Signs, Wonders, and the Testimony of God
In the Bible, the term “signs and wonders” occurs approximately twenty-nine times. The Old Testament references almost exclusively refer to the birth of Israel under the leadership of Moses, through whom God worked the signs and delivered Israel from Egypt. The only exceptions to this rule are three references in Daniel, where pagan kings Nebuchadnezzar and Darius acknowledge the mighty hand of God, first in the putting down and raising again of Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 4.2, 3) and secondly in the deliverance of Daniel from the lion’s den (Dan 6.27).
In the New Testament, Jesus warns against false prophets who will deceive with signs and wonders (Mt 24.24, Mk 13.22). He also criticizes the Jews who will not believe without signs and wonders (Jn 4.48). Paul warns of the man of sin, coming with signs and wonders to deceive in 2 Thess 2.9. Stephen refers back to the OT usage in his Acts 7 sermon, mentioning the signs and wonders in Egypt forming the nation of Israel (Ac 7.36).
The rest of the NT references are positive, beginning with Peter’s sermon at Pentecost where he references Joel’s prophecy (Ac 2.19) and the mighty works of Jesus (Ac 2.22). In the aftermath of this event, the apostles did “many wonders and signs” in Jerusalem (Ac 2.43). Acts 4.30 and 5.12 refer to continuing signs and wonders done by the apostles in Jerusalem.
When we arrive at Acts 14.3, we come to the last reference to signs and wonders in the book. It not only records mighty deeds done by Paul and Barnabas but it reveals the reason these events occurred. Interestingly, it is the only time that the NT describes signs and wonders occurring among Gentiles “as they happened,” so to speak. We know that Paul performed other signs before Gentiles from other passages reporting on the events as “occurrences in the past.”
Why did God send signs and wonders? Through all the years of Biblical history, signs and wonders were never normal experiences of God’s people. Their occurrence focused on three periods of history, the time of Moses, the times of Elijah and Elisha, and the times of Jesus and the apostles. In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are in Iconium, part of the region of Galatia. Iconium is a Greek city in the Roman Empire, one of the stops on Paul’s missionary journey. He and Barnabas previously were in Antioch of Pisidia until driven out by persecutions. In Iconium, they likewise experienced opposition, but during their time there, preaching in the face of opposition, Luke records that
[the Lord] gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Acts 14.3b)
The Roman Empire saw many ideas swirl through its cities and provinces. Travelling orators and philosophers (not to mention religionists) moved about towns, setting up shop to deliver lectures and make a living by being wise. The novelty of their ideas and religions gained interest and sometimes followings. We know that some (at least) would “collect the whole set” of religious experiences as speakers came by, just in case one of them might not be at least somewhat true. These purveyors of ideas depended on their own verbal skills to gain their hearers; they had no objective authority to show their teachings were true.
When Paul and Barnabas came to Iconium, one thing set their preaching apart. God gave testimony to it. He “witnessed to” their message. The word translated “testimony” in our passage is the word we often see translated “witness” in many other passages. In the book of Acts, the word describes God’s testimony to other events on three other occasions.
In Acts 13.22, Paul is preaching in Antioch. He says that God gave witness (testimony) to David after removing Saul. The place where God gave testimony to David happens to be Psalm 89.20, one of those songs that sings through the history of Israel many years after the events it describes. God, through the Psalmist, gives testimony to the legitimacy of David, Paul says.
Later, at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.8, Peter recounts a more recent “testimony” of God. He describes the conversion of Cornelius (and others), saying that God gave witness to their conversion by giving them the Holy Spirit. God testified or approved of what was going on.
The last reference like this in Acts is Paul’s comment concerning the prophecies of Agabus about his coming bondage in Jerusalem. He says the Holy Spirit witnesses (Acts 20.23) in every city about the coming bondage. God, by his prophets, affirmed the truth of the message given to Paul.
Besides these, we find several similar references in Hebrews 11. That is the great chapter of faith, where we see all those famous saints listed and their faith extolled. In Heb 11.2, in a general statement, the “men of old” by faith obtained “a good report,” that is, a good witness or testimony. Heb 11.34 says that Abel, through his better sacrifice obtained a “witness” about his righteousness, with God “testifying” (“witnessing”) about him. Likewise Enoch (Heb 11.5), before his translation to heaven, had “this testimony” (witness) that he pleased God. The whole chapter comes to a summary statement in Heb 11.39 with the general statement that “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith…” The “good report” is God’s witness to their faith. Another way of saying “witness” or “testimony” in this passage could be “God’s approval” or “certificate of authenticity.” God testified that these men were real saints.
Coming back to Acts 14.3, we see God authenticating the preaching of Paul and Barnabas:
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace
How did God give this testimony? The rest of the verse says:
and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
The signs and wonders were the testimony, the witness, the seal of approval, the certificate of authenticity.
Now we also have to realize about these signs and wonders that God granted them to certain men during the New Testament era to authenticate their preaching. Those who we know for certain performed signs and wonders were the Lord himself, the twelve, Paul, Stephen, and possibly (probably) Barnabas. We know that some others also had supernatural gifts, specifically tongues (the day of Pentecost) and prophecy (men like Agabus and Phillip’s daughters as well). If you search through the New Testament, you will find that though the gifts are dramatic, they are not general. God granted the gifts discriminately, amongst a select group of people. Paul makes this clear in 1 Cor 12.29-30. The gifts are not universal.
Why then were the gifts given? Why could some men work “signs and wonders”? God reveals the reason in our passage: the signs and wonders gave witness or testimony to the preaching of the apostles:
Act 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
The last uses of the term “signs and wonders” in the New Testament confirm this. Paul testifies to the effect of his working signs and wonders in Rom 15.18-19. With the accompanying signs and wonders, he preached among the Gentiles, turning many to obedience to the faith. In 2 Cor 2.12, Paul protests his authenticity as an apostle, siting as confirmation the signs and wonders God granted him to perform. These were “the signs of a true apostle.” Finally, the writer of Hebrews declares that the apostles preached the message of salvation confirmed by God’s witness through the signs and wonders.
The signs and wonders confirmed the authenticity of the apostolic preaching. They gave God’s “seal of approval.” Paul declares in 1 Cor 13.8 that signs and wonders like prophecy, tongues, and knowledge would come to an end. A day approached when they would not exist in this dispensation. We find that, in fact, no Christian leaders actually perform signs and wonders today. Some make bold claims, but their so-called mighty deeds have no authentication. Close examination always shows something other than truth telling goes on with these claims. Even among preachers who think such signs are possible, the majority do not claim that they themselves perform such deeds.
Why does God withhold signs and wonders today? In 2 Peter 1.17-21, Peter describes his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration. He says, despite the value of that mighty experience, that he has something better than that experience: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed…” What is that more sure word of prophecy? That which came when “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” That is, the coming of the Scriptures eliminate the need for authenticating signs.
The Bible, the word of God, is its own authenticating sign. When the Word goes out, the Holy Spirit attends, convicting of sin, righteousness, and judgement (Jn 16.8). The signs and wonders confirmed the apostolic message, which we still hold in our hands. The Bible is the voice of the apostles. Millions of believing Christians are the signs.
Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.