Resolved: Supernatural phenomena as the primary method of evangelization is God's intention for the

ï¿½ï¿½ He began by continuing the list I had begun with the first two miracles of Acts. ï¿½ï¿½ His list has some serious issues: 1. He stops at chapter 18 (of 28) so his list is not comprehensive. ï¿½ï¿½ He then does a tally and presents statistics from a partial list. 2. His list has a number of errors which I have corrected below: 3. The list (though it is not complete) is long on work and short on logic. ï¿½ï¿½ This is a tit for tat argument based on events that were recorded in the Book of Acts. John 21:25 says, "25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. " Obviously, not all supernatural phenomena were recorded. ï¿½ï¿½This verse indicates that supernatural phenomena were a normal part of Peter's life: ï¿½ Acts 5:15 says, "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. " Also, Paul indicated (as I quoted earlier) "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (1 Corinthians 2:4). Also, Mark had his own "Book of Acts" summed up in one verse, "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. " (Mark 16:20) Acts 2:1-37 (Pentecost) Acts 3:1-4:22 (Lame Begger) Acts 5:12-16 (Signs and wonders in Solomon's Portico) The text indicates that they did many signs and wonders, however it indicates that this actually caused people NOT to join them. Acts 5:14 14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. ) Acts 8:4-8 (Philip in Samaria) Acts 8:9-25 (Simon the Magician. Acts 8:26-40 (Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch) There is no mention of anything supernatural? Acts 8:26, 29 26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. This is certainly supernatural knowledge ï¿½that Philip would not have had otherwise and was key to the Eunuch receiving salvation. Acts 8:39-40 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. Just a little supernatural icing on the cake to assure the Eunuch that Philip was indeed a messenger from God! Acts 9:19-20 (Saul in the Synagogue) Acts 9:32 (Healing of Aeneas) Acts 9:36-43 (Healing of Dorcas) Acts 10:34-48 (Peter preaches to the Gentiles) In this passage, the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles (indicating conversion) prior to any supernatural phenomena "The Holy Spirit falls(indicating conversion)" This is speculation. ï¿½ If this is true, Peter and John were saved twice- once in Acts 2:4 and again in Acts 4:31 This WAS an event involving supernatural phenomena: Acts 10:46 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Acts 11:19-30 (The Church at Antioch Acts 13:4-12 (The Proconsul at Cyprus) Acts 13:13-52 (Paul's first major sermon, Antioch in Pisidia) Acts 14:1-6 (Paul &Barnabas at Iconium) Acts 14:8-19 (P&B at Lystra) – In this account, the people actually misunderstand the supernatural phenomena and began to view Paul as a God. He was then stoned. I am assuming this is what you meant by, "we have… instances where signs…actually hindered the sharing of the Gospel. "ï¿½ This is speculation. ï¿½ Could have been: 25 … Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: (Acts 28:25-26) ï¿½ Acts 16:11-15 (The Conversion of Lydia) Acts 16:25-40 (The Philippian Jailer) Acts 17:1-9 (Paul & Silas in Thessolonica) Acts 17:10-15 (P&S In Berea) Acts 17:16-234 (Paul in Athens) Acts 18:3-16 (Paul in Corinth) I would also like to address: "Finally, I would like to leave you with a quote from Jesus himself regarding signs. "When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. " We must ask ourselves, what is the sign of Jonah? Jonah did no signs in Ninevah. The people of Ninevah were not converted because Jonah healed a young man, caused the sun not to shine, or spoke in a language he did not know. Rather, Jonah preached a simple message of the sinfulness of the Ninevites, warned them of the judgement to come, and urged the[m] to repent. THIS is the modus operandi that Christ puts forward, and it is the modus operadi of the Early Church, and so also it should be our modus operandi. " ï¿½ 1. Jesus was speaking to Pharisees in Matthew 12:39. ï¿½Jesus had just healed the man with a withered hand (12:13). As a matter of fact prior to this: "…Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. "(9:35) In the 11th chapter, John the Baptist asked a similar question (11:3). But unlike the reply to the Pharisees, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. " (11:4-5) Jesus responded to the Pharisees differently because they had SEEN the supernatural and STILL wanted a sign-thus they WERE WICKED! 2. ï¿½The sign of Jonas is clarified in Matthew 12:40: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. " 3. Prior to preaching to Ninevah, Jonah had just been spit out of the mouth of a big fish? ï¿½Do you see this everyday where you live? ï¿½This was certainly supernatural! 4. Repent? ï¿½Why should I repent? ï¿½Because the Bible says so? ï¿½What if I don't believe in God or that the Bible is the Word of God? "Word of God"…"Word of God"…hmm How do I know it is the Word of God? ï¿½Is it because my mom told me it was the Word of God? ï¿½How do I know it is not a book of Hebrew mythology? How did Moses know the voice from the bush was giving him the Word of God? ï¿½ -He had experienced the supernatural! What caused Pharaoh to go from: ï¿½"Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? " to, "Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. "? ï¿½ -He had experienced the supernatural! How did the Children of Israel know The Law given to them by Moses was indeed the Word of God? -They had experienced the supernatural! How did Saul know that Samuel was truly a prophet of God? -He experienced the supernatural! How did Elijah convince the Israelites on Mount Carmel that the prophets of Baal were wrong and that the LORD, he is God? -Through a manifestation of the supernatural! How did the Children of Israel know that Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel were prophets of God? -The prophets supernaturally told the future! How did Jesus show Himself to be the Son of God who was teaching the Word of God? -Through the supernatural!