Articles
Signs of a True Apostle
Signs of a True Apostle
As Paul closes his letter to the Corinthians, he writes: “since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you” (2 Corinthians 13:3). How would one ‘prove’ he is really an ‘apostle of Christ’, chosen and sent by Jesus? Paul laid his proof upon several things, but notice his statement that “the signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles” (12:12).
Signs and Wonders – these were the confirmation of being ‘of God’ – confirming that the message being proclaimed was the Word of God.
So with Jesus:
Acts 2:22–24 — 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
John 20:30–31 — 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The ‘testimony / witness’ that Jesus was the son of God was seen in His working of such miracles -
John 5:36 — 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
John 10:25 — 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me,
John 10:37–38 — 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
People, upon seeing such works, DID believe in Jesus as the son of God.
John 2:23 — 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.
John 3:1–2 — 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
This was the promise that Jesus gave unto the apostles in preparing them to take the Gospel into all the world -
Mark 16:16–20 — 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
Hebrews 2:3–4 — 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Acts 14:3 — 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
This was seen in the early chapters of Acts as the Apostles began preaching the gospel.
Acts 2:43 — 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Acts 4:33 — 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 5:12 — 12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
Acts 6:8 After laying on of the Apostles hands - Stephen did such mighty works…
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts 8:6 - after laying on of the Apostles hands - Philip did such ‘signs’ that confirmed his preaching…
6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.
Acts 8: Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostle's hands the ‘spirit was given’ - but such was the ability to do such works.
Paul, on becoming the Lord’s apostle ‘unto the Gentiles’ was also validated by such working of God.
1 Corinthians 1:5–7 — 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 2:4–5 — 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Romans 15:19 — 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
Acts 19:11–12 — 11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
Hence Paul’s apostleship was confirmed by the Lord working through him. To accept him as an apostle is to recognize that the commands he gives are the commandments of the Lord (1 Cor. 14:37). To reject Paul is to reject the Lord who chose, sent, and confirmed him as an apostle.
Hugh DeLong
