Miracles in Acts of the Apostles

Miracles In Acts

This morning, I got a tweet asking who the Patron Saint is for students taking exams. It’s St. Joseph of Cupertino, in case you’re wondering.

If you need to know that little fact, you might want to ask St. Jude Thaddeus to pray with you (he’s the patron saint of hopeless causes).

In any case, it’s always around this time of year that I see an increase in emails, tweets, posts, and other forms of communication from people asking for prayers and minor miracles in their academic lives or when deciding on their futures.

It’s actually perfect timing, because we spend every week during the Easter Season hearing about Christ’s Resurrection appearances and the amazing feats of boldness and logically inexplicable activity in the Acts of the Apostles. There appears to be no better time to discuss miracles.

Miracles in acts Ever Wonder What “Miracle” Means

The term “miracle” is derived from a Latin term that means “object of wonder.” Miracles are events that defy human logic while also revealing God’s glorious wonder; miracles are literally wonderful.

The New Testament reminds us that Christ and His apostles (through the power of the Holy Spirit) provided not just’signs’ of God’s power, but what were repeatedly described as’signs and wonders.’

They Did What?

One of the reasons I adore the book of Acts is because of the incredible miracle stories. Many of them are high comedy as well as high drama. Let us look at some of the miracles described in the Acts of the Apostles:

Acts 5:15: Peter is so filled with the Holy Spirit that even his shadow can heal, making Groundhog Day even less impressive.

Acts 8:39: After teaching about Christ and baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch, the Holy Spirit snatched Philip in an almost Star Trek-like scene.

(2 Thessalonians 2:9; Hebrews 2:4)

Peter raises Tabitha from the dead in Acts 9:36-42. Almost as impressive is Tabitha’s other name, ‘Dorcas.’ I believe it is obvious why she chose the name Tabitha.

Acts 20:9-12: During Mass, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep and falls out a third-story window. Later, St. Paul brings him back to life. What is the story’s moral? Don’t doze off during a homily.

Acts 28:3-6: A poisonous viper leapt from a campfire and latched onto St. Paul’s arm, only to be yanked off with no harm done to Paul. The witnesses thought Paul was a god at the time. It’s a shame YouTube didn’t exist at the time.

In addition to all of this, apostles were seen healing the blind (9:17-18), the paralyzed (9:33-35), the lame (14:7-9), the possessed (16:16-18), and even a man with severe diarrhea (28:7-8).

Acts of the Apostles also includes three dramatic jailbreaks (5:17-25; 12:5-11; 16:25-30), divinely inspired Pentecost pyrotechnics (2:2-6), healing relics (19:11-12), and a worship service so powerful that the earth quaked (4:31)!

In the midst of all of the apostles’ powerful acts, we must not overlook the ‘formula’… Miracles are not performed by the apostles for their own glory or power. The apostles only perform miracles by the power of Jesus’ name, giving all praise and glory to the risen Lord!

What About Today?

Miracles still happen today. Some are large, some are small; many are visible, while many more are hidden. The question is not whether God still performs miracles, but whether your heart is open to receiving them.

You may desire a miracle, but you do not ‘need’ one. God determines our wants and needs based on His will, not the persuasiveness of our arguments. It’s fine to wish for a miracle; you might get one. It’s also critical to believe in God’s love even if a miracle isn’t in the cards for you today.

Every Sunday, you can be certain of one miracle taking place on that altar. Sunday worship gave the early Church its strength (2:42). It was the source of their strength and cohesion.

The Eucharist may not get you a ‘A’ on your semester final, but it will help you avoid failing your heavenly one.