 |  |
and sat on the right hand of God, and they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord
working with them (co-operating), and CONFIRMING the word with SIGNS following."
The parallel with Heb. 2: is too obvious to justify any detailed comparison, but a
word with regard to the character of these confirmatory miracles may be of service.
(1)
They were "signs following", not mere prodigies, or marvels, but signs, mighty
acts that SIGNified something.
(2)
They were "the powers of the coming age" (Heb. 6:). Into this present evil age
of demonic control comes the power of that age when such influences will be
cast out. Into this veritable Babel comes the power of that age with its new
tongues; in that age the serpent will no longer tempt and destroy; in that age
deadly things shall do no hurt; in that age sickness shall flee away.
As an illustration of the miracles being a "sign", see the healing of the lame man by
Peter, and his own application of it to the salvation of the nation (Acts 3:, 4:). To the
Corinthians, among whom miraculous gifts abounded, the apostle wrote:--
"In everything ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as
the testimony (marturion) of Christ was confirmed (bebaioġ) in you, so that ye come
behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall confirm
(bebaioġ) you unto the end" (I Cor. i 5-8).
Here again Heb. 2: 3, 4 is seen, the testimony, the confirmation, the miraculous gifts,
all coming together. In II Cor. 1: 21 the apostle writes:--
"Now He that confirms us with you with a view to Christ, and hath anointed us is God."
Here confirmation and anointing come together, the anointing referring to the baptism
of the Holy Spirit. The three words, "signs, wonders and miracles" of Heb. 2: 4 are
found written of the Lord's own personal work.
"Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved (publicly attested) of God among you, by
miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you"
(Acts 2: 22).
It will be remembered that His ministry was a confirmatory one, "to confirm the
promises made unto the fathers" (Rom. 15: 8). So the subsequent signs, wonders and
miracles were confirmatory also. Many wonders and signs were done by the apostles
(Acts 2: 43), "a notable sign" is what the rulers called the healing of the lame man
(Acts 4: 16). This sign of the healing is the Scripture's own testimony (Acts 4: 22).
Other passages are 4: 30, 5: 12, 6: 8, 8: 6, 10, and 15: 12. It will be observed that
"signs and wonders" usually go together. The "wonder" was indeed a "sign", not some
prodigy to cause men open-mouthed astonishment. Even the terrible things which usher
in the day of the Lord will be of similar character, "I will show WONDERS in heaven
above, and SIGNS in the earth beneath" (2: 19). The word rendered "miracle" in Heb. 2:
is as often translated simply "power", e.g., "ye shall receive power" (Acts 1: 8), "as
though by our own power" (Acts 3: 12, 4: 7, 33, 6: 8, 10: 38), the last reference ("how
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing