MIRACULOUS ELEMENTS IN NEW TESTAMENT CONVERSIONS

1. MIRACULOUS ELEMENTSIN NEW TESTAMENT CONVERSIONS We should not expect the same.

2. MIRACULOUS ELEMENTS IN NEW TESTAMENT CONVERSIONS • Because there is so much emphasis placed on the miraculous, today, many think that conversion itself is a miracle. • People, therefore, expect certain things to accompany their own conversions, simply because these things occurred during one or more of the conversions in the book Acts. • However, we need to distinguish between that which was necessary at the time and that which is necessary for all time.

3. THOSE ON PENTECOST • The apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

4. Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

5. Acts 2:1-2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

6. THOSE ON PENTECOST • The apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit. • They received power.

7. Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

8. Acts 2:3-4 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

9. Acts 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

10. Acts 3:1-5 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

11. Acts 3:6-9 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

12. Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

13. THOSE ON PENTECOST • The apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit. • They received power. • They spoke in languages other than their own.

14. Acts 2:5-6 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

15. Acts 2:7-11 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

16. THOSE ON PENTECOST • The apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit. • They received power. • They spoke in languages other than their own. • There is no indication that anything miraculous happened to anyone else on this occasion. • The Holy Spirit acted only indirectly in the conversion of the 3,000.

17. THE SAMARITANS • Philip preached and confirmed his message with miraculous signs.

18. Acts 8:5-8 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 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. And there was great joy in that city.

19. Acts 8:9-11 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

20. Acts 8:12-13 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

21. THE SAMARITANS • Philip preached and confirmed his message with miraculous signs. • The Samaritans received the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the apostles’ hands.

22. Acts 8:14-16 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

23. Acts 8:17-19 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

24. THE SAMARITANS • Philip preached and confirmed his message with miraculous signs. • The Samaritans received the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the apostles’ hands. • This reception of the Holy Spirit was not a part of but subsequent to their conversion. • The Holy Spirit acted only indirectly in their conversion.

25. THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH • The angel of the Lord told Philip to go to Gaza.

26. Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert.

27. THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH • The angel of the Lord told Philip to go to Gaza. • When he got there, the Holy Spirit told him to overtake a chariot.

28. Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."

29. THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH • The angel of the Lord told Philip to go to Gaza. • When he got there, the Holy Spirit told him to overtake a chariot. • Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian and baptized him.

30. Acts 8:35-38 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

31. THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH • The angel of the Lord told Philip to go to Gaza. • When he got there, the Holy Spirit told him to overtake a chariot. • Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian and baptized him. • The angel and the Holy Spirit acted only indirectly in the Ethiopian’s conversion. • There is no evidence that anything of a miraculous nature happened to him.