SIGNS THAT LEAD TO WONDER
Opening Prayer
I come before you with praise and thanksgiving, Lord God. In this day, help me to stand firm in faith, to give all that I am to you and share who you are with others.
Read ACTS 14:1–7
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
In Iconium
14 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6 But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach the gospel.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’1
Paul and Barnabas flee to Iconium after being expelled from the region of Pisidian Antioch. This is a journey of at least 90 miles, on the Via Sebaste, a broad and well-paved road connecting local Roman colonies. As is his modus operandi, Paul uses the best travel routes and stops in the next city that has a synagogue.
Paul and Barnabas speak boldly in Iconium for a ‘considerable time’ (v. 3). Luke adds that the Lord ‘confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders’. The Greek word for sign means a distinguishing mark whereby something is known, or a confirmation. The word for wonder means something that astounds because of its transcendent associations, such as an omen or portent. These concepts summarize the role of the miraculous in the mission: it confirms the message being preached and causes people to wonder in astonishment (this is confirmed in 15:12 before the Jerusalem Council).
Luke is not interested in miracles for their own sake, but in miracles that confirm the truthfulness of the word being proclaimed and make people wonder what power is behind it. I remember being on a missions trip in Mexico as a student and praying for someone with severe scoliosis who was dramatically healed as they responded to the good news about God’s love. It was astonishing to watch a back shaped like an ‘S’ become totally straight! This and many other personal experiences have convinced me that God is still doing the sorts of miraculous things described in Acts, just as he has throughout church history. Signs and wonders still authenticate the gospel message today.
Apply
God may not heal everyone we pray for in the way we expect. But God still works miracles that cause people to wonder. Give him that opportunity by praying faithfully.
Closing prayer
Almighty God, there is nothing too hard for you; you are the one who is able to do more than I ask or imagine. Help me to pray with persistent boldness, humbly seeking you to meet the needs I bring before you.
1 Acts 4:30
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