Luke the physician wrote how Peter and John were arrested for speaking to the people in the temple about the resurrection of the dead. They answered the “religious leaders” and were released after being threatened not to speak or teach in Jesus' name. Afterward, they began to pray by referring to words spoken by King David of Israel and saying, “Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto your servants, that with all boldness they may speak your word, ...”, and in chapter four and verse thirty of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter and John's own company continued their prayer by asking God to increase their boldness, “by stretching forth your hand to heal” where we read:
By stretching forth your hand to heal;
and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your holy child Jesus.
The verse begins, “By stretching forth your hand to heal;” Luke began with the words, “by stretching forth your hand” which means “through the means and manner of extending and putting forth your, the Heavenly Father God's, hand” “to heal” which means “to cure or make people well and whole”. Luke shared how Peter, John and their own company asked the Lord to extend His “hand” to provide “healing” to the people they encountered.
The verse continues, “and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your holy child Jesus.” Luke added the words, “and that signs” which means “and so tokens, marks and unusual occurrences which transcend the common course of nature” “and wonders” or “and portents, strange causes to be observed and omens” “may be done by the name” which means “may be made ready, performed and produced through the name which includes everything the name covers such as the thoughts or feelings which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “of your holy child Jesus” which refers to “belonging to your, God the Heavenly Father's, pure, sacred, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated Son Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”. Luke shared how Peter, James and their own company also asked God for “unusual occurrences and strange causes” to be performed through the “Name” of His “Holy Son Jesus”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we find more requests made by Peter, John and their family and friends who were believers in Jesus. They desired that God would enable them to perform supernatural acts that would be “signs” as well as making people “wonder” about that which they did. By having “supernatural” power to heal, perform miracles and cause unusual events, the disciples would set themselves apart as the “ministers” of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We shall see how their desires were fulfilled by God in our next few verses, but for now, let us understand the greatest “miracle and wonder” performed by God is the transformation of a sinful person's life through believing and trusting in His Son Jesus. Jesus paid the price for every sin in the world, and when a person yields their life to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and “sanctify” or “cleanse” them from all unrighteousness. Those who are wise will seek the Heavenly Father God and ask Him for “signs and wonders” to be performed in their own lives through His “Holy Child Jesus” and be willing to perform those supernatural works upon others.
Next time Luke shares how,“the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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