What are…
miracles

also known as: signs and wonders

A true miracle is an event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of being discerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission of a religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matthew 12:38).

It is an occurrence at once above nature and above man. It shows the intervention of a power that is not limited by the laws either of matter or of mind, a power interrupting the fixed laws which govern their movements—a supernatural power.

“The suspension or violation of the laws of nature involved in miracles is nothing more than is constantly taking place around us. One force counteracts another: vital force keeps the chemical laws of matter in abeyance; and muscular force can control the action of physical force. When a man raises a weight from the ground, the law of gravity is neither suspended nor violated, but counteracted by a stronger force. The same is true as to the walking of Christ on the water and the swimming of iron at the command of the prophet.

The simple and grand truth that the universe is not under the exclusive control of physical forces, but that everywhere and always there is above, separate from and superior to all else, an infinite personal will, not superceding, but directing and controlling all physical causes, acting with or without them.”

God ordinarily effects his purpose through the agency of second causes; but he has the power also of effecting his purpose immediately and without the intervention of second causes, i.e., of invading the fixed order, and thus of working miracles. Thus we affirm the possibility of miracles, the possibility of a higher hand intervening to control or reverse nature’s ordinary movements.

In the New Testament these four Greek words are principally used to designate miracles:

  1. Semeion, a “sign”, i.e., an evidence of a divine commission; an attestation of a divine message (Matthew 12:38,39; 16:1, 4; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16; 23:8; John 2:11, 18, 23; Acts 6:8, etc.); a token of the presence and working of God; the seal of a higher power.

  2. Terata, “wonders;” wonder-causing events; portents; producing astonishment in the beholder (Acts 2:19).

  3. Dunameis, “might works;” works of superhuman power (Acts 2:22; Romans 15:19; 2 Thess. 2:9); of a new and higher power.

  4. Erga, “works;” the works of Him who is “wonderful in working” (John 5:20, 36).

Purpose

Miracles are seals of a divine mission. The sacred writers appealed to them as proofs that they were messengers of God. Our Lord also appealed to miracles as a conclusive proof of his divine mission (John 5:20, 36; 10:25, 38). Thus, being out of the common course of nature and beyond the power of man, they are fitted to convey the impression of the presence and power of God.

Where miracles are there certainly God is. The man, therefore, who works a miracle affords thereby clear proof that he comes with the authority of God; they are his credentials that he is God’s messenger. The teacher points to these credentials, and they are a proof that he speaks with the authority of God. He boldly says, “God bears me witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles.”

Credibility

The credibility of miracles is established by the evidence of the senses on the part of those who are witnesses of them, and to all others by the testimony of such witnesses. The witnesses were competent, and their testimony is trustworthy. Unbelievers, following Hume, deny that any testimony can prove a miracle, because they say miracles are impossible. We have shown that miracles are possible, and surely they can be borne witness to. Surely they are credible when we have abundant and trustworthy evidence of their occurrence. They are credible just as any facts of history well authenticated are credible.

Miracles, it is said, are contrary to experience. Of course they are contrary to our experience, but that does not prove that they were contrary to the experience of those who witnessed them. We believe a thousand facts, both of history and of science, that are contrary to our experience, but we believe them on the ground of competent testimony.

An atheist or a pantheist must, as a matter of course, deny the possibility of miracles; but to one who believes in a personal God, who in his wisdom may see fit to interfere with the ordinary processes of nature, miracles are not impossible, nor are they incredible.

127+ miracles recorded in the Bible

  1. CREATION of the universe, including plants, animals and humans (Genesis 1-2)

  2. WORLDWIDE FLOOD EVENT—destruction of the entire world by a divine Flood and the miraculous preservation of 8 righteous people and representative land-dwelling, air-breathing animals in the Ark. (Genesis 7-8)

    View Flood and Babel movie sequence from The HOPE

  3. Tower of BabelCONFUSION OF LANGUAGES (tongues) at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)—a world of one language instantly transformed into a world of many languages

  4. SINFUL CITIES DESTROYED—destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24)

  5. LOT’S SUPERNATURAL DELIVERY from death at Sodom (Genesis 19)

  6. SUPERNATURAL DEATH—Lot’s wife turned into a “pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26)

  7. SUPERNATURAL CONCEPTION—Isaac conceived by very elderly Sarah and 100 year old Abraham at Gerar (Genesis 21:1)

    ELDERLY NURSING MOTHER—Sarah was also able to naturally nurse baby Isaac. (Genesis 21:7)

    The ten plagues of Egypt

    Exodus 7:20-12:30

  8. WATER TURNED TO BLOOD—Water everywhere became BLOOD. The fish died, and the river stank. (Exodus 7:14-25

  9. AMAZING FROG PLAGUE—God suddenly covered the land of Egypt with FROGS, and later supernaturally killed them, leaving them to make Egypt again stink (Exodus 8:2-14; Psalm 78:45; 105:30)

  10. AMAZING LICE PLAGUE—“All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 8:17-18)

  11. AMAZING FLY SWARMS—God sent “grievous” swarms of flies upon all the people and houses of Egypt, covering even the ground, except in the land of Goshen (where the Israelites dwelled fly-free). (Exodus 8:20-24)

  12. MURRAIN suddenly killed all of Egypt’s cattle (Exodus 9:3-6)

  13. BOILS AND BLAINS—The 6th plague, of “boils and blains,” like the third, was sent without warning (Ex.9:8-12). It is called (Deuteronomy 28:27) “the botch of Egypt,” King James Version; but in Revised King James Version, “the boil of Egypt.” “The magicians could not stand before Moses” because of it.

  14. AMAZING DEADLY HAIL WITH FIRE AND THUNDER (Exodus 9:13-33). Advanced warning was given of its coming. (Compare Psalm 18:13; 105:32-33).

  15. AMAZING LOCUST PLAGUE—The plague of locusts, which covered all of Egypt, so that the land was darkened with them (Exodus 10:12-15). The Hebrew name of this insect, arbeh, points to the “multitudinous” character of this visitation. Warning was given before this plague came. Again, the nearby land of Goshen was spared.

  16. LOCALIZED REGIONAL EXTREMELY DEEP DARKNESS DURING THE DAY in a land of sun—The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Exodus 10:21) is described as darkness “which may be felt.” It covered “all the land of Egypt,” so that “they saw not one another.” It did not extend to the land of Goshen (verse 23).

  17. DEATH OF ALL FIRST-BORN—people and beasts, struck by an angel of death in a single night / Israelite first-borns spared, if blood was painted around their door. (Exodus 11:1-8; 12:29-30)

    Exodus miracles

  18. BURNING BUSH that was not consumed (Exodus 3:3)—The voice of God spoke from it to Moses.

  19. VARIOUS CLOUD MIRACLES—indicating God’s presence

  20. MIRACULOUS SNAKE—Aaron’s staff (rod) changed into a serpent (Exodus 7:10-12). The snake then proceeded to swallow the serpent staffs of the pharaoh’s magicians.

  21. RED SEA DIVIDED at just the right moment; the nation of Israel passes through on DRY GROUND. The sea then violently consumed the Egyptian army. (See: Passage of Red Sea) (Exodus 14:21-31)

  22. DRINKING WATER FIXED—Bitter waters of Marah sweetened (Exodus 15:23-25)

  23. MANNA sent daily to feed the Israelites, except on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:14-35)

  24. WATER FROM A ROCK at Rephidim (Exodus 17:5-7)

  25. NADAB and ABIHU CONSUMED for offering “strange fire” (Leviticus 10:1-2)

  26. COMPLAINERS CONSUMED BY FIRE at Taberah / the destruction stopped in response to Moses’ prayer (Numbers 11:1-3)

  27. EARTH OPENS AND SWALLOWS KORAH and his company. (Numbers 16:32-34)

  28. 250 MEN CONSUMED BY DIVINE FIRE at KADESH—“There came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed” 250 particular men fleeing the earth swallowing at Kadesh (Numbers 16:35-45)

  29. SUDDEN DEADLY PLAGUE AT KADESH almost instantly killing 14,700 people, and stopped at Moses’s command as Aaron ran with an incense censer among the people to “make an atonement for them” (Numbers 16:46-50)

  30. AARON’S ROD “brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds” at Kadesh (Numbers 17:1-11)

  31. WATER MIRACULOUSLY PROVIDED IN THE ZIN DESERT from a rock after being struck twice by Moses (Numbers 20:7-11)

  32. FIERY SERPENTS—“The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died” (Numbers 21:6).

  33. MASS HEALING FROM IMMINENT DEATH BY LOOKING AT A BRASS SERPENT on a pole in the Zin desert—“if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Numbers 21:8-9)

  34. JORDAN RIVER DIVIDED, so that Israel passed over dryshod near the city of Adam (Joshua 3:14-17)

  35. WALLS OF JERICHO fell down at God’s command, after the Israelites proved their faith in Him (Joshua 6:6-20)

  36. SUN AND MOON STAYED MOTIONLESS (longer day) to enable the Israelites to win a crucial battle (Joshua 10:12-14)—Can we explain the “long days” of Joshua and Hezekiah? Answer

  37. MEGA HAILSTORM DESTROYED THE AMORITE ARMY in a battle with Joshua (Joshua 10:12-14)

    Miracles in Israel or surrounding God’s prophets

  38. BALAAM’S DONKEY PROTECTS AND SPEAKS—An angel is dispatched against Balaam to express God’s anger. Balaam’s donkey (ass) repeatedly protected him from the angel and ultimately spoke to Balaam (Numbers 22:21-35)

  39. SAMSON’S SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH (Judges 14-16)

  40. HOLLOW PLACE IN LEHI MIRACULOUSLY SPLIT AND PRODUCED DRINKING WATER (Judges 15:19)

  41. IDOL SUPERNATURALLY TIPPED OVER—Dagon idol falls twice before the ark of the covenant. (1 Samuel 5:1-12)

  42. DISEASE MIRACULOUSLY STRIKES PHILISTINES—Emerods (1 Samuel 5:1-12)

  43. SUPERNATURAL DEATHS—men of Beth-shemesh smitten for daring looking into the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 6:19)

  44. GREAT SUPERNATURAL THUNDER AT EBEN-EZER as Samuel was offering up a burnt offering to God. The great thunder confused and routed the Philistine army so that they could be killed by the men of Israel (1 Samuel 7:10-12)

  45. THUNDER AND RAIN at Gilgal CoMES FROM GOD AT SAMUEL’S REQUEST at a time when it should not have rained (at harvest) (1 Samuel 12:18; Prov. 26:1)

  46. SUPERNATURAL SOUND AT REPHAIM—God told David, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees [or baka-shrubs]. It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer” (2 Samuel 5:23-25).

  47. SUPERNATURAL DEATH—Uzzah smitten for touching the ark at Perez-uzzah (2 Samuel 6:6, 7)

  48. DISEASE AND HEALING—Jeroboam’s hand instantly withered and then restored (1 Kings 13:4-6)

  49. PAGAN ALTAR DESTROYED—Jeroboam’s new altar supernaturally destroyed at Bethel (1 Kings 13:4-6

  50. PROPHET KILLED BY LION immediately after disobeying God’s direct command (1 Kings 13:1-26). His donkey was spared.

  51. WIDOW’S MEAL AND OIL—a widow of Zarephath’s meal and oil increased (1 Kings 17:14-16)

  52. RESURRERCTION—widow’s son raised from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24)

  53. DROUGHT in response to Elijah’s prayers (1 Kings 17-18)

  54. SUPERNATURAL FIRE in response to Elijah’s prayers (1 Kings 18:19-39)

  55. RAIN—in clear response to prophet Elijah’s prayers (1 Kings 18:41-45)

  56. RAVENS DELIVER FOOD—prophet Elijah fed by ravens (1 Kings 17-18)

  57. FIRE FROM HEAVEN—Ahaziah’s captains consumed BY fire from heaven near Samaria (2 Kings 1:10-12)

  58. RIVER DIVIDED—Jordan divided by Elijah and Elisha near Jericho (2 Kings 2:7, 8, 14)

  59. SUPERNATURAL TRANSPORT—Elijah carried up into Heaven (2 Kings 2:11)

  60. WATERS OF JERICHO HEALED by Elisha’s casting salt into them (2 Kings 2:21, 22)

  61. MIRACULOUS MASS DEATH BY BEARS—2 bears miraculously destroy 42 “young men” immediately after they mocked the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 2:24)

  62. ABUNDANT WATER PROPHECIED AND MIRACULOUSLY PROVIDED FOR JEHOSHAPHAT and his allied army (2 Kings 3:16-20)—“He said, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Make this valley full of trenches.” For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts. This is but a slight thing in the sight of the Lord; He will also give the Moabites into your hand. …It happened in the morning about the time of offering the sacrifice, that behold, water came by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water” (NASB).

  63. WIDOW’S OIL MULTIPLIED (2 Kings 4:2-7)

  64. RESURRECTION—The Shunammite’s son given, and raised from the dead at Shunem (2 Kings 4:32-37)

  65. POISON EFFECTS MIRACULOUSLY REVERSED—The deadly pottage cured with meal at Gilgal (2 Kings 4:38-41)

  66. HUNDRED MEN MIRACULOUSLY FED WITH 20 BARLEY LOAVES AND FRESH EARS OF GRAIN IN A SACK at Gilgal, as prophecied (2 Kings 4:42-44)

  67. INSTANT LEPROSY AND HEALING—Naaman instantly healed of leprosy, Gehazi instantly afflicted with it (2 Kings 5:10-27)

  68. IRON AXE-HEAD MADE TO FLOAT in the river Jordan (2 Kings 6:5-7)

  69. MIND-READING PROPHECIES—Ben Hadad’s secret plans discovered. Hazael’s thoughts, etc., through the prophecies of Elijah (2 Kings 6:12)

  70. INSTANT BLINDNESS—Syrian army smitten with blindness at Dothan (2 Kings 6:18)

  71. HEALING OF BLIND ARMY—The Syrian army healed of blindness at Samaria (2 Kings 6:20)

  72. RESURRECTION—Elisha’s bones revive the dead (2 Kings 13:21)

  73. MASS DEATH by an angel of death—Sennacherib’s Assyrian army of 5,180 killed overnight by an angel near Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35)

  74. SHADOW OF SUN GOES BACK 10 DEGREES ON THE SUN-DIAL of Ahaz, Jerusalem (2 Kings 20:9-11)—Can we explain the “long days” of Joshua and Hezekiah? Answer

  75. INSTANT LEPROSY—King Uzziah instantly struck with leprosy, Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 26:16-21)

  76. PROTECTION WITH BLAZING FURNACE—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego delivered from the fiery furnace in Babylon (Daniel 3:10-27)

  77. PROTECTION FROM HUNGRY LIONS—Daniel saved from hungry lions in a sealed den (Dan. 6:16-23) / Those who falsely accused Daniel were then thrown to the same lions, who killed them. (Daniel 6:24)

  78. JONAH SURVIVED IN THE FISH’S BELLY and safely landed (Jonah 2:1-10)—How could Jonah survive three days in the belly of a “whale”? Answer

  79. GIDEON’S FLEECE—wet when it shouldn’t be, and dry when it shouldn’t be (Judges 6:37-40)

  80. OTHER FULFILLED PROPHECIES—see: prophecy and prophets

  81. SALVATION of the Jews in Persian exile by Divine providence (Book of Esther)

  82. Miracles surrounding Jesus Christ or His appointed apostles

  83. FULFILLED MESSIANIC PROPHECIES (numerous—also see: prophets)
  84. MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION—the incarnation of Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:35) to a virginVIRGIN, and without genetic human parents (a Second Adam, genetically, without imputation of sin). See: Mary, mother of Jesus article
  85. STAR OF BETHLEHEM miraculously appears and leads wisemen to young Christ
  86. HEALING—2 blind men (Matt. 9:27-31)
  87. MONEY—needed tax/tribute money miraculously provided in a randomly caught fish’s mouth, as promised by Jesus Christ (Matt. 17:24-27)
  88. HEALING—deaf and dumb man healed (Mark 7:31-37)
  89. HEALING—blind man of Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26)
  90. JESUS PASSES UNSEEN through hostile crowd attempting his murder (Luke 4:28-30)
  91. FISH—the miraculous catch of fishes (Luke 5:4-11)
  92. RESURRECTION—the raising of the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-18) / Where is Nain?
  93. HEALING—woman with the spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11-17)
  94. HEALING—man with the dropsy (Luke 14:1-6)
  95. HEALING—ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
  96. HEALING—of Malchus (Luke 22:50-51)
  97. WATER TURNED TO WINE (John 2:1-11)
  98. HEALING—Cure of nobleman’s son, Capernaum (John 4:46-54)
  99. HEALING—a man at Bethsaida who had an infirmity for 38 years (John 5:1-9)
  100. HEALING—man born blind healed (John 9:1-7)
  101. RESURRECTION—Lazarus raised from the dead after (John 11:38-44)
  102. FISH—draught of fishes instantly caught at Christ’s instruction (John 21:1-14)
  103. HEALING—Syrophoenician woman’s daughter healed (Matt. 15:28; Mark 7:24)
  104. LOAVES AND FISHES—4,000 fed from 7 loaves and a few little fishes (Matt. 15:32; Mark 8:1)
  105. FIG TREE destroyed (Matt. 21:18; Mark 11:12)
  106. HEALING—Centurion’s servant healed (Matt. 8:5; Luke 7:1)
  107. HEALING AND EXORCISM—blind and dumb demoniac cured (Matt. 12:22; Luke 11:14)
  108. EXORCISM—demoniac cured in synagogue at Capernaum (Mark 1:23; Luke 4:33)
  109. HEALING—Peter’s wife’s mother healed (Matt. 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38)
  110. SEA STORM STILLED ON COMMAND (Matt. 8:23; Mark 4:37; Luke 8:22)
  111. EXORCISM—Demoniacs of Gadara cured (Matt. 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26)
  112. SWINE SUICIDE—about 2,000 swine rush into the water and drown after Christ allowed demons to transfer to them from demoniacs (Mark 5:1-20)
  113. HEALING—leper (Matt. 8:2; Mark 1:40; Luke 5:12)
  114. RESURRECTION—Jairus’s daughter raised (Matt. 9:23; Mark 5:23; Luke 8:41)
  115. HEALING—woman’s issue of blood healed (Matt. 9:20; Mark 5:25; Luke 8:43)
  116. HEALING—a paralyzed man lowered through a house roof (Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:1-11; Luke 5:18)
  117. HEALING—Man’s withered hand healed (Matt. 12:10; Mark 3:1; Luke 6:6)
  118. HEALING—lunatic child healed (Matt. 17:14; Mark 9:14; Luke 9:37)
  119. HEALING—2 blind men instantly healed (Matt. 20:29; Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35)
  120. JESUS WALKS ON SEA (Matt. 14:25; Mark 6:48; John 6:15)

  121. FOOD—Jesus feeds 5,000 “in a desert place” (Matt. 14:15; Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10; John 6:1-14)

  122. THE TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus Christ (Matt. 17:1-8)

  123. RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ after declared dead by Roman authorities and buried for days (John 21:1-14)

  124. ASCENSION of Jesus Christ to Heaven (Luke 2:42-51)

  125. HEALING—Peter and the HEALING of a the paralytic Aeneas at Lydda (Acts 9:32, 35, 38)
  126. TONGUES—miraculous ability to SPEAK AND/OR UNDERSTAND A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (tongue) previously unknown to the speaker (See: Gift of tongues)
  127. RESURRECTION—Tabitha (Dorcas) raised from the dead (Acts 9:36-43)
  128. HEROD AGRIPPA I—fatally struck on his judgment seat by God (Acts 12:21-23)
  129. DIVINE INSPIRATION and preservation of Scripture (Word of God)

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Article Version: September 18, 2024