What I've Found: Signs & Wonders 2 (evangelism)

Evangelism

In the study of Scripture, it becomes apparent that the activities that we frequently refer to as “signs and wonders” is generally reserved to go along with the preaching of the Gospel as an accompanying signature of God’s approval on the preacher and the veracity of the message of the preacher.
According to the Gospel of Mark, while Jesus was concluding the Great Commission, He spoke of signs and wonders accompanying those who believed. Then Mark concludes in commentary by saying:

And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs[i].

As the story of the new church is written in Acts, we see the author, Luke, carrying on this idea that signs would accompany the Gospel while the speaker is in the activity of evangelism. In fact, we see these signs and wonders serving three purposes. The first purpose is that of an attraction to the public. The second purpose was to provide the authority of veracity of the speaker’s message. Finally, the purpose of signs and wonders (this found in Acts) was to prove to the church that a new work was of God.

1. To attract a crowd:
   —Acts 2: signs and wonders drew a crowd on Pentecost then the gathered crowd heard the apostles preach.
   —Acts 5: the Apostles performed signs and wonders at Solomon’s Colonnade in the Temple and many people believed.
   —Acts 6: Stephen performed signs and wonders “among the people” and the attention that was brought to him brought people to be healed, but also to hear the Gospel. These signs and wonders and this preaching gave Stephen an opportunity to argue the faith with Jewish believers—eventually before the Sanhedrin—and also eventually led to his death.
   —Acts 8: Philip’s preaching was accompanied by signs and wonders that both attracted a crowd and caused many to believe.


2. Signs and Wonders were God’s endorsement to the authenticity or veracity of the preacher of the Gospel.
   1. Acts 2: Peter reminds the crowd that Jesus’ teaching was accredited or endorsed by God through signs and wonders.
   2. Acts 14: God proved Paul and Barnabas’ message to be true by providing signs and wonders.
   3. Romans 15: Paul reminds the Roman believers how many people were “won over” to the preaching of Gospel through signs and wonders.


3. To prove to the church that a new work was of God.
   1. Acts 15: Paul and Barnabas tell the leadership in the Jerusalem church about the signs and wonders and miracles that God did among the Gentiles.

What were the signs and wonders that accompanied the preaching of the Gospel in the early church that drew the crowds to hear the evangelists; showed God’s approval on the speaker and his message; and that convinced the early church that a new work was of God.
Some of these signs could possibly be the ones mentioned in Mark 16, where Jesus said: “these signs will accompany those who believe: driving out demons; speaking in new tongues; picking up snakes with their hands; drinking deadly poison, both without injury; and placing their hands on sick people and healing them.[ii]

Other signs that we see mentioned in the New Testament include: tongues (Acts 2, 8, 10, 11, 19; 1 Corinthians 14:22); healing (Acts 4:29-30; 5:12-16); miracles (Acts 2:22; 4:30; 6:8; 8:6,13; and exorcism (Acts 5:16; 8:6-13).

So I find that God gave the church various signs and wonders to accompany the Gospel—the activity of evangelism—to draw crowds to hear the Gospel; to give His endorsement on one of His servants and to convince His church that a new work was of His doing.

[i] Mark 16:20 [NLT]
[ii] Mark 16:17-18
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; [18] they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." [NIV]