“This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of God. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. ”
Acts 19:10-12

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APRIL 25, 2025

We have a God of order and purpose. The extraordinary miracles described in these verses were accompanied by saturation in the word of God.

I’ll be honest: the specifics regarding these miracles make me a little uncomfortable. The use of handkerchiefs and aprons for healing reminds me of relics used throughout Christian history, and the false power attributed to them.

Yet here, God was the One who did the extraordinary miracles, and He did so as a manifestation of His power over evil. People were healed and delivered from evil spirits, as during Jesus’ earthly ministry. The miracles during the first century, like those of Jesus, were an indication of the coming of the kingdom of God to earth.

We may not see repeated miraculous healings or deliverance from demon possession, but the kingdom of God is within us and amongst us. The world is dominated by unbelief, but that in no way precludes the reality of the people of God living as citizens of His kingdom.

The kingdom of God brings heaven to earth. Our responsibility is to live in light of this divine intervention, to walk by faith and not by sight. To walk by faith is a transformational process of taking the word of God and applying it to our lives. It is engagement in the work of the gospel, which looks different for every believer. We will not be taking handkerchiefs and aprons to the bedside of the sick, but we can see heaven brought to earth as we live in obedience to the word of God and the promptings of the Spirit.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • When have you seen heaven brought to earth?
  • How has the word of God transformed your life to do the work of the gospel?
  • Where are you engaged in the work of the gospel?

 

Church Reading Plan: Numbers 5; Psalm 39