A problem with many denominations today is the belief that God still uses Holy Spirit gifts [9 HS Gifts, 1Cor 12:7-11] through men today. The belief includes thinking that God is still speaking directly to individuals. They say things like, “God spoke to me,” “I’ve been called by God.”

While God is all powerful and can do whatever He wants, He is not still revealing His will and is not using men to do miracles today. Remember this verse:

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” [John 20:30-31]

The miracles & the revelations to the Apostles recorded in Scripture are sufficient for us to believe, repent & obey [Eph 3:3-4]. The miracles in Acts will bolster this assertion.

The Miracle	Location	Verse	Purpose & Result
Baptism of the Holy Spirit #1	Jerusalem	2:1-21	to confirm the teaching at beginning of the church. John 20:30-31; Heb 2:3-4; Mark 16:17-20
Peter heals a lame man	Jerusalem	3:1-11	Teaching. 11-26; Belief John 20:30-31; Heb 2:3-4; Mark 16:17-20
Ananias & Sapphira struck dead	Jerusalem	5:1-10	Teaching at the beginning of the New Covenant. Cr. Lev 10:1-3
Apostles perform many wonders	Jerusalem	5:12-16	20 “go stand & teach”
Philip	Samaria	8:4-13	8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching
Paul converted	Road to Damascus	9:1-9	To call an Apostle out of due season. 1Cor 15:8
Peter heals Eneas of a palsy	Lydda	9:33, 34	Belief. John 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
Peter raises Tabitha, or Dorcas, to life	Joppa	9:36-41	Belief. John 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
Gentiles receive Holy Spirit Baptism #2 (& last)	Caesarea	10; Acts 11 & 15	Confirming God’s acceptance; Acts 2
Peter delivered out of prison by an angel	Jerusalem	12:7-17	Joh 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
God smites Herod, so that he dies	Jerusalem	12:21-23	Teaching at the beginning of the new Covenant. Cr. Lev 10:1-3. 24 word of God grew.
Elymas, the sorcerer, smitten with blindness	Paphos	13:6-11	12 astonished at the teaching. Belief Joh 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
Paul heals a cripple	Lystra	14:8-10	17 witness. John 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
Paul casts out a spirit of divination	Philippi	16:16-18	Confirming Preaching. John 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
Paul and Silas’s prison doors opened by an earthquake	Philippi	16:25-34	Lead to converting the Jailor
Paul communicates the Holy Spirit	Ephesus	19:1-6	Confirming the word before it was written. John 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
Paul heals multitudes	Ephesus	19:11,12	Belief John 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
Paul restores Eutychus to life	Troas	20:9-12	Joh 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
Paul shakes off a viper	Malta	28:3-6	Joh 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
Paul heals the father of Publius and others	Malta	28:7-9	Joh 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4

An honest review of the above list will show the student why the miracles were needed.

• To Confirm the preachers and the teaching were from God.
  • John 20:30-31; Mark 16:17-20; Heb 2:3-4
• For Belief, not for them alone, but for us in our times.
  • “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” [John 20:31]
  • Spiritual gifts were to edify in the absence of the written Word [1 Cor. 14:12-13,26; cf. 13:9]. The written Word is now completely sufficient to edify us [Acts 20:32; 2 Tim 3:16-17].
• To produce Godly Reverence at the beginning of a covenant to demonstrate God’s displeasure. Not repeated for same error.
  • see Leviticus 10:1-3; Acts 5:1-10; Acts 12:21-23;

Spiritual gifts have fulfilled all three reasons for which they were given.

WHAT MORE SHOULD WE SEEK? When you review both the Old and New Testaments, considering the time frame of the writing, you’ll discover that the Miraculous is quite rare. Additionally, you’ll see that God is very patient and longsuffering [2Pet 3:15]. You don’t see God constantly striking people down. “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” [1Cor 10:6]

God has completed His revelations to us, and He confirmed them through the various signs, miracles and wonders. As you read the last chapters of Acts, you’ll see fewer and fewer miracles. Even Paul, Timothy, Trophimus & Epaphroditus did not perform miracles on each other to cure their pains. [cr. 2Tim 4:20; 1Tim 5:23; 2Cor 12:7; Phil 2:25-27].

The Miracles in Acts show us how and why miracles were done. They were done primarily to confirm the Word that was spoken through the Apostles. These signs were referred to, NOT REPEATED, in Acts 15:7-12 to show the others God’s approval of their activities. Now that the Scriptures are complete and the church has been built, what further need do we need of Miracles?

“…thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

[2Tim 3:15; cf 16-17]