of various kinds.
First and foremost, I passed on to you what I had myself received, namely, that Christ died for our sins as the scriptures had said, that he was buried, that he rose on the third day as the scriptures had said,
that he was buried, that he rose on the third day as the scriptures had said,
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
See Verses Found in Dictionary
A leper came up and knelt before him, saying, "If you only choose, sir, you can cleanse me"; so he stretched his hand out and touched him, with the words, "I do choose, be cleansed." And his leprosy was cleansed at once. read more. Then Jesus told him, "See, you are not to say a word to anybody; away and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, to notify men." When he entered Capharnahum an army-captain came up to him and appealed to him, saying, "Sir, my servant is lying ill at home with paralysis, in terrible agony." He replied, "I will come and heal him." The captain answered, "Sir, I am not fit to have you under my roof; only say the word, and my servant will be cured. For though I am a man under authority myself, I have soldiers under me; I tell one man to go, and he goes, I tell another to come, and he comes, I tell my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard that, he marvelled; "I tell you truly," he said to his followers, "I have never met faith like this anywhere in Israel. Many, I tell you, will come from east and west and take their places beside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Realm of heaven, while the sons of the Realm will pass outside, into the darkness; there men will wail and gnash their teeth." Then Jesus said to the captain, "Go; as you have had faith, your prayer is granted." And the servant was cured at that very hour. On entering the house of Peter, Jesus noticed his mother-in-law was down with fever, so he touched her hand; the fever left her and she rose and ministered to him.
Then he embarked in the boat, followed by his disciples. Now a heavy storm came on at sea, so that the boat was buried under the waves. He was sleeping. read more. So the disciples went and woke him up, saying, "Help, Lord, we are drowning!" He said to them, "Why are you afraid? How little you trust God!" Then he got up and checked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Men marvelled at this; they said, "What sort of man is this? the very winds and sea obey him!" When he reached the opposite side, the country of the Gadarenes, he was met by two demoniacs who ran out of the tombs; they were so violent that nobody could pass along the road there. They shrieked, "Son of God, what business have you with us? Have you come here to torture us before it is time?" Now, some distance away, there was a large drove of swine grazing; so the daemons begged him saying, "If you are going to cast us out, send us into that drove of swine." He said to them, "Begone!" So out they came and went to the swine, and the entire drove rushed down the steep slope into the sea and perished in the water. The herdsmen fled; they went off to the town and reported the whole affair of the demoniacs. Then all the town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to move out of their district.
There a paralytic was brought to him, lying on a pallet; and when Jesus saw the faith of the bearers he said to the paralytic, "Courage, my son! your sins are forgiven." Some scribes said to themselves, "The man is talking blasphemy!" read more. Jesus saw what they were thinking and said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? Which is the easier thing, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But to let you see the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins" ??he then said to the paralytic, "Get up, lift your pallet, and go home." And he got up and went home.
As he said this, an official came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter is just dead; do come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." So Jesus rose and went after him, accompanied by his disciples. read more. Now a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his robe;
Now a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his robe; what she said to herself was this, "If I can only touch his robe, I will recover."
what she said to herself was this, "If I can only touch his robe, I will recover." Then Jesus turned round, and when he saw her he said, "Courage, my daughter, your faith has made you well." And the woman was well from that hour.
Then Jesus turned round, and when he saw her he said, "Courage, my daughter, your faith has made you well." And the woman was well from that hour. Now when Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players and the din the crowd were making, read more. he said, "Be off with you; the girl is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him. But after the crowd had been put out, he went in and took her hand, and the girl rose up. The report of this went all over that country. As Jesus passed along from there, he was followed by two blind men who shrieked, "Son of David, have pity on us!" When he went indoors the blind men came up to him, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can do this?" They said, "Yes, sir." Then he touched their eyes and said, "As you believe, so your prayer is granted," and their eyes were opened. Jesus sternly charged them, "See, nobody is to know of this." But they went out and spread the news of him all over that country. As they went out, a dumb man was brought to him, who was possessed by a daemon, and when the daemon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke. Then the crowd marvelled; they said, "Such a thing has never been seen in Israel!"
Now a man with a withered hand was there; so in order to get a charge against him they asked him, "Is it right to heal on the sabbath?" He said to them, "Is there a man of you with one sheep, who will not catch hold of it and lift it out of a pit on the sabbath, if it falls in? read more. And how much more is a man worth than a sheep? Thus it is right to do a kindness on the sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was quite restored, as sound as the other.
Then a blind and dumb demoniac was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
When evening fell, the disciples came up to him and said, "It is a desert place and the day is now gone; send off the crowds to buy food for themselves in the villages." Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; give them some food yourselves." read more. They said, "We have only five loaves with us and two fish." He said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to recline on the grass, and after taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, blessed them, and after breaking the loaves handed them to the disciples, and the disciples handed them to the crowds. They all ate and had enough; besides, they picked up the fragments left over and filled twelve baskets with them. The men who ate numbered about five thousand, apart from the women and children.
but the boat was now in the middle of the sea, buffeted by the waves (for the wind was against them). In the fourth watch of the night he went to them, walking on the sea, read more. but when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified; "It is a ghost," they said and shrieked for fear. Then Jesus spoke to them at once; "Courage," he said, "it is I, have no fear." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is really you, order me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Then Peter got out of the boat and walked over the water on his way to Jesus; but when he saw the strength of the wind he was afraid and began to sink. "Lord," he shouted, "save me." Jesus at once stretched his hand out and caught him, saying, "How little you trust me! Why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat the wind dropped, and the men in the boat worshipped him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son."
Going away from there Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a woman of Canaan came out of these parts and wailed, "Have pity on me, Lord, O Son of David! My daughter is cruelly possessed by a daemon." read more. But he made no answer to her. Then his disciples came up and pressed him, saying, "Send her away, she is wailing behind us." He replied, "It was only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel that I was sent." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, do help me." He replied, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." "No, sir," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." At that Jesus replied, "O woman, you have great faith; your prayer is granted as you wish." And from that hour her daughter was cured.
Then Jesus called his disciples and said, "I am sorry for the crowd; they have been three days with me now, and they have nothing to eat. I will not send them away starving, in case they faint on the road." The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get loaves enough in a desert to satisfy such a crowd?" read more. Jesus said to them, "How many loaves have you got?" They said, "Seven, and some little fish." So he ordered the crowd to recline on the ground. He took the seven loaves and the fish and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. So the people all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over and filled seven large baskets with them. The men who ate numbered four thousand, apart from the children and the women.
When they reached the crowd, a man came up and knelt to him. "Ah, sir," he said, "have pity on my son; he is an epileptic and he suffers cruelly, he often falls into the fire and often into the water. read more. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long must I still be with you? How long have I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." So Jesus checked the daemon and it came out of him, and from that hour the boy was healed.
When they reached Capharnahum, the collectors of the temple-tax came and asked Peter, "Does your teacher not pay the temple-tax?" He said, "Yes." But when he went indoors Jesus spoke first; "Tell me, Simon," he said, "from whom do earthly kings collect customs or taxes? Is it from their own people or from aliens?" read more. "From aliens," he said. Then Jesus said to him, "So their own people are exempt. However, not to give any offence to them, go to the sea, throw a hook in, and take the first fish you bring up. Open its mouth and you will find a five-shilling piece; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
and when two blind men who were sitting beside the road heard Jesus was passing, they shouted, "O Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!" The crowd checked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "O Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!" read more. So Jesus stopped and called them. He said, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," they said, "we want our eyes opened." Then Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and they regained their sight at once and followed him.
In the morning as he came back to the city he felt hungry, and noticing a fig tree by the roadside he went up to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you after this!" And instantly the fig tree withered up. read more. When the disciples saw this they marvelled. "How did the fig tree wither up in an instant?" they said. Jesus answered, "I tell you truly, if you have faith, if you have no doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree but even if you say to this hill, 'Take and throw yourself into the sea,' it will be done. All that ever you ask in prayer you shall have, if you believe."
for false Christs and false prophets will rise and bring forward great signs and wonders, so as to mislead the very elect, ??if that were possible.
Now there was a man with an unclean spirit in their synagogue, who at once shrieked out, "Jesus of Nazaret, what business have you with us? Have you come to destroy us? We know who you are, you are God's holy One." read more. But Jesus checked it; "Be quiet," he said, "come out of him." And after convulsing him the unclean spirit did come out of him with a loud cry. Then they were all so amazed that they discussed it together, saying, "Whatever is this?" "It's new teaching with authority behind it!" "He orders even unclean spirits!" "Yes, and they obey him!" So his fame at once spread in all directions through the whole of the surrounding country of Galilee.
Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with fever, so they told him at once about her, and he went up to her and taking her hand made her rise; the fever left her at once and she ministered to them.
A leper came to him beseeching him on bended knee, saying, "If you only choose, you can cleanse me;" so he stretched his hand out in pity and touched him saying, "I do choose, be cleansed." read more. And the leprosy at once left him and he was cleansed. Then he sent him off at once with the stern charge, "See, you are not to say a word to anybody; away and show yourself to the priest and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing, to notify men." But he went off and proceeded to proclaim it aloud and spread news of the affair both far and wide. The result was that Jesus could no longer enter any town openly; he stayed outside in lonely places, and people came to him from every quarter.
when a paralytic was brought to him; four men carried him, and as they could not get near Jesus on account of the crowd they tore up the roof under which he stood and through the opening they lowered the pallet on which the paralytic lay. read more. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now there were some scribes sitting there who argued in their hearts, "What does the man mean by talking like this? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins, who but God alone?" Conscious at once that they were arguing to themselves in this way, Jesus asked them, "Why do you argue thus in your hearts? Which is the easier thing, to tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to tell him, 'Rise, lift your pallet, and go away'? But to let you see the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins" ??he said to the paralytic, "Rise, I tell you, lift your pallet, and go home." And he rose, lifted his pallet at once, and went off before them all; at this they were all amazed and glorified God saying, "We never saw the like of it!"
so, leaving the crowd, they took him just as he was in the boat, accompanied by some other boats. But a heavy squall of wind came on, and the waves splashed into the boat, so that the boat filled. read more. He was sleeping on the cushion in the stern, so they woke him up saying, "Teacher, are we to drown, for all you care?" And he woke up, checked the wind, and told the sea, "Peace, be quiet." The wind fell and there was a great calm. Then he said to them, "Why are you afraid like this? Have you no faith yet?" But they were overawed and said to each other, "Whatever can he be, when the very wind and sea obey him?"
Then they reached the opposite side of the sea, the country of the Gerasenes. And as soon as he stepped out of the boat a man from the tombs came to meet him, a man with an unclean spirit read more. who dwelt among the tombs; by this time no one could bind him, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with fetters and chains and had snapped the chains and broken the fetters ??nobody could tame him. All night and day among the tombs and the hills he shrieked and gashed himself with stones. On catching sight of Jesus from afar he ran and knelt before him, shrieking aloud, "Jesus, son of God most High, what business have you with me? By God, I adjure you, do not torture me." (For he had said, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit.") Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he said, "there is a host of us." And they begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a large drove of swine was grazing there on the hillside; so the spirits begged him saying, "Send us into the swine, that we may enter them," And Jesus gave them leave. Then out came the unclean spirits and entered the swine, and the drove rushed down the steep slope into the sea (there were about two thousand of them) and in the sea they were drowned. The herdsmen fled and reported it to the town and the hamlets. So the people came to see what had happened, and when they reached Jesus they saw the lunatic sitting down, clothed and in his sober senses ??the man who had been possessed by 'Legion.' That frightened them. And those who had seen it related to them what had happened to the lunatic and the swine. Then they began begging Jesus to leave their district. As he was stepping into the boat the lunatic begged that he might accompany him; but he said, "Go home to your own people, and report to them all the Lord has done for you and how he took pity on you." So he went off and began to proclaim throughout Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; it made everyone astonished.
A president of the synagogue called Jairus came up, and on catching sight of him fell at his feet with earnest entreaties. "My little girl is dying," he said, "do come and lay your hands on her that she may recover and live," read more. So Jesus went away with him. Now a large crowd followed him; they pressed round him. And there was a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years ??26 she had suffered a great deal under a number of doctors and had spent all her means but was none the better; in fact she was rather worse.
And there was a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years ??26 she had suffered a great deal under a number of doctors and had spent all her means but was none the better; in fact she was rather worse.
She heard about Jesus, got behind him in the crowd, and touched his robe;
She heard about Jesus, got behind him in the crowd, and touched his robe; "if I can touch even his clothes," she said to herself, "I will recover."
"if I can touch even his clothes," she said to herself, "I will recover." And at once the hemorrhage stopped, and she felt in her body that she was cured of her complaint.
And at once the hemorrhage stopped, and she felt in her body that she was cured of her complaint. Jesus was at once conscious that some healing virtue had passed from him, so he turned round in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
Jesus was at once conscious that some healing virtue had passed from him, so he turned round in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" His disciples said to him, "You see the crowd are pressing round you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'"
His disciples said to him, "You see the crowd are pressing round you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'" But he kept looking round to see who had done it,
But he kept looking round to see who had done it, and the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came forward in fear and trembling and fell down before him, telling him all the truth.
and the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came forward in fear and trembling and fell down before him, telling him all the truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be free from your complaint."
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be free from your complaint." He was still speaking when a message came from the house of the synagogue-president, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher to come any further?" read more. Instantly Jesus ignored the remark and told the president, "Have no fear, only believe." He would not allow anyone to accompany him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they reached the president's house, where he saw a tumult of people wailing and making shrill lament; and on entering he asked them, "Why make a noise and wail? The child is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him. However, he put them all outside and taking the father and mother of the child as well as his companions he went in to where the child was lying; then he took the child's hand and said to her, "Talitha koum" ??which may be translated, "Little girl, I am telling you to rise." The girl got up at once and began to walk (she was twelve years old); and at once they were lost in utter amazement. But he strictly forbade them to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.
Then, as the day was far gone, his disciples came up to him, saying, "It is a desert place and the day is now far gone; send them off to the farms and villages round about to buy some food for themselves." read more. He replied, "Give them some food, yourselves." They said, "Are we to go and buy ten pounds' worth of food and give them that to eat?" He said, "How many loaves have you got? Go and see." When they found out they told him, "Five, and two fish." Then he gave orders that they were to make all the people lie down in parties on the green grass; so they arranged themselves in groups of a hundred and of fifty; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he blessed them, broke the loaves in pieces which he handed to the disciples to set before them, and divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and had enough; besides, the fragments of bread and of fish which were picked up filled twelve baskets. (The number of men who ate the loaves was five thousand.)
Now when evening came the boat was [far out] in the middle of the sea, and he was on the land alone; but when he saw them buffeted as they rowed (for the wind was against them) he went to them about the fourth watch of the night walking on the sea. He meant to pass them, read more. but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost and shrieked aloud ??50 for they all saw him and were terrified. Then he spoke to them at once; "Courage," he said, "it is I, have no fear."
And he got into the boat beside them, and the wind dropped. They were utterly astounded,
they hurried round all the district and proceeded to carry the sick on their pallets wherever they heard that he was; whatever village or town or hamlet he went to, they would lay their invalids in the marketplace, begging him to let them touch even the tassel of his robe ??and all who touched him recovered.
Leaving there, he went away to the territory of Tyre and Sidon. He went into a house and wished no one to know of it, but he could not escape notice; a woman heard of him, whose daughter had an unclean spirit, and she came in and fell at his feet read more. (the woman was a pagan, of Syrophoenician birth) begging him to cast the daemon out of her daughter. He said to her, "Let the children be satisfied first of all; it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She answered him, "No, sir, but under the table the dogs do pick up the children's crumbs." He said to her, "Well, go your way; the daemon has left your daughter, since you have said that." So she went home and found the child lying in bed and the daemon gone from her. He left the territory of Tyre again and passed through Sidon to the sea of Galilee, crossing the territory of Decapolis. And a deaf man who stammered was brought to him, with the request that he would lay his hand on him. So taking him aside from the crowd by himself, he put his fingers into the man's ears, touched his tongue with saliva, and looking up to heaven with a sigh he said to him, "Ephphatha" (which means, Open). Then his ears were [at once] opened and his tongue freed from its fetter ??he began to speak correctly. Jesus forbade them to tell anyone about it, but the more he forbade them the more eagerly they made it public; they were astounded in the extreme, saying, "How splendidly he has done everything! He actually makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak!"
Then they reached Bethsaida. A blind man was brought to him with the request that he would touch him. So he took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village; then, after spitting on his eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked him, "Do you see anything?" read more. He began to see and said, "I can make out people, for I see them as large as trees, moving." At this he laid his hands on his eyes once more, and the man stared in front of him; he was quite restored and saw everything distinctly. And Jesus sent him home, saying, "Do not go even into the village."
When they reached the disciples they saw a large crowd round them, and some scribes arguing with them. On seeing him the whole crowd was thunderstruck and ran to greet him. read more. Jesus asked them, "What are you discussing with them?" A man from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you; he has a dumb spirit, and whenever it seizes him it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth. He is wasting away with it; so I told your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." He answered them, "O faithless generation, how long must I still be with you? how long have I to bear with you? Bring him to me." So they brought the boy to him, and when the spirit saw Jesus it at once convulsed the boy; he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked his father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he said; "it has thrown him into fire and water many a time, to destroy him. If you can do anything, do help us, do have pity on us." Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! Anything can be done for one who believes." At once the father of the boy cried out, "I do believe; help my unbelief." Now as Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, he checked the unclean spirit. "Deaf and dumb spirit," he said, "leave him, I command you, and never enter him again." And it did come out, after shrieking aloud and convulsing him violently. The child turned like a corpse, so that most people said, "he is dead"; but, taking his hand, Jesus raised him and he got up.
Then they reached Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a considerable crowd, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, the blind beggar who sat beside the road, heard it was Jesus of Nazaret. So he started to shout, "Son of David! Jesus! have pity on me." read more. A number of the people checked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." Then they called the blind man and told him, "Courage! Get up, he is calling you." Throwing off his cloak he jumped up and went to Jesus. Jesus spoke to him and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight." Then Jesus said, "Go, your faith has made you well;" and he regained his sight at once and followed Jesus along the road.
Next day, when they had left Bethany, he felt hungry, and noticing a fig tree in leaf some distance away he went to see if he could find anything on it; but when he reached it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the time for figs. read more. Then he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you after this!" The disciples heard him say it. Then they came to Jerusalem, and entering the temple he proceeded to drive out those who were buying and selling inside the temple; he upset the tables of the money-changers and the stalls of those who sold doves, and would not allow anyone to carry a vessel through the temple; also he taught them. "Is it not written," he asked, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? You have made it a den of robbers." This came to the ears of the scribes and high priests, and they tried to get him put to death, for they were afraid of him. But the multitude were all astounded at his teaching. And when evening came he went outside the city. Now as they passed in the morning they noticed the fig tree had withered to the root. Then Peter remembered. "Rabbi," he said, "there is the fig tree you cursed, all withered!" Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God! I tell you truly, whoever says to this hill, 'Take and throw yourself into the sea,' and has not a doubt in his mind but believes that what he says will happen, he will have it done. So I tell you, whatever you pray for and ask, believe you have got it and you shall have it.
he who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who will not believe shall be condemned. And for those who believe, these miracles will follow: they will cast out daemons in my name, they will talk in foreign tongues, read more. they will handle serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."
Now in the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean daemon, who shrieked aloud, "Ha! Jesus of Nazaret, what business have you with us? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, you are God's holy One!" read more. But Jesus checked it, saying, "Be quiet, come out of him." And after throwing him down before them the daemon did come out of him without doing him any harm. Then amazement came over them all; they talked it over among themselves, saying, "What does this mean? He orders the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!" And a report of him spread over all the surrounding country. When he got up to leave the synagogue he went to the house of Simon. Simon's mother-in-law was laid up with a severe attack of fever, so they asked him about her; he stood over her and checked the fever, and it left her. Then she instantly got up and ministered to them.
Now as the crowd were pressing on him to listen to the word of God, he saw, as he stood beside the lake of Gennesaret, two boats on the shore of the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. read more. So he entered one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to push out a little from the land. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he stopped speaking, he said to Simon, "Push out to the deep water and lower your nets for a take." Simon replied, "Master, we worked all night and got nothing! However, I will lower the nets at your command." And when they did so, they enclosed a huge shoal of fish, so that their nets began to break. Then they made signals to their mates in the other boat to come and assist them. They came and filled both the boats, till they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it he fell at the knees of Jesus, crying, "Lord, leave me; I am a sinful man." For amazement had seized him and all his companions at the take of fish they had caught; as was the case with James and John, the sons of Zebedaeus, who were partners of Simon. Then said Jesus to Simon, "Have no fear; from now your catch will be men." Then they brought the boats to land, and leaving all they followed him. When he was in one of their towns, there was a man full of leprosy who, on seeing Jesus, fell on his face and besought him, "If you only choose, sir, you can cleanse me." So he stretched his hand out and touched him, with the words, "I do choose, be cleansed." And the leprosy at once left him. Jesus ordered him not to say a word to anybody, but to "Go off and show yourself to the priest, and offer whatever Moses prescribed for your cleansing, to notify men." But the news of him spread abroad more and more; large crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their complaints,
Some men came up carrying a man who was paralysed; they tried to carry him inside and lay him in front of Jesus, but when they could not find any means of getting him in, on account of the crowd, they climbed to the top of the house and let him down through the tiles, mattress and all among the people in front of Jesus. read more. When he saw their faith he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." Then the scribes and Pharisees began to argue, "Who is this blasphemer? Who can forgive sins, who but God alone?" Conscious that they were arguing to themselves, Jesus addressed them, saying, "Why argue in your hearts? Which is the easier thing, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But to let you see the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins" ??he said to the paralysed man, "Rise, I tell you, lift your mattress and go home." Instantly he got up before them, lifted what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. And all were seized with astonishment; they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen incredible things to-day."
Another sabbath he happened to go into the synagogue and teach. Now a man was there who had his right hand withered, and the scribes and Pharisees watched to see if he would heal on the sabbath, so as to discover some charge against him. read more. He knew what was in their minds; so he told the man with the withered hand, "Rise and stand forward." He rose and stood before them. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it right on the sabbath to help or to hurt, to save life or to kill?" And glancing round at them all in anger he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was quite restored. This filled them with fury, and they discussed what they could do to Jesus.
When he had finished what he had to say in the hearing of the people, he went into Capharnahum. Now there was an army-captain who had a servant ill whom he valued very highly. This man was at the point of death; read more. so, when the captain heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and make his servant well. When they reached Jesus they asked him earnestly to do this. "He deserves to have this favour from you," they said, "for he is a lover of our nation; it was he who built our synagogue." So Jesus went with them. But he was not far from the house when the captain sent some friends to tell him, "Do not trouble yourself, sir, I am not fit to have you under my roof, and so I did not consider myself fit even to come to you. Just say the word, and let my servant be cured. For though I am a man under authority myself, I have soldiers under me; I tell one man to go, and he goes, I tell another to come, and he comes, I tell my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard this he marvelled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed he said, "I tell you, I have never met faith like this anywhere even in Israel." Then the messengers went back to the house and found the sick servant was quite well. It was shortly afterwards that he made his way to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. Just as he was near the gate of the town, there was a dead man being carried out; he was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town were with her. And when the Lord saw her, he felt pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he went forward and touched the bier; the bearers stopped, and he said, "Young man, I bid you rise." Then the corpse sat up and began to speak; and Jesus gave him back to his mother. All were seized with awe and glorified God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said, "God has visited his people." And this story of Jesus spread through the whole of Judaea and all the surrounding country.
It happened on one of these days that he embarked in a boat alone with his disciples and said to them, "Let us cross to the other side of the lake." So they set sail. During the voyage he fell asleep. But when a gale of wind came down on the lake and they were being swamped and in peril, read more. they went and woke him up. "Master, master," they cried, "we are drowning!" So he woke up and checked the wind and the surf; they ceased and there was a calm. Then he said to them, "Where is your faith?" They marvelled in awe, saying to one another, "Whatever can he be? He gives orders to the very winds and water, and they obey him!" They put in at the country of the Gergesenes, on the shore facing Galilee. As he stepped out on land he was met by a man from the town who had daemons in him; for a long while he had worn no clothing, and he stayed not in a house but among the tombs. On catching sight of Jesus he shrieked aloud and prayed him with a loud cry, "Jesus, son of God most High, what business have you with me? Do not torture me, I beg of you." (For he had charged the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many a time when it had seized hold of him, he had been fastened secure in fetters and chains, but he would snap his bonds and be driven by the daemon into the desert.) So Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he said, for a number of daemons had entered him. And they begged him not to order them off to the abyss. Now a considerable drove of swine was grazing there on the hillside, so the daemons begged him for leave to enter them. He gave them leave, and the daemons came out of the man and went into the swine; the drove rushed down the steep slope into the lake and were suffocated. When the herdsmen saw what had occurred they fled and reported it to the town and the hamlets. The people came out to see what had occurred and when they reached Jesus they discovered the man whom the daemons had left, seated at the feet of Jesus, clothed and sane. That frightened them. They got a report from those who had seen how the lunatic was cured, and then all the inhabitants of the surrounding country of the Gergesenes asked him to leave them, they were so seized with terror. He embarked in the boat and went back. The man whom the daemons had left begged that he might accompany him. Jesus, however, sent him away, saying, "Go home and describe all that God has done for you." So he went off to proclaim through the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.
A man called Jairus came, who was a president of the synagogue, and falling at the feet of Jesus entreated him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years old and she was dying. As Jesus went the crowds kept crushing him, read more. and a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years which no one could cure,
and a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years which no one could cure, came up behind him and touched the tassel of his robe. Her hemorrhage instantly ceased.
came up behind him and touched the tassel of his robe. Her hemorrhage instantly ceased. Jesus said, "Who touched me?" As everyone denied it, Peter and his companions said, "Master, the crowds are all round you pressing hard!"
Jesus said, "Who touched me?" As everyone denied it, Peter and his companions said, "Master, the crowds are all round you pressing hard!" Jesus said, "Somebody did touch me, for I felt power had passed from me."
Jesus said, "Somebody did touch me, for I felt power had passed from me." So when the woman saw she had not escaped notice, she came trembling, and falling down before him she told before all the people why she had touched him and how she had been instantly cured.
So when the woman saw she had not escaped notice, she came trembling, and falling down before him she told before all the people why she had touched him and how she had been instantly cured. "Daughter," he said to her, "your faith has made you well; depart in peace."
"Daughter," he said to her, "your faith has made you well; depart in peace." He was still speaking when someone came from the house of the synagogue-president to say, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the teacher any further." read more. But when Jesus heard it he said to him, "Have no fear, only believe and she shall get well." When he reached the house he would not allow anyone to come in with him except Peter and James and John, and the child's father and mother. Everyone was weeping and bewailing her, but he said, "Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her hand and called to her, "Rise, little girl." And her spirit returned, she got up instantly, and he ordered them to give her something to eat. Her parents were amazed, but he charged them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Now as the day began to decline the twelve came up to him and said, "Send the crowd off to lodge in the villages and farms around and get provisions there, for here we are in a desert place." He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves." They said, "We have only got five loaves and two fish. Unless ??are we to go and buy food for the whole of this people?" read more. (There were about five thousand men of them.) He said to his disciples, "Make them lie down in rows of about fifty." They did so, and made them all lie down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven he blessed them, broke them in pieces and handed them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and had enough. What they had left over was picked up, twelve baskets full of fragments.
Next day, when they came down the hill, a large crowd met him. "Teacher," shouted a man from the crowd, "look at my son, I beg of you, for he is my only boy, read more. and a spirit gets hold of him till he suddenly shrieks; it convulses him till he foams; indeed it will hardly leave off tearing him to pieces. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long must I still be with you and bear with you? Fetch your son here." Before the boy could reach Jesus, the daemon dashed him down and convulsed him, but Jesus checked the unclean spirit, cured the boy, and handed him back to his father.
He was casting out a dumb daemon, and when the daemon had gone out the dumb man spoke. The crowds marvelled,
there was a woman who for eighteen years had suffered weakness from an evil spirit; indeed she was bent double and quite unable to raise herself. Jesus noticed her and called to her, "Woman, you are released from your weakness." read more. He laid his hands on her, and instantly she became erect and glorified God. But the president of the synagogue was annoyed at Jesus healing on the sabbath, and he said to the crowd, "There are six days for work to be done; come during them to get healed, instead of on the sabbath." The Lord replied to him, "You hypocrites, does not each of you untether his ox or ass from the stall on the sabbath and lead it away to drink? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for all these eighteen years, was she not to be freed from her bondage on the sabbath?" As he said this, all his opponents were put to shame, but all the crowd rejoiced over all his splendid doings.
Now it happened in the course of his journey to Jerusalem that he passed between Samaria and Galilee. On entering one village he was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance read more. and lifted up their voice, saying, "Jesus, master, have pity on us." Noticing them he said, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went away they were cleansed. Now one of them turned back when he saw he was cured, glorifying God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. So Jesus said, "Were all the ten not cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was there no one to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Get up and go, your faith has made you well."
As he approached Jericho, it chanced that a blind man was seated beside the road begging. When he heard the crowd passing he inquired what was the matter, read more. and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" The people in front checked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!" So Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring him, and asked him when he approached, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he said, "I want to regain my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Regain your sight, your faith has made you well." Instantly he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people gave praise to God when they saw this.
And one of them did strike the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus said, "Let me do this at least," and cured him by touching his ear.
Two days later a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee; the mother of Jesus was present, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. read more. As the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." "Woman," said Jesus, "what have you to do with me? My time has not come yet." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now six stone water-jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of 'purification,' each holding about twenty gallons. Jesus said, "Fill up the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he said, "Now draw some out, and take it to the manager of the feast." They did so; and when the manager of the feast tasted the water which had become wine, not knowing where it had come from (though the servants who had drawn it knew), he called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everybody serves the good wine first, and then the poorer wine after people have drunk freely; you have kept the good wine till now." Jesus performed this, the first of his Signs, at Cana in Galilee, thereby displaying his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Once more he came to Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a royal official, whose son was lying ill at Capernaum; when he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went to him and begged him to come down and cure his son, who was at the point of death. read more. Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you never will believe." The official said, "Come down, sir, before my boy is dead." Jesus told him, "Go yourself, your son is alive." The man believed what Jesus told him, and started on his journey. And on the road his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive. So he asked them at what hour he had begun to improve; they told him, "Yesterday at one o'clock the fever left him." Then the father realized that it had left him at the very time when Jesus had said to him, "Your son is alive"; and he became a believer with all his household. This was the second Sign which Jesus performed again after leaving Judaea for Galilee.
On looking up and seeing a large crowd approaching, he said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for all these people to eat?" (He said this to test Philip, for he knew what he was going to do himself.) read more. Philip answered, "Seven pounds' worth of bread would not be enough for them, for everybody to get even a morsel." One of his disciples, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a servant here, with five barley-cakes and a couple of fish; but what is that among so many?" Jesus said, "Get the people to lie down." Now there was plenty of grass at the spot, so the men lay down, numbering about five thousand. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to those who were reclining; so too with the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they were satisfied, he said to the disciples, "Gather up the pieces left over, so that nothing may be wasted." They gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces of the five loaves left over from the meal. Now when the people saw the Sign he had performed, they said, "This really is the Prophet who is to come into the world!"
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, and embarking in a boat they started across the sea for Capharnahum. By this time it was dark, Jesus had not reached them yet, read more. and the sea was getting up under a strong wind. After rowing about three or four miles they saw Jesus walking on the sea and nearing the boat. They were terrified, but he said to them, "It is I, have no fear"; so they agreed to take him on board, and the boat instantly reached the land they were making for.
This made Jesus chafe afresh, so he went to the tomb; it was a cave with a boulder to close it. Jesus said, "Remove the boulder." "Lord," said Martha, the dead man's sister, "he will be stinking by this time; he has been dead four days." read more. "Did I not tell you," said Jesus, "if you will only believe, you shall see the glory of God?" Then they removed the boulder, and Jesus, lifting his eyes to heaven, said, "Father, I thank thee for listening to me. (I knew thou wouldst always listen to me, but I spoke on account of the crowd around, that they might believe thou hast sent me.)" So saying, he exclaimed with a loud cry, "Lazarus, come out!" Out came the dead man, his feet and hands swathed in bandages, and his face tied up with a towel. Jesus said, "Untie him, and let him move."
After that, Jesus disclosed himself once more to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. It was in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (who was called 'the Twin'), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the two sons of Zebedaeus, and two other disciples of his, were all together. read more. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going to fish." They said, "We are coming with you too." Off they went and embarked in the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Now at break of day Jesus was standing on the beach (though the disciples did not know it was Jesus). "Lads," said Jesus, "have you got anything?" "No," they answered. So he told them, "Throw your net on the right of the boat, and you will have a take." At this they threw the net, and now they could not haul it in for the mass of fish. So the disciple who was Jesus' favourite said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Hearing it was the Lord, Simon Peter threw on his blouse (he was stripped for work) and jumped into the water, while the rest of the disciples came ashore in the punt (they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards), dragging their netful of fish. When they got to land, they saw a charcoal fire burning, with fish cooking on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." So Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty three of them; but for all their number the net was not torn. Jesus said, "Come and breakfast." (Not one of the disciples dared to ask him who he was; they knew it was the Lord.) Jesus went and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish too. This was the third time, now, that Jesus appeared to the disciples after rising from the dead.
Now there is much else that Jesus did ??so much, that if it were written down in detail. I do not suppose the world itself could hold the written records.
Men of Israel, listen to my words. Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs which God performed by him among you (as you yourselves know),
Now for some time previous a man called Simon had been practising magic arts in the town, to the utter astonishment of the Samaritan nation; he made himself out to be a great person,
They covered the whole island as far as Paphos, where they fell in with a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet called Bar-Jesus; he belonged to the suite of the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man who called for Barnabas and Saul and demanded to hear the word of God. read more. But the sorcerer Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) tried to divert the proconsul from the faith.
and numbers who had practised magic arts collected their books and burned them in the presence of all. On adding up the value of them, it was found that they were worth two thousand pounds.
You had all the miracles that mark an apostle done for you fully and patiently ??miracles, wonders, and deeds of power.
The salutation is in my own hand, Paul's; that is a mark in every letter of mine. This is how I write.
He performs amazing miracles, even making fire descend from heaven on earth in the sight of men, and by dint of the miracles he is allowed to perform in presence of the Beast, he seduces the dwellers on earth; he bids the dwellers on earth erect a statue to the Beast who lived after being wounded by the sword,
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
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Jesus answered them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised.
But when the Pharisees heard of it they said, "This fellow only casts out daemons by Beelzebul the prince of daemons." As Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, "Any realm divided against itself comes to ruin, any city or house divided against itself will never stand; read more. and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then can his realm stand?
God, we know, does not listen to sinners; he listens to anyone who is devout and who obeys his will. It is unheard of, since the world began, that anyone should open a blind man's eyes. read more. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
Jesus replied, "I have told you, but you do not believe; the deeds I do in the name of my Father testify to me, but you do not believe,
If I am not doing the deeds of my Father, do not believe me;
whereupon the high priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. "Whatever is to be done?" they said. "The fellow is performing a number of Signs. If we let him alone, like this, everybody will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and suppress our holy Place and our nation."