Fear, Wonders, and Signs

"Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles." Acts 2:43.

What is it with the "wonders and signs?"

Note Mark 16:19, 20 again; "So then, after the LORD had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the LORD working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs."

It was during these days of the mid-first century that the final pages of the Holy Scriptures were being written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Word and the New Covenant instituted by Christ were being confirmed by miraculous signs and wonders.

In Acts 3:11-26, Peter preaches a second sermon to a crowd of people after healing a lame beggar. In this sermon he makes a couple of interesting statements.

v. 18; "But those things which God foretold by the mouth of ALL HIS PROPHETS, that the Christ would suffer, HE HAS THUS FULFILLED."

All those things that the prophets foretold were fulfilled in the first advent of Christ. Also note v. 24;

"Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days."

Again, all the prophets foretold the days of the first century, Christ's incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, completion of Holy Writ, inauguration of the New Covenant, and end of the old covenant.

For instance, note Daniel 9:24-27 which describes 70 weeks determined to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. A full discussion of the 70 weeks is not practical here, so for now I am limiting this discussion to the sealing up of vision and prophecy, and the last of the 70 weeks.

It is not hard to understand "to seal up vision and prophecy" as being the completion of the canon of Holy Scripture. This took place in the years from Christ's ascension to the time near the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. There are some who have placed the writing of the book of Revelation later than that, but I believe this is wrong. There is good convincing evidence, both internal and external, that it was written in the 60's A.D. (One reference for you scholars; Before Jerusalem Fell: The Dating of the Book of Revelation by Kenneth Gentry). The completion of Holy Scripture can also be associated with the coming of that which is perfect, described in scripture, and of course it fulfills the prophecy we're discussing from Daniel 9.

Consider the 70th week, about which much has been written proposing that this 70th week is still future. However, the passages in Acts we're discussing, amongst many others, must be said to disprove this idea. Recall, in Acts 3:21 and 24, which were mentioned above as indicating that ALL the prophets foretold the days of the book of Acts. "All" means all, and it really is not necessary to insert unwarranted hundreds of years between the 69th and 70th weeks.

Hear Daniel 9:27;

"Then he [the Prince] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate."

The one week is a week of years, about 7 years.

Since we believe what it says in Acts 3:21,24, we believe this prophecy of Daniel has been and was fulfilled in the first century prior to the destruction of the Jerusalem and end of the Old Covenant. (The Old Testament of the Bible is not the same as the Old Covenant. The Bible is really one book).

"He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week..."

We've already noted a number of times in the New Testament that the word "confirm" is used (see above). Now notice the words of Matthew 26:28;

"Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you, For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'"

He, of course, is Jesus, or the Prince (see Acts 3:15 amongst others), and here He makes a covenant with many. Jesus Himself, confirms the covenant during His ministry with miracles, signs, and wonders. Important to note is that His ministry lasted about 3 and 1/2 years, or half a week.

After His ministry, this Lamb of God was slain, bringing an end to sacrifice and offering. Recall Daniel 9: 27b; "But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering."

His resurrection was further confirmation of His word and covenant. Then after His ascension, He sends down His Holy Spirit of power, and His apostles continue to confirm His covenant for the second half of the 70th week. Hence the reason for the confirming signs and wonders that the apostles performed, particularly in the first several chapters of Acts.

To summarize, these special signs and wonders were just that; special. They were meant for a certain time and purpose. And this was the fulfillment of a prophecy in Daniel. It was during this time that the canon of Holy Scripture was being written and completed, also a fulfillment of "seal up vision and prophecy."

DR