Signs of the Apostles

Like as God did with the prophets of the Old Testament, God confirmed the office and work of the apostles with identifying signs and wonders.

The first time the Lord sent forth the twelve apostles, after he had chosen and called them, he gave them powers and signs to identify their work as being wrought by the power of God: Matt. 10:1 "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." In verse 8 he told them: 8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Of course, none of these things could the apostles have done without the attending power of God.

In a much more restricted scope, the Lord also called seventy other ministers and sent them forth with restricted attending signs: Luke 10:1 "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come…9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." Later, the seventy returned with joy saying: 17 "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." The Lord told the seventy not to rejoice because he had given them power to heal the sick and cast out devils. This power was going to be limited for a very short period of time. He told them rather to rejoice because their names were written in heaven.

After the Lord had risen from the dead and a short time before he ascended back to heaven he gave the apostles additional commandments and promised them attending signs of their apostleship. This we find in Mark 16:14 "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." 

In the above, the Lord told the apostles they would have the following signs:

1. In my name shall they cast out devils.
2. They shall speak with new tongues.
3. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.
4. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

After the Lord's ascension back into heaven, the apostles went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." Thus, the signs promised followed the apostles. These signs of the apostles began to be manifest on the day of Pentecost: Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." The apostles were given signs and wonders and this was also conveyed on those on whom they laid their hands, such as Stephen and Phillip. However, Stephen and Phillip could not pass this gift on to others. Other examples of these signs are set forth below:

1. Acts 3:1 "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God."

2. Acts 5:12 "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one."

3. Acts 8:5 "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed."

4. Acts 9:32 "And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately."

5. Acts 9:36 "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive."

6. Acts 10:44 "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"

7. Acts 13:9 "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand."

8. Acts 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. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles."

9. Acts 15:8 "And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked."

10. Acts 16:16 "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."

11. Acts 19:11 "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."

12. Acts 20:9 "And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed."

13. Acts 28:1 "And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm."

14. Acts 28:8 "And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. 9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:"

We make the following observations:

1. The signs and wonders given to the apostles were by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. The signs and wonders identified the work as being sanctioned of God.
3. The signs and wonders were limited to the apostles and those preach brethren on whom the apostles laid their hands.

Now we proceed to show the following:

1. The signs and wonders were works limited to the apostles and not to be passed down to following generations in the church.
2. The signs and wonders were only for a limited period of time.

First, Paul stated in 2 Cor. 12:11 "I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12 "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." Since, the office of apostle was limited to the early days of the church, and the signs and wonders were "the signs of an apostle," then those who were called subsequently and not apostles have no authority or ability to show forth signs.

Second, even Paul had lost the ability to manifest signs before he was martyred by Nero. Paul said in 2 Tim. 4:20 "Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick." This epistle to Timothy was written shortly before Paul was beheaded by Nero. Notice that Paul stated that he had left Trophimus sick at Miletum. If Paul still had the ability to manifest signs, then he could have delivered Trophimus from his sickness. Moreover, when Paul wrote from prison to the church at Philippi, he mentioned the sickness of Epaphroditus: Phil. 2:25 "Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow." Again, this shows that Paul no longer had the ability to deliver someone from sickness.

This limited time for the manifestation of signs is consistent with the prophecy in Mic. 7:14 "Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. 15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I show unto him marvellous things." This prophecy was of the New Testament dispensation and speaks of "marvelous things" being shown for a period of 40 years as this was the time of the children of Israel coming out of Egypt and going into the promised land of Canaan. These marvelous things began with the signs and wonders of Christ around 30 A. D. and continued to the destruction of Jerusalem around 70 A. D.