ANOINTED HANDS (1)

“And through the HANDS of the apostles MANY SIGNS and WONDERS were done among the people” – Acts 5:12a

Hands set for Eternal Impact include ANOINTED HANDS through which GOD does diverse miracles, signs, and wonders: “And through the HANDS of the apostles MANY SIGNS and WONDERS were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch” (Acts 5:12). The term ‘hands of the Apostles’ used in this passage does not refer merely to their physical hands. It refers to the work God did through them. Many miracles done through the Anointed Hands of our Lord Jesus are recorded in the Gospel accounts. However, the book of Acts records many miracles, signs, and wonders that God enabled the apostles to do by mean of their anointed hands: “Then fear came upon every soul, and MANY WONDERS and SIGNS were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:43).

The Lord Jesus had revealed to His disciples that they would have the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, after He returned to heaven (Jh.14:26). He also promised to back His Word with signs and wonders: “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying SIGNS. Amen” (Mk.16:20). Thereby, hearers of the apostolic message could have confidence in what they heard. The miracles were to provide objective, indisputable testimony concerning the gospel message: “God also bearing witness both with SIGNS and WONDERS, with various MIRACLES, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will” (Heb. 2:4).

Here are few summarized records of the miracles, signs and wonders that were done by the anointed hands of the apostles:

God used Peter’s anointed hand to heal the lame man at the Temple’s Beautiful gate (Acts 3:7-11). He also used him to heal the sick from various cities (Acts 5:14-16). If Peter’s shadow was so powerfully anointed as to heal the sick, how much more were his hands! Later, God used Peter in Joppa, to raise Dorcus from the dead (Acts 9:39-42).

God fought for His servants after the Sadducees had committed the blunder of touching His anointed, laying “their hands on the apostles” (v.18). That very night “an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life” (vv.19-20). The Hand of the Unstoppable God opened prison doors to release His untouchable anointed!

God used Stephen to wrought great wonders and signs: “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did GREAT WONDERS and SIGNS among the people” (Acts 6:8).

God used Philip to do great miracles and signs in Samaria: “And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and SEEING the MIRACLES which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed” (Acts 8: 6-7).

God used Ananias to restore the lost sight of Saul and have him filled with the Holy Spirit through the laying on of his hands (Acts 9:17-18).

God used Paul’s hands to perform signs and wonders in Iconium (Acts 14:3). He also “worked UNUSUAL MIRACLES by the HANDS of Paul” (Acts 19: 11-12). Many on the Island of Malta were healed and delivered as Paul laid anointed hands on them (Acts 28: 8-9).

God is still in the unique business of doing unusual miracles, and great signs and wonders through anointed hands: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb.13:8). As was the case with the Apostles, as we present our hands to Him, God is able to anoint our hands for unusual miracles, signs, and wonders, to confirm His Word, save, heal, and deliver the captives, and bring Glory to His name!