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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And he went round the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
And lo! there came a leper and bowed down before him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me.
And when he had entered into Capernaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,
And when Jesus had come into Peters house, he saw his wifes mother lying sick of a fever.
And when evening came, they brought to him many that were possessed by demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, "He himself took our infirmities, and bore our diseases."
And he saith to them, Why are ye fearful, ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the waves; and there was a great calm.
And lo! they brought to him a man that was palsied, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the palsied man, Be of good cheer, son; thy sins are forgiven.
While he was thus speaking to them, lo! a certain ruler came in and bowed down before him, saying, My daughter just now died; but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she will live.
And, lo! a woman, who had had an issue of blood for twelve years, came up behind, and touched the fringe of his garment.
And as Jesus passed on from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, Have pity on us, Son of David! And when he had come into the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus saith to them, Do ye believe that I am able to do this? They say to him, Yea, Lord. read more. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, saying, See that no one know it.
And as they were going out, lo! they brought to him a dumb man, possessed by a demon.
And Jesus went round all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease.
And John, having heard in the prison of the works of Christ, sent by his disciples, and said to him, Art thou he that is to come, or are we to look for another? read more. And Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John what ye hear and see.
And, lo! there was a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him.
But Jesus, knowing it, withdrew from thence; and many followed him; and he healed them all,
And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Is this the son of David?
And when he came forth he saw a great multitude; and he was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
But he said to them, They need not go away; do ye give them food.
And in the fourth watch of the night, he went to them, walking on the lake.
And the men of that place, when they saw who he was, sent out into all that country round, and brought to him all the diseased, and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched were made well.
And, lo! a woman of Canaan came out from those borders, and cried out, saying, Have compassion on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is grievously afflicted with a demon.
And great multitudes came to him, having with them those who were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at his feet, and he healed them;
he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and broke, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and no sign will be given to it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them and went away.
And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart.
Lord, have compassion on my son; for he is a lunatic, and is sorely afflicted; for he often falleth into the fire, and often into the water.
But that we may not give them offence, go to the lake, and cast a hook, and take the fish that first cometh up; and on opening his mouth, thou wilt find a shekel; take that, and give it to them for me and thee.
And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all those who sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of those who sold the doves;
And the blind and lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them.
For there will rise up false Christs, and false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders, so that, if possible, even the chosen will be deceived.
And immediately after the distress of those days will the sun be darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And as they were going, lo! some of the guard came into the city, and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And having assembled with the elders, and taken counsel together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, read more. saying, Say, His disciples came by night, and stole him away, while we slept. And should the governor hear of this, we will persuade him, and make you secure. So they took the money, and did as they were taught. And this story hath been commonly reported among the Jews to this day.
saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? Thou hast come to destroy us; we know who thou art, the Holy One of God.
And when he had come out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
And he charged them strictly that no one should know it, and bade that something should be given her to eat.
And he could not do any miracle there, except that he laid his hand upon a few sick persons, and cured them. And he wondered at their want of faith. And he went about the surrounding villages teaching.
And he said to her, For this saying go thy way; the demon hath gone out of thy daughter.
And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more did they publish it.
And they come to Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him.
And these signs will accompany believers: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.
but he, passing through the midst of them, went away.
And when he had done speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a draught.
And it came to pass the day after, that he was going to a city called Nain; and many of his disciples were with him, and a great multitude. And as he came near the gate of the city, lo! there was carried out dead an only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a great multitude from the city was with her.
And he came up, and touched the bier; and they who bore it stood still; and he said, Young man, I say to thee, Rise.
And calling to him two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, Art thou he that is to come, or are we to look for another? And the men came to him and said, John the Baptist hath sent us to thee, saying, Art thou he that is to come, or are we to look for another? read more. In that hour he cured many of diseases, and plagues, and evil spirits, and to many who were blind he gave sight. And he answered and said to them, Go and tell John what ye have seen and heard; that the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor good tidings are brought;
But some of them said, He casteth out the demons through Beelzebul, the prince of the demons; and others, to make trial of him, asked of him a sign from heaven.
And lo! there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bent together, and wholly unable to lift herself up.
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten lepers, who stood afar off.
And it came to pass, as he drew near to Jericho, that a certain blind man was sitting by the wayside begging.
And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, giving glory to God; and all the people on seeing it gave praise to God.
But Jesus answering said, Permit thus far; and touched his ear, and healed him.
And the passover of the Jews was near; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
The Jews therefore answered and said to him, What sign dost thou show us, seeing thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. read more. Then said the Jews, Fortysix years was this temple in building; and wilt thou raise it up in three days? But he spoke of the temple of his body.
And when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, at the feast, many believed in his name, when they saw his signs which he wrought.
This man came to him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou hast come as a teacher from God; for no one can do these signs which thou doest, unless God be with him.
He, having heard that Jesus had come out of Judaea into Galilee, went to him, and asked him to go down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
And a certain man was there, who had had his infirmity thirtyeight years.
But he answered them, My Father is working up to this time, and I work.
But of the multitude many believed in him, and said, When the Christ cometh, will he do more signs than these which this man doeth?
The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, Why did ye not bring him? The officers answered, Never man spoke like this man.
And as he was passing along, he saw a man who had been blind from his birth.
The man answered and said to them, Why, herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not whence he is, and yet he opened my eyes.
If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.
And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world; that they who see not might see, and that they who see might become blind. Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this, and said to him, Are we also blind? read more. Jesus said to them, If ye were blind, ye would not have sin; but now ye say, We see. Your sin remaineth.
If I had not done among them the works which no other man hath done, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.
If I had not done among them the works which no other man hath done, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.
As soon then as he said to them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Many other signs did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these have been written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life in his name.
And he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye will find. And they cast it, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of the fishes.
Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man approved of God to you by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God wrought by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know,
Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man approved of God to you by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God wrought by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know,
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have I give thee. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk.
be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead,by him doth this man stand here before you sound. This is the stone which was set at nought by you the builders, which is become a cornerstone. read more. And there is salvation in no other; for there is not another name under heaven, that hath been given among men, by which we must be saved.
who, having come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For it had not yet fallen upon any of them; but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. read more. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. But Simon, seeing that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles hands, offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, Thy money perish with thee! because thou didst think to obtain the gift of God with money.
While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all that heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed, as many as came with Peter, were astonished that on the gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit; read more. for they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. Then answered Peter,
And when Paul bad laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel to you contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed! As we have said before, so I now say again, If any one preach a gospel to you contrary to that which ye received, let him be accursed!
[he,] whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and wonders of falsehood,
But know this, that in the last days grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without read more. natural affection, implacable, slanderers, incontinent, fierce, without love for what is good, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. And from these turn away. For of these are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so also do these withstand the truth; men corrupted in their minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his will?
And we have more sure the prophetic word, to which ye do well in taking heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture cometh from private interpretation. read more. For prophecy never came by the will of man; but moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God.
Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his presence; and causeth the earth and those who dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. read more. And he doeth great signs, so that he even causeth fire to come down from heaven on the earth, in the sight of men. And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the presence of the beast; commanding those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword, and lived. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should even speak, and cause that all who did not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
And the beast was seized and he who was with him, the false prophet who wrought the signs in his presence, with which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast, and who worshipped his image; the two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Hastings
MIRACLES
1. The narratives
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and saith to him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, "He will give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they will bear thee up, that thou mayst not dash thy foot against a stone." Jesus said to him, Again it is written, "Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God."
And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou cleansed. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
And Jesus said to the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee. And the servant was made well in that hour.
And he touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and waited on him.
And he saith to them, Why are ye fearful, ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the waves; and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the waves obey him? read more. And when he had come to the other side, into the country of the Gadarenes, there met him two men possessed by demons, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass by that way.
But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority on earth to forgive sins,then he saith to the palsied man,Arise, take up thy bed, and go to thy house.
But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority on earth to forgive sins,then he saith to the palsied man,Arise, take up thy bed, and go to thy house.
And he turned round, and seeing her, said, Be of good cheer, daughter; thy faith hath made thee well. And the woman was made well from that hour.
But when the crowd had been put out, he went in, and took hold of her hand; and the girl arose.
Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done to you.
And when the demon was cash out, the dumb man spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, Never was the like seen in Israel.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons; freely ye received, freely give.
Then he began to upbraid the cities wherein most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent.
Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored sound as the other.
Then was brought to him one possessed by a demon, blind and dumb; and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
And he did not work many miracles there, because of their unbelief.
And bidding the multitudes to lie down on the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, he blessed; and having broken the loaves he gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
And Peter answering him said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee on the water.
Then Jesus answering said to her, O woman, great is thy faith; be it done to thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was cured from that hour.
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and no sign will be given to it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them and went away.
And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon went out of him; and the boy was cured from that hour.
But that we may not give them offence, go to the lake, and cast a hook, and take the fish that first cometh up; and on opening his mouth, thou wilt find a shekel; take that, and give it to them for me and thee.
But that we may not give them offence, go to the lake, and cast a hook, and take the fish that first cometh up; and on opening his mouth, thou wilt find a shekel; take that, and give it to them for me and thee.
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and they immediately received sight, and followed him.
And seeing one figtree by the roadside, he went up to it, and found nothing on it, but leaves only; and he saith to it, Let there be no fruit from thee hencefoward for ever. And immediately the figtree withered.
And seeing one figtree by the roadside, he went up to it, and found nothing on it, but leaves only; and he saith to it, Let there be no fruit from thee hencefoward for ever. And immediately the figtree withered.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All power was given to me in heaven and on earth.
teaching them to observe all things, whatever I have commanded you. And, lo! I am with you always, unto the end of the world.
And Jesus rebuked him, [saying,] Be silent, and come out of him.
And his ears were opened; and the string of his tongue was immediately loosed, and he spoke plain.
Then he again put his hands on his eyes, and he saw clearly, and was restored, and saw all things distinctly.
And these signs will accompany believers: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.
And having done this, they inclosed great multitude of fishes; and their nets began to break.
And Simon Peter seeing it fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying, Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.
And he that was dead sat up and began to speak; and he gave him to his mother.
And the disciples of John told him all these things.
And Jesus, seeing her, called to her, and said to her, Woman, thou art set free from thy infirmity.
And lo! there was a certain man before him, who had the dropsy.
Were there none found returning to give glory to God but this foreigner?
But when the master of the feast tasted the water that had been made wine, not knowing whence it was, but the servants who drew the water knew, he called the bridegroom
This beginning of the signs Jesus made in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Then Jesus said to him, Unless ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
Then Jesus said to him, Unless ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
Jesus saith to him, Go; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and went away.
Jesus saith to him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
But the testimony which I have, is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to perform, the works themselves which I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
The men therefore seeing the sign which he wrought, said, This is truly the prophet that was to come into the world.
and said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam; (which is, when translated, Sent.) He went away therefore, and washed and came seeing.
They therefore took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father! I thank thee that thou hast heard me. Yet I knew that thou hearest me always; but for the sake of the multitude standing around I said it, that they might believe that thou didst send me.
He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith to them, Loose him, and let him go.
But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them what Jesus had done.
But though he had wrought so many signs before them, they did not believe in him;
Believe me, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; but if not, believe for the very works sake.
And he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye will find. And they cast it, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of the fishes.
And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were wrought through the apostles.
And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles received strength.
And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and expired. And great fear came on all that heard of it.
And she fell down immediately at his feet, and expired; and the young men, when they came in, found her dead, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband.
And many signs and wonders were wrought among the people by the hands of the apostles; and they were all with one accord in Solomons porch.
so that in the streets they brought out the sick, and laid them on beds and couches, in order that at least the shadow of Peter, as he passed, might overshadow some of them.
and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison.
And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.
And Simon himself also believed, and having been baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed when he beheld the miracles and signs which were wrought.
And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus the Christ healeth thee; arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and seeing Peter, she sat up.
And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals; and he did so. And he saith to him, Throw thy garment round thee, and follow me.
And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou wilt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and darkness; and going about he sought to find some who would lead him by the hand.
This man heard Paul speaking; who looking steadily at him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
And this she did for many days. But Paul, being much displeased, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out immediately.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and all the doors were immediately opened, and the bands of all were loosed.
so that even handkerchiefs, or aprons, were carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
But Paul went down and fell on him, and having embraced him, said, Make no lamentations; for his life is in him.
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid it on the fire, there came forth a viper by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
And it happened that the father of Publius was lying sick with a fever and dysentery; to whom Paul went in, and, when he had prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him.
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
God appointed some in the church to be, in the first place, apostles, in the second place, prophets, in the third place, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, those of helping and of governing, divers kinds of tongues. Are all apostles?
For I delivered to you first of all what I also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he hath risen on the third day, according to the Scriptures;
and that he was buried, and that he hath risen on the third day, according to the Scriptures;
[he,] whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and wonders of falsehood,
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
And lo! there came a leper and bowed down before him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou cleansed. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. read more. And Jesus saith to him, See thou tell no one; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. And when he had entered into Capernaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home palsied, sorely tormented. He saith to him, I will come and heal him. But the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof; but only command with a word, and my servant will be made well. For even I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard this, he marveled, and said to those who followed, Truly do I say to you, Not even in Israel have I found such faith. And I say to you, that many will come from the east and the west, and recline at table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will go out into the outer darkness; there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee. And the servant was made well in that hour. And when Jesus had come into Peters house, he saw his wifes mother lying sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and waited on him.
And when he had gone on board the boat, his disciples followed him. And, lo! a great tempest arose on the lake, so that the boat was almost covered by the waves; but he was sleeping. read more. And they came and awoke him, saying, Lord, save! we are perishing. And he saith to them, Why are ye fearful, ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the waves; and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the waves obey him? And when he had come to the other side, into the country of the Gadarenes, there met him two men possessed by demons, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass by that way. And lo! they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Son of God? Didst thou come here to torment us before the time? Now there was at a distance from them a herd of many swine feeding. And the demons besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, send us into the herd of swine. And he said to them, Go. And they came out, and went into the swine. And lo! the whole herd rushed down the steep into the lake, and perished in the waters. And the herdsmen fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, and what had happened to the men possessed by demons. And lo! the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they besought him to depart from their borders.
And lo! they brought to him a man that was palsied, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the palsied man, Be of good cheer, son; thy sins are forgiven. And lo! some of the scribes said within themselves, This man is blaspheming. read more. And Jesus seeing their thoughts, said, Wherefore have ye evil thoughts in your hearts? For which is easier? to say, Thy sins are forgiven? or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath authority on earth to forgive sins,then he saith to the palsied man,Arise, take up thy bed, and go to thy house. And he arose, and went away to his house.
While he was thus speaking to them, lo! a certain ruler came in and bowed down before him, saying, My daughter just now died; but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she will live. And Jesus arose and followed him, with his disciples. read more. And, lo! a woman, who had had an issue of blood for twelve years, came up behind, and touched the fringe of his garment.
And, lo! a woman, who had had an issue of blood for twelve years, came up behind, and touched the fringe of his garment. For she said within herself, If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well.
For she said within herself, If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well. And he turned round, and seeing her, said, Be of good cheer, daughter; thy faith hath made thee well. And the woman was made well from that hour.
And he turned round, and seeing her, said, Be of good cheer, daughter; thy faith hath made thee well. And the woman was made well from that hour. And Jesus coming into the rulers house, and seeing the minstrels, and the crowd making a noise, read more. said, Withdraw; for the girl is not dead, but is sleeping. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the crowd had been put out, he went in, and took hold of her hand; and the girl arose. And the report of this went abroad into all that country. And as Jesus passed on from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, Have pity on us, Son of David! And when he had come into the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus saith to them, Do ye believe that I am able to do this? They say to him, Yea, Lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, saying, See that no one know it. But they went out, and spread abroad his fame in all that country. And as they were going out, lo! they brought to him a dumb man, possessed by a demon. And when the demon was cash out, the dumb man spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, Never was the like seen in Israel.
And, lo! there was a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him. And he said to them, Who of you that owneth one sheep, if it fall into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it, and lift it out? read more. Of how much more worth now is a man than a sheep! So then it is lawful to do well on the sabbath. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored sound as the other.
Then was brought to him one possessed by a demon, blind and dumb; and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw.
And when it was evening, the disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and it is now late; send the multitudes away therefore, that they may go to the villages and buy themselves victuals. But he said to them, They need not go away; do ye give them food. read more. And they say to him, We have here only five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And bidding the multitudes to lie down on the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, he blessed; and having broken the loaves he gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. And they all ate, and were filled. And they took up of the fragments that remained, twelve baskets full. And they who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
But the boat was now in the midst of the lake, tossed by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, he went to them, walking on the lake. read more. And seeing him walking on the lake, they were dismayed, saying, It is a spectre; and they cried out for fear. But he immediately spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answering him said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee on the water. And he said, Come. And Peter, coming down from the boat, walked on the water, and came to Jesus. But seeing the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! And Jesus immediately stretched out his hand, and took hold of him, and said to him, Thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? And when they had got into the boat, the wind ceased. And they that were in the boat fell down before him, saying, Truly thou art the Son of God.
And Jesus, going from thence, withdrew to the parts of Tyre and Sidon. And, lo! a woman of Canaan came out from those borders, and cried out, saying, Have compassion on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is grievously afflicted with a demon. read more. But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying Send her away, for she is crying out after us. But he answered and said, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then she came and fell down before him, saying, Lord, help me! But he answering said, It is not allowable to take the childrens bread, and throw it to the little dogs. And she said, Yea, Lord; for the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the table of their masters. Then Jesus answering said to her, O woman, great is thy faith; be it done to thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was cured from that hour.
And Jesus having called his disciples to him, said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have remained with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and I am not willing to send them away fasting, lest they faint on the road. And the disciples say to him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? read more. And Jesus saith to them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes. And bidding the multitude to lie down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and broke, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. And they all ate, and were filled; and they took up of the fragments that remained, seven baskets full. And they who ate were four thousand men, besides children and women.
And when they had come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have compassion on my son; for he is a lunatic, and is sorely afflicted; for he often falleth into the fire, and often into the water. read more. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answering said, Unbelieving and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon went out of him; and the boy was cured from that hour.
And when they had come to Capernaum, those who received the halfshekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your teacher pay the halfshekel? He saith, Yes. And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes? Of their own sons, or of strangers? read more. And when he said, Of strangers, Jesus said to him, Then are the sons free. But that we may not give them offence, go to the lake, and cast a hook, and take the fish that first cometh up; and on opening his mouth, thou wilt find a shekel; take that, and give it to them for me and thee.
And lo! two blind men, who were sitting by the wayside, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Have pity on us, Son of David! And the multitude sharply bade them be silent. But they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have pity on us, Son of David! read more. And Jesus stopped, and called them, and said, What would ye have me do for you? They say to him, Lord, to open our eyes. Then Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and they immediately received sight, and followed him.
And in the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. And seeing one figtree by the roadside, he went up to it, and found nothing on it, but leaves only; and he saith to it, Let there be no fruit from thee hencefoward for ever. And immediately the figtree withered. read more. And the disciples seeing it, marveled, saying, How suddenly did the figtree wither! Jesus answering said to them, Truly do I say to you, If ye have faith, and do not doubt, not only shall ye do what hath been done to the figtree, but should ye even say to this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it would be done. And all things whatever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye will receive.
For there will rise up false Christs, and false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders, so that, if possible, even the chosen will be deceived.
And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? Thou hast come to destroy us; we know who thou art, the Holy One of God. read more. And Jesus rebuked him, [saying,] Be silent, and come out of him. And the unclean spirit convulsing him, and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned each other, saying, What is this? New teaching with authority; even the unclean spirits doth he command, and they obey him! And immediately his fame spread abroad everywhere through the whole surrounding country of Galilee.
And Simons wifes mother lay sick of a fever; and they immediately speak to him about her. And he went to her, and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she waited on them.
And there cometh a leper to him beseeching him, and kneeling down, saying to him, If thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith, I will; be thou cleansed. read more. And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And sternly charging him, he immediately sent him away, saying to him, See that thou say nothing to any one; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. But he went away, and began to publish it constantly, and to spread the matter abroad, so that Jesus could no more enter a city openly, but was without in desert places; and they came to him from every quarter.
And they come to him, bringing one that was palsied, borne by four men. And not being able to bring him to him on account of the crowd, they took off the roof where he was; and when they had broken an opening, they let down the bed whereon the palsied man lay. read more. And Jesus seeing their faith, saith to the palsied man, Son, thy sins are forgiven. But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man speak thus? He blasphemeth; who can forgive sins but God only? And Jesus immediately perceiving in his spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, saith to them, Why do ye reason thus in your hearts? Which is easier? to say to the palsied man, Thy sins are forgiven? or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed and go? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins,he saith to the palsied man, I say to thee, Arise, take up thy bed and go to thy house. And he arose, and immediately took up the bed and went forth before them all; so that they were all amazed, and gave glory to God, saying, We never saw it thus.
And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, as he was, in the boat; and there were also other boats with him. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves heat into the boat, so that it was already filling. read more. And he was in the stern, asleep on the pillow; and they awake him, and say to him, Teacher, carest thou not that we are perishing? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, Peace! be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said to them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have not faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the waves obey him?
And they came to the other side of the lake, into the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had come out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, read more. who had his dwelling in the tombs; and not even with a chain could any one bind him any longer; because he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been snapped asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces; and no one could master him; and continually, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself, with stones. And seeing Jesus afar off, he ran and bowed down before him, and cried out with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, do not torment me. For he was saying to him, Unclean spirit, come out from the man. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith to him, Legion is my name; for we are many. And he besought him much not to send them out of the country. Now there was there, by the mountain, a great herd of swine feeding. And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits coming out, entered into the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep into the lake, about two thousand, and were drowned in the lake. And they that fed them fled, and told the news in the city and in the country. And they came to see what had been done. And they come to Jesus, and see him who had been possessed by demons, sitting, clothed, and in his right mind,him who had had the legion; and they were afraid. And they who saw it told them how it befell him that was possessed by the demons, and concerning the swine. And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders. And when he was going on board the boat, he that had been possessed by the demons besought him that be might be with him. And he did not permit him, but said to him, Go to thy house to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and that he hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him; and all wondered.
And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, and besought him much, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death; I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be saved and live. read more. And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and pressed upon him. And a woman, who had had an issue of blood twelve years,
And a woman, who had had an issue of blood twelve years, and had undergone much at the hands of many physicians, and spent all that she had, and was not at all benefited, but rather grew worse,
and had undergone much at the hands of many physicians, and spent all that she had, and was not at all benefited, but rather grew worse, having heard about Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment.
having heard about Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.
For she said, If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well. And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she perceived in her body that she was cured of her plague.
And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she perceived in her body that she was cured of her plague. And Jesus immediately perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, turned round in the crowed, and said, Who touched my garments?
And Jesus immediately perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, turned round in the crowed, and said, Who touched my garments? And his disciples said to him, Thou seest the multitude pressing on thee, and dost thou say, Who touched me?
And his disciples said to him, Thou seest the multitude pressing on thee, and dost thou say, Who touched me? And he looked round to see her who had done this.
And he looked round to see her who had done this. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said to her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee well; go in peace, and be recovered from thy plague.
And he said to her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee well; go in peace, and be recovered from thy plague. While he was yet speaking, there came from the house I of the ruler of the synagogue some who said, Thy daughter is dead; why dost thou trouble the Teacher any further? read more. And Jesus, overhearing those words, saith to the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not; only believe. And he suffered no one to follow him except Peter and James, and John the brother of James. And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he seeth a tumult, and people weeping and wailing greatly. And going in, he saith to them, Why do ye make this confusion and weeping? The child is not dead, but is sleeping. And they laughed him to scorn. But putting them all out, he taketh the father of the child, and the mother, and those who were with him, and entereth where the child was. And taking hold of the hand of the child, he saith to her, Talitha, kum; which is, when interpreted, Damsel, I say to thee, arise! And immediately the damsel arose and walked; for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were greatly astonished. And he charged them strictly that no one should know it, and bade that something should be given her to eat.
And late in the day his disciples came to him, and said, This is a desert place, and it is now late; send them away, that they may go into the surrounding fields and villages, and buy themselves something to eat. read more. But he answering said to them, Give ye them to eat. And they say to him, Shall we go and buy two hundred denaries worth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith to them, How many loaves have ye? Go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he ordered them to make all lie down in companies upon the green grass. And they lay down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before them; and the two fishes he divided among them all. And they all ate, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.
And when evening came, the boat was in the midst of the lake; and he was alone on the land. And when he saw them toiling hard in rowing, for the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh to them, walking upon the lake. And he would have passed by them; read more. but they, seeing him walking upon the lake, thought it was a spectre, and cried out. For they all saw him, and were terrified. But he immediately spoke with them, and saith to them, Be of good cheer; it is I, be not afraid. And he went up to them into the boat, and the wind ceased. And they were exceedingly astonished, beyond measure.
ran through all that region, and began to carry about on beds those that were sick to the place where they heard he was. And wherever he entered into villages or cities or the open country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.
And rising up, he departed thence into the borders of Tyre; and entering into a house, he desired that no one should know it; but he could not escape notice. But a woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, immediately hearing of him, came in, and fell at his feet. read more. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast out the demon from her daughter. And he said to her, Let the children be filled first; for it is not well to take the childrens bread and throw it to the little dogs. But she answered, and saith to him, Yea, Lord; even the little dogs under the table eat of the childrens crumbs. And he said to her, For this saying go thy way; the demon hath gone out of thy daughter. And going away to her house, she found the child laid upon the bed, and the demon gone out. And again leaving the borders of Tyre, he came through Sidon to the lake of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis. And they bring to him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech, and beseech him to lay his hand upon him. And taking him aside from the multitude, he put his fingers into his ears, and having spit, touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And his ears were opened; and the string of his tongue was immediately loosed, and he spoke plain. And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more did they publish it. And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
And they come to Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him. And taking the blind man by the hand, he led him out of the village; and spitting on his eyes, and putting his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything. read more. And he looked up, and said, I can see men, for I see them as trees, walking. Then he again put his hands on his eyes, and he saw clearly, and was restored, and saw all things distinctly. And he sent him away to his house, saying, Go not into the village.
And coming to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about them, and scribes debating with them. And immediately the whole multitude on seeing him was struck with awe, and running to him, saluted him. read more. And he asked them, About what are ye debating with them? And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I have brought to thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit. And wherever it seizeth hold of him, it throweth him down; and he foameth and gnasheth his teeth; and he pineth away. And I spoke to thy disciples to cast it out, and they were not able. He answereth and saith to them, O unbelieving generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me. And they brought him to him. And as soon as he saw him, the spirit convulsed him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed, foaming. And he asked his father, How long hath it been thus with him? And he said, From a child; and it hath often cast him both into fire, and into water, to destroy him; but if thou art able to do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said to him, If thou art able? All things are possible for him that believeth. The father of the child immediately cried out and said, I believe; help thou my unbelief. And Jesus seeing that the multitude came running together, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, Dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And uttering a cry, and convulsing him much, it came out of him. And he became as one dead; so that very many said, He is dead. But Jesus, taking hold of his hand, raised him, and he stood up.
And they come to Jericho; and as he was going out of Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the wayside. And hearing that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me! read more. And many sharply bade him be silent; but he cried out the more, Son of David, have pity on me! And Jesus stopped, and said, Call him. And they call the blind man, saying to him, Be of good courage, rise, he calleth thee. And throwing off his garment, he leaped up, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answering said to him, What dost thou wish me to do for thee? The blind man said to him, My master, to restore my sight. And Jesus said to him, Go; thy faith hath saved thee. And he immediately received his sight, and followed him on the road.
And on the morrow, when they had come from Bethany, he was hungry; and seeing a figtree afar off having leaves, he went to see whether he might find anything on it; and on coming to it he found nothing but leaves; for the season of figs had not come. read more. And he answering said to it, Let no one eat fruit from thee henceforth for ever. And his disciples heard him. And they come to Jerusalem. And he went into the temple, and began to cast out those who sold and bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of those who sold the doves; and he suffered no one to carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, and said to them, Is it not written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? but ye have made it a den of robbers." And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him; for they feared him; because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. And when it became late, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the figtree withered from the roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, Rabbi, see! the figtree which thou didst curse is withered away. And Jesus answering saith to them, Have faith in God. Truly do I say to you, that whoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou taken up, and cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith will come to pass, he shall have it. Therefore I say to you, All things whatever ye pray for and ask, believe that ye have obtained, and ye shall have them.
He that believeth and is baptized will be saved; but he that doth not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany believers: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; read more. they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.
And in the synagogue there was a man having a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, Ha! what have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? Thou hast come to destroy us. I know who thou art, the Holy One of God. read more. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent, and come out of him. And the demon threw him down in the midst, and came out of him, having done him no hurt. And all were amazed; and they spoke with one another, saying, What kind of word is this, that with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out? And there went out a report concerning him into every place of the surrounding country. And he arose and went from the synagogue into the house of Simon. And Simons wifes mother was seized with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And standing over her, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and waited on them.
And it came to pass, as the multitude was pressing upon him and hearing the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them, and had washed the nets. read more. And going into one of the boats, which was Simons, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And sitting down in the boat, he taught the multitudes. And when he had done speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing; but at thy word I will let down the nets. And having done this, they inclosed great multitude of fishes; and their nets began to break. And they beckoned to their partners in the other boat, to come and help them; and they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. And Simon Peter seeing it fell down at the knees of Jesus, saying, Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. For he and all that were with him were amazed at the draught of fishes, which they had taken; and so were also James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him. And it came to pass, when he was in one of the cities, lo! a man full of leprosy; and seeing Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me. And he put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be thou cleansed. And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one: but go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. But so much the more went abroad the report concerning him; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities.
And lo! men brought on a bed a man that was palsied; and they endeavored to bring him in, and to set him before him. And not finding any way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with the couch into the midst before Jesus. read more. And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins have been forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered and said to them, What are ye thinking in your hearts? Which is easier? to say, Thy sins have been forgiven thee? or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins,he said to the palsied man,I say to thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go to thy house. And he immediately rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and went away to his house, giving glory to God. And amazement seized them all, and they gave glory to God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today.
And it came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue, and taught; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees were watching whether he would heal on the sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. read more. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man having the withered hand, Rise, and stand up in the midst. And he arose, and stood up. And Jesus said to them, I ask you whether it is lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill? And looking round on them all, he said to him, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so; and his hand was restored. But they were filled with madness, and conferred with one another as to what they should do to Jesus.
When he had ended all his discourse in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. And a certain centurions servant, who was dear to him, was sick, and about to die. read more. And having heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, and besought him to come and save his servant. And they came to Jesus, and besought him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that thou shouldst do this for him; for he loveth our nation, and himself built the synagogue for us. And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying, Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof; on which account I did not think myself worthy to come to thee; but command with a word, and let my servant be healed. For even I am a man set under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. And Jesus hearing this, wondered at him; and turning round said to the multitude that followed him, I say to you, Not even in Israel have I found such faith. And they who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well. And it came to pass the day after, that he was going to a city called Nain; and many of his disciples were with him, and a great multitude. And as he came near the gate of the city, lo! there was carried out dead an only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a great multitude from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he was moved with compassion for her, and said to her, Weep not. And he came up, and touched the bier; and they who bore it stood still; and he said, Young man, I say to thee, Rise. And he that was dead sat up and began to speak; and he gave him to his mother. And fear seized on all, and they gave glory to God, saying, A great prophet hath risen up among us; and, God hath visited his people. And this report about him went forth in all Judaea, and in all the neighboring country.
Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a boat with his disciples, and said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake; and they put off. But as they were sailing, he fell asleep. And there came down a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. read more. And they came and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we are perishing! And he rose, and rebuked the wind, and the surging of the water; and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said to them, Where is your faith? And they were afraid, and wondered, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him? And they sailed to the country of the Gergesenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he had landed, there met him a certain man out of the city who had demons, and for a long time had worn no clothes, and abode not in a house, but in the tombs. And seeing Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I beseech thee, do not torment me. For he was about to command the unclean spirit to come out of the man; for it had possessed him for a long time, and he had been kept bound and secured with chains and fetters; and bursting the bands, he had been driven by the demon into the wilderness. And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion; because many demons had entered into him. And they besought him not to command them to go away into the abyss. Now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain; and they besought him to permit them to go into them. And he permitted them. And the demons coming out of the man went into the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep into the lake, and were drowned. And the herdsmen, seeing what was done, fled, and told the news in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what had been done. And they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus; and they were afraid. And they who had seen it told them how he that was possessed by demons was made well. And the whole multitude in the surrounding country of the Gergesenes besought him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear. And he went on board a boat and returned. And the man out of whom the demons had gone besought him that he might be with him. But he sent him away, saying, Return to thy house, and tell what great things God hath done for thee. And he went and published through the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
And lo! there came a man, named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at the feet of Jesus, he besought him to come into his house; for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. And as he went, the multitudes thronged him. read more. And a woman who had had an issue of blood twelve years, and had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be cured by any one,
And a woman who had had an issue of blood twelve years, and had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be cured by any one, came up behind and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her issue of blood ceased.
came up behind and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her issue of blood ceased. And Jesus said, Who touched me? And when all denied it, Peter and those with him said, Master, the multitudes are thronging thee, and pressing against thee.
And Jesus said, Who touched me? And when all denied it, Peter and those with him said, Master, the multitudes are thronging thee, and pressing against thee. But Jesus said, Some one touched me; for I perceived that power went out from me.
But Jesus said, Some one touched me; for I perceived that power went out from me. And the woman, seeing that she was discovered, came trembling, and falling down before him declared before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was cured immediately.
And the woman, seeing that she was discovered, came trembling, and falling down before him declared before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was cured immediately. And he said to her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee well; go in peace.
And he said to her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee well; go in peace. While he was yet speaking, there cometh one from the house of the ruler of the synagogue, saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher any further. read more. But Jesus hearing this, answered him, Fear not; only believe, and she will be made well. And going into the house, he suffered no one to go in with him but Peter and John and James, and the father of the maiden, and the mother. And all were weeping, and lamenting for her. But he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeping. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. But he took hold of her hand, and called aloud, saying, Maiden, arise! And her spirit returned, and she immediately arose. And he ordered food to be given to her. And her parents were amazed. But he charged them to tell no one what had been done.
And when the day began to decline, the twelve came and said to him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages around, and the open country, and lodge, and get food; for we are here in a desert place. But he said to them, Do ye give them food. And they said, We have not more than five loaves and two fishes, unless we ourselves should go and buy food for l all these people. read more. They were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them lie down in companies of fifty. And they did so, and made them all lie down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they ate, and were all filled; and what remained to them of fragments was taken up, twelve baskets.
And it came to pass that on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him. And lo! a man from the multitude cried out, saying, Teacher, I beseech thee, look upon my son, for he is my only child; read more. and lo! a spirit seizeth him, and suddenly crieth out, and convulseth him so that he foameth, and it departeth from him hardly, taking away all his strength. And I besought thy disciples to cast it out, and they could not. And Jesus answering said, O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and bear with you? Bring thy son hither. And while he was yet coming, the demon threw him down, and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him to his father.
And he was casting out a demon, and it was dumb; and it came to pass, when the demon had gone out, that the dumb man spoke. And the multitudes wondered.
And lo! there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bent together, and wholly unable to lift herself up. And Jesus, seeing her, called to her, and said to her, Woman, thou art set free from thy infirmity. read more. And he laid his hands on her; and immediately she stood upright, and gave glory to God. But the ruler of the synagogue answering, being filled with indignation because Jesus had performed a cure on the sabbath, said to the multitude, There are six days in which it is proper to work; on those therefore come and be cured, and not on the sabbathday. But the Lord answered him and said, Hypocrites, doth not each of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away and water him? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo! for eighteen years, to be loosed from this bond on the sabbathday? And on his speaking thus, all his adversaries were ashamed; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, that he was traveling on the confines of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten lepers, who stood afar off. read more. And they lifted up their voice, saying, Jesus, Master, have pity on us. And when he saw them, he said to them, Go, show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they were on their way, they were cleansed. And one of them, perceiving that he was freed from his disease, turned back, giving glory to God with a loud voice; and he fell down on his face at his feet, giving thanks to him; and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Were there none found returning to give glory to God but this foreigner? And he said to him, Rise and go; thy faith hath made thee well.
And it came to pass, as he drew near to Jericho, that a certain blind man was sitting by the wayside begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what this meant. read more. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me! And they who went before sharply bade him hold his peace. But he cried out the more, Son of David, have pity on me! And Jesus stopped, and ordered him to be brought to him. And when he had come near, he asked him, What dost thou wish me to do for thee? And he said, Lord, to restore my sight. And Jesus said to him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, giving glory to God; and all the people on seeing it gave praise to God.
And one of them smote the servant of the highpriest, and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answering said, Permit thus far; and touched his ear, and healed him.
And on the third day there was a marriagefeast in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the feast. read more. And they had no wine, because the wine of the feast had failed. Then the mother of Jesus saith to him, There is no wine. Jesus saith to her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? My hour is not yet come. His mother saith to the servants, Whatever he saith to you, do it. Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, in conformity with the Jews custom of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith to them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith to them, Draw out now, and bear it to the master of the feast. And they bore it. But when the master of the feast tasted the water that had been made wine, not knowing whence it was, but the servants who drew the water knew, he called the bridegroom and said to him, Every man setteth on the good wine first, and when men have drunk freely, that which is worse. Thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of the signs Jesus made in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
So he came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick, at Capernaum. He, having heard that Jesus had come out of Judaea into Galilee, went to him, and asked him to go down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. read more. Then Jesus said to him, Unless ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith to him, Sir, come down before my child die. Jesus saith to him, Go; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and went away. And as he was now going down, the servants met him, and brought word that his child was living. Then he inquired of them the hour when he began to mend. And they said to him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was in the same hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son is living. And he himself believed, and his whole house. This again, a second sign, Jesus wrought, when he had come out of Judaea into Galilee.
Jesus then lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great crowd was coming to him, saith to Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat? But this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he was going to do. read more. Philip answered him, Two hundred denaries worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that each one may take a tittle. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peters brother, saith to him, There is a lad here, who hath five barleyloaves, and two small fishes; but what are they among so many? Jesus said, Make the men lie down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men lay down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, distributed to those that were lying down; in like manner also of the fishes, as much as they desired. And when they were filled, he saith to his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain over, that nothing may be lost. So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barleyloaves, which remained over and above to those that had eaten. The men therefore seeing the sign which he wrought, said, This is truly the prophet that was to come into the world.
But when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, and having gone on board a boat, were going over the lake to Capernaum. And darkness had overtaken them, and Jesus had not yet come to them. read more. And as a strong wind was blowing, the waves ran high. When therefore they had rowed about twentyfive or thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the lake, and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But he saith to them, It is I, be not afraid. Then they were willing to receive him into the boat; and immediately the boat was at the land whither they were going.
Jesus therefore, again greatly moved within himself, cometh to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus saith, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to him, Lord, by this time the body is offensive; for he hath been dead four days. read more. Jesus saith to her, Did I not tell thee, that if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God? They therefore took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father! I thank thee that thou hast heard me. Yet I knew that thou hearest me always; but for the sake of the multitude standing around I said it, that they might believe that thou didst send me. And having thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth! He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith to them, Loose him, and let him go.
After these things he manifested himself again to the disciples at the lake of Tiberias. And he manifested himself in this manner. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. read more. Simon Peter saith to them, I am going a fishing. They say to him, We also will go with thee. They set out and went into the boat, and on that night caught nothing. But when the morning was coming on, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith to them, Children, have ye any fish? They answered him, No. And he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye will find. And they cast it, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of the fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith to Peter, It is the Lord. Simon Peter therefore, hearing that it was the Lord, girded on his outer garment, for he had on nothing but his under one, and threw himself into the lake. And the other disciples came in the boat, (for they were not far from land, only about two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with the fishes. When therefore they had come to land, they see a fire of coals there, and a fish lying thereon, and bread. Jesus saith to them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter therefore went on board, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty three; and though there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith to them, Come and breakfast. But no one of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus cometh and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus manifested himself to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.
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Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man approved of God to you by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God wrought by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know,
But before their arrival a certain man, named Simon, was in the city, a man practising sorcery, and amazing the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was some great person;
And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain magian, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was Barjesus, who was with the proconsul of the country, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He, having called for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God. read more. But Elymas the magian (for so is his name interpreted) withstood them, seeking so turn away the proconsul from the faith.
Many also of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you with all endurance, by signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
[he,] whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and wonders of falsehood,
The salutation by the hand of me, Paul; which is the token in every letter; so I write.
And he doeth great signs, so that he even causeth fire to come down from heaven on the earth, in the sight of men. And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the presence of the beast; commanding those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword, and lived.
Smith
Miracles.
A miracle may be defined to be a plain and manifest exercise by a man, or by God at the call of a man, of those powers which belong only to the Creator and Lord of nature; and this for the declared object of attesting that a divine mission is given to that man. It is not, therefore, the wonder, the exception to common experience, that constitutes the miracle, as is assumed both in the popular use of the word and by most objectors against miracles. No phenomenon in nature, however unusual, no event in the course of God's providence, however unexpected, is a miracle unless it can be traced to the agency of man (including prayer under the term agency), and unless it be put forth as a proof of divine mission. Prodigies and special providences are not miracles. (A miracle is not a violation of the laws of nature. It is God's acting upon nature in a degree far beyond our powers, but the same king of act as our wills are continually exerting upon nature. We do not in lifting a stone interfere with any law of nature, but exert a higher force among the laws. Prof. Tyndall says that "science does assert that without a disturbance of natural law quite as serious as the stoppage of an eclipse, or the rolling of the St. Lawrence up the falls of Niagara, no act of humiliation, individual or nation, could call one shower from heaven." And yet men by firing cannon during battle can cause a shower: does that cause such a commotion among the laws of nature? The exertion of a will upon the laws does not make a disturbance of natural law; and a miracle is simply the exertion of God's will upon nature. --ED.) Again, the term "nature" suggests to many persons the idea of a great system of things endowed with powers and forces of its own --a sort of machine, set a-going originally by a first cause, but continuing its motions of itself. Hence we are apt to imagine that a change in the motion or operation of any part of it by God would produce the same disturbance of the other parts as such a change would be likely to produce in them if made by us or by any other natural agent. But if the motions and operations of material things be produced really by the divine will, then his choosing to change, for a special purpose, the ordinary motion of one part does not necessarily or probably imply his choosing to change the ordinary motions of other parts in a way not at all requisite for the accomplishment of that special purpose. It is as easy for him to continue the ordinary course of the rest, with the change of one part, as of all the phenomena without any change at all. Thus, though the stoppage of the motion of the earth in the ordinary course of nature would be attended with terrible convulsions, the stoppage of the earth miraculously, for a special purpose to be served by that only, would not of itself be followed by any such consequences. (Indeed, by the action of gravitation it could be stopped, as a stone thrown up is stopped, in less than two minutes, and yet so gently as not to stir the smallest feather or mote on its surface. --ED.) From the same conception of nature as a machine, we are apt to think of interferences with the ordinary course of nature as implying some imperfection in it. But it is manifest that this is a false analogy; for the reason why machines are made is to save us trouble; and, therefore, they are more perfect in proportion as they answer this purpose. But no one can seriously imagine that the universe is a machine for the purpose of saving trouble to the Almighty. Again, when miracles are described as "interferences with the law of nature," this description makes them appear improbable to many minds, from their not sufficiently considering that the laws of nature interfere with one another, and that we cannot get rid of "interferences" upon any hypothesis consistent with experience. The circumstances of the Christian miracles are utterly unlike those of any pretended instances of magical wonders. This difference consists in -- (1) The greatness, number, completeness and publicity of the miracles. (2) In the character of the miracles. They were all beneficial, helpful, instructive, and worthy of God as their author. (3) The natural beneficial tendency of the doctrine they attested. (4) The connection of them with a whole scheme of revelation extending from the origin of the human race to the time of Christ.
Watsons
MIRACLES. A miracle, in the popular sense, is a prodigy, or an extraordinary event, which surprises us by its novelty. In a more accurate and philosophic sense, a miracle is an effect which does not follow from any of the regular laws of nature, or which is inconsistent with some known law of it, or contrary to the settled constitution and course of things. Accordingly, all miracles presuppose an established system of nature, within the limits of which they operate, and with the order of which they disagree. Of a miracle in the theological sense many definitions have been given. That of Dr. Samuel Clarke is: "A miracle is a work effected in a manner unusual, or different from the common and regular method of providence, by the interposition of God himself, or of some intelligent agent superior to man, for the proof or evidence of some particular doctrine, or in attestation of the authority of some particular person." Mr. Hume has insidiously or erroneously maintained that a miracle is contrary to experience; but in reality it is only different from experience. Experience informs us that one event has happened often; testimony informs us that another event has happened once or more. That diseases should be generally cured by the application of external causes, and sometimes at the mere word of a prophet, and without the visible application of causes, are facts not inconsistent with each other in the nature of things themselves, nor irreconcilable according to our ideas. Each fact may arise from its own proper cause; each may exist independently of the other; and each is known by its own proper proof, whether of sense or testimony. As secret causes often produce events contrary to those we do expect from experience, it is equally conceivable that events should sometimes be produced which we do not expect. To pronounce, therefore, a miracle to be false, because it is different from experience, is only to conclude against its general existence from the very circumstance which constitutes its particular nature; for if it were not different from experience, where would be its singularity? or what particular proof could be drawn from it, if it happened according to the ordinary train of human events, or was included in the operation of the general laws of nature? We grant that it does differ from experience; but we do not presume to make our experience the standard of the divine conduct. He that acknowledges a God must, at least, admit the possibility of a miracle. The atheist, that makes him inseparable from what is called nature, and binds him to its laws by an insurmountable necessity; that deprives him of will, and wisdom, and power, as a distinct and independent Being; may deny even the very possibility of a miraculous interposition, which can in any instance suspend or counteract those general laws by which the world is governed. But he who allows of a First Cause in itself perfect and intelligent, abstractedly from those effects which his wisdom and power have produced, must at the same time allow that this cause can be under no such restraints as to be debarred the liberty of controlling its laws as often as it sees fit. Surely, the Being that made the world can govern it, or any part of it, in such a manner as he pleases; and he that constituted the very laws by which it is in general conducted, may suspend the operation of those laws in any given instance, or impress new powers on matter, in order to produce new and extraordinary effects.
In judging of miracles there are certain criteria, peculiar to the subject, sufficient to conduct our inquiries, and warrant our determination. Assuredly they do not appeal to our ignorance, for they presuppose not only the existence of a general order of things, but our actual knowledge of the appearance which that order exhibits, and of the secondary material causes from which it, in most cases, proceeds. If a miraculous event were effected by the immediate hand of God, and yet bore no mark of distinction from the ordinary effects of his agency, it would impress no conviction, and probably awaken no attention. Our knowledge of the ordinary course of things, though limited, is real; and therefore it is essential to a miracle, both that it differ from that course, and be accompanied with peculiar and unequivocal signs of such difference. We have been told that the course of nature is fixed and unalterable, and therefore it is not consistent with the immutability of God to perform miracles. But, surely, they who reason in this manner beg the point in question. We have no right to assume that the Deity has ordained such general laws as will exclude his interposition; and we cannot suppose that he would forbear to interfere where any important end could be answered. This interposition, though it controls, in particular cases, the energy, does not diminish the utility, of those laws. It leaves them to fulfil their own proper purposes, and affects only a distinct purpose, for which they were not calculated. If the course of nature implies the general laws of matter and motion, into which the most opposite phenomena may be resolved, it is certain that we do not yet know them in their full extent; and, therefore, that events, which are related by judicious and disinterested persons, and at the same time imply no gross contradiction, are possible in themselves, and capable of a certain degree of proof. If the course of nature implies the whole order of events which God has ordained for the government of the world, it includes both his ordinary and extraordinary dispensations, and among them miracles may have their place, as a part of the universal plan. It is, indeed, consistent with sound philosophy, and not inconsistent with pure religion, to acknowledge that they might be disposed by the supreme Being at the same time with the more ordinary effects of his power; that their causes and occasions might be arranged with the same regularity; and that, in reference chiefly to their concomitant circumstances of persons and times, to the specific ends for which they were employed, and to our idea of the immediate necessity there is for a divine agent, miracles would differ from common events, in which the hand of God acts as efficaciously, though less visibly. On this consideration of the subject, miracles, instead of contradicting nature, might form a part of it. But what our limited reason and scanty experience may comprehend should never be represented as a full and exact view of the possible or actual varieties which exist in the works of God.
2. If we be asked whether miracles are credible, we reply, that, abstractedly considered, they are not incredible; that they are capable of indirect proof from analogy, and of direct, from testimony; that in the common and daily course of worldly affairs, events, the improbability of which, antecedently to all testimony, was very great, are proved to have happened, by the authority of competent and honest witnesses; that the Christian miracles were objects of real and proper experience to those who saw them; and that whatsoever the senses of mankind can perceive, their report may substantiate. Should it be asked whether miracles were necessary, and whether the end proposed to be effected by them could warrant so immediate and extraordinary an interference of the Almighty, as such extraordinary operations suppose; to this we might answer, that, if the fact be established, all reasonings a priori concerning their necessity must be frivolous, and may be false. We are not capable of deciding on a question which, however simple in appearance, is yet too complex in its parts, and too extensive in its object, to be fully comprehended by the human understanding. Whether God could or could not have effected all the ends designed to be promoted by the Gospel, without deviating from the common course of his providence, and interfering with its general laws, is a speculation that a modest inquirer would carefully avoid; for it carries on the very face of it a degree of presumption totally unbecoming the state of a mortal being. Infinitely safer is it for us to acquiesce in what the Almighty has done, than
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John what ye hear and see. The blind receive sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and to the poor good tidings are brought;
But the Pharisees, hearing it, said, This man doth not cast out the demons, except through Beelzebul, the prince of the demons. And he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and no city or house divided against itself will stand. read more. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?
We know that God heareth not sinners; but if any one is a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began, it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. read more. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.
Jesus answered them, I have told you, and ye do not believe. The works that I do in my Fathers name, these bear witness of me.
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What are we to do, seeing that this man worketh many signs? If we thus let him alone, all will believe in him; and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and nation.