King James Bible Dictionary

An event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of being discerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission of a religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matthew 12:38). It is an occurrence at once above nature and above man. It shows the intervention of a power that is not limited by the laws either of matter or of mind, a power interrupting the fixed laws which govern their movements, a supernatural power.

"The suspension or violation of the laws of nature involved in miracles is nothing more than is constantly taking place around us. One force counteracts another- vital force keeps the chemical laws of matter in abeyance; and muscular force can control the action of physical force. When a man raises a weight from the ground, the law of gravity is neither suspended nor violated, but counteracted by a stronger force. The same is true as to the walking of Christ on the water and the swimming of iron at the command of the prophet. The simple and grand truth that the universe is not under the exclusive control of physical forces, but that everywhere and always there is above, separate from and superior to all else, an infinite personal will, not superseding, but directing and controlling all physical causes, acting with or without them." God ordinarily effects his purpose through the agency of second causes; but he has the power also of effecting his purpose immediately and without the intervention of second causes, i.e., of invading the fixed order, and thus of working miracles. Thus we affirm the possibility of miracles, the possibility of a higher hand intervening to control or reverse nature's ordinary movements.

In the New Testament these four Greek words are principally used to designate miracles-

1. Semeion, a "sign", i.e., an evidence of a divine commission; an attestation of a divine message (Matthew 12:38, 39; 16:1, 4; Mark 8:11; Luke 11:16; 23:8; John 2:11, 18, 23; Acts 6:8, etc.); a token of the presence and working of God; the seal of a higher power.

2. Terata, "wonders;" wonder-causing events; portents; producing astonishment in the beholder (Acts 2:19).

3. Dunameis, "might works;" works of superhuman power (Acts 2:22; Romans 15:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:9); of a new and higher power.

4. Erga, "works;" the works of Him who is "wonderful in working" (John 5:20, 36).

Miracles are seals of a divine mission. The sacred writers appealed to them as proofs that they were messengers of God. Our Lord also appealed to miracles as a conclusive proof of his divine mission (John 5:20, 36; 10:25, 38). Thus, being out of the common course of nature and beyond the power of man, they are fitted to convey the impression of the presence and power of God. Where miracles are there certainly God is. The man, therefore, who works a miracle affords thereby clear proof that he comes with the authority of God; they are his credentials that he is God's messenger. The teacher points to these credentials, and they are a proof that he speaks with the authority of God. He boldly says, "God bears me witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles."

The credibility of miracles is established by the evidence of the senses on the part of those who are witnesses of them, and to all others by the testimony of such witnesses. The witnesses were competent, and their testimony is trustworthy. Unbelievers, following Hume, deny that any testimony can prove a miracle, because they say miracles are impossible. We have shown that miracles are possible, and surely they can be borne witness to. Surely they are credible when we have abundant and trustworthy evidence of their occurrence. They are credible just as any facts of history well authenticated are credible. Miracles, it is said, are contrary to experience. Of course they are contrary to our experience, but that does not prove that they were contrary to the experience of those who witnessed them. We believe a thousand facts, both of history and of science, that are contrary to our experience, but we believe them on the ground of competent testimony. An atheist or a pantheist must, as a matter of course, deny the possibility of miracles; but to one who believes in a personal God, who in his wisdom may see fit to interfere with the ordinary processes of nature, miracles are not impossible, nor are they incredible. (See also LIST OF MIRACLES, Appendix.)

MIR'ACLE, noun [Latin miraculum, from miror, to wonder.]

1. Literally, a wonder or wonderful thing; but appropriately,

2. In theology, an event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event. Miracles can be wrought only by Almighty power, as when Christ healed lepers, saying, 'I will, be thou clean, ' or calmed the tempest, 'Peace, be still.'

They considered not the miracle of the loaves. Mark 6:52.

A man approved of God by miracles and signs. Acts 2:22.

3. Anciently, a spectacle or dramatic representation exhibiting the lives of the saints.

MIR'ACLE, verb transitive To make wonderful. [Not used.]

MIR'ACLE-MONGER, noun An impostor who pretends to work miracles.

Catalogue of, prior to Christ's ministry:

Creation
Luke 1:1

Flood
Luke 1:7

Confusion of tongues
Genesis 11:1-9

Fire on Abraham's sacrifice
Genesis 15:17

Conception of Isaac
Genesis 17:17; Genesis 18:12; Genesis 21:2

Destruction of Sodom
Genesis 1:19

Lot's wife turned to salt
Genesis 19:26

Closing of the wombs of Abimelech's household
Genesis 20:17-18

Opening of Hagar's eyes
Genesis 21:19

Conception of Jacob and Esau
Genesis 25:21

Opening of Rachel's womb
Genesis 30:22

Flaming bush
Exodus 3:2

Transformation of Moses' rod into a serpent
Exodus 4:3-4; Exodus 4:30; Exodus 7:10; Exodus 7:12

Moses' leprosy
Exodus 4:6-7; Exodus 4:30

Plagues in Egypt
Plague

Pillar of cloud and fire
Exodus 13:21-22; Exodus 14:19-20

Passage of the Red Sea
Exodus 14:22

Destruction of Pharaoh and his army
Exodus 14:23-30

Sweetening the waters of Marah
Exodus 15:25

Manna
Exodus 16:4-31

Quails
Exodus 16:13

Defeat of Amalek
Exodus 17:9-13

Transfiguration of the face of Moses
Exodus 34:29-35

Water from the rock
Exodus 17:5; Exodus 17:7

Thundering and lightning on Sinai
Exodus 19:16-20; Exodus 24:10; Exodus 24:15-17; Deuteronomy 4:33

Miriam's leprosy
Numbers 12:10-15

Judgment by fire
Numbers 11:1-3

Destruction of Korah
Numbers 16:31-35; Deuteronomy 11:6-7

Plague
Numbers 16:46-50

Aaron's rod buds
Numbers 17:1-9

Waters from the rock in Kadesh
Numbers 20:8-11

Scourge of serpents
Numbers 21:6-9

Destruction of Nadab and Abihu
Leviticus 10:1-2

Balaam's ass speaks
Numbers 22:23-30

Preservation of Moses
Deuteronomy 34:7

Jordan divided
Joshua 3:14-17; Joshua 4:16-18

Fall of Jericho
Joshua 6:20

Midianites destroyed
Judges 7:16-22

Hail on the confederated kings
Joshua 10:11

Sun and moon stand still
Joshua 10:12-14

Dew on Gideon's fleece
Judges 6:37-40

Samson's strength
Judges 14:6; Judges 16:3; Judges 16:29-30

Samson supplied with water
Judges 15:19

Fall of Dagon
1 Samuel 5:1-4

Cows return the ark
1 Samuel 6:7-14

Hemorrhoids
1 Samuel 5:9-12; 1 Samuel 6:1-18

Destruction of the people of Beth-Shemesh
1 Samuel 6:19-20

Thunder
1 Samuel 12:16-18

Destruction of Uzzah
2 Samuel 6:1-8

Plague in Israel
1 Chronicles 21:14-26

Fire on the sacrifices:

Of Aaron
Leviticus 9:24

Of Gideon
Judges 6:21

Of Manoah
Judges 13:19-20

Of Solomon
2 Chronicles 7:1

Of Elijah
1 Kings 18:38

Jeroboam's hand withered
1 Kings 13:3-6

Appearance of blood
2 Kings 3:20-22

Panic of the Syrians
2 Kings 7:6-7

Elijah is fed:

By ravens
1 Kings 17:6

By an angel
1 Kings 19:1-8

Of Elijah:

Increases the widow's meal and oil
1 Kings 17:9-16; Luke 4:26

Raises the widow's son
1 Kings 17:17-24

Rain in answer to prayer
1 Kings 18:41-45

Brings fire on Ahaziah's army
2 Kings 1:10-12

Divides Jordan
2 Kings 2:8

Elijah's translation
2 Kings 2:11

Of Elisha:

Divides Jordan
2 Kings 2:14

Sweetens the waters of Jericho
2 Kings 2:19-22

Increases a widow's oil
2 Kings 4:1-7

Raises the Shunammite's child
2 Kings 4:18-37

Renders harmless the poisoned pottage
2 Kings 4:38-41

Feeds one hundred men
2 Kings 4:42-44

Cures Naaman of leprosy
2 Kings 5:1-19

Smites Gehazi with leprosy
2 Kings 5:26-27

Causes the ax to float
2 Kings 6:6

Reveals the counsel of the king of Syria
2 Kings 6:12

Causes the eyes of his servant to be opened
2 Kings 6:17

Smites with blindness the army of the king of Syria
2 Kings 6:18

The dead man restored to life
2 Kings 13:21

Destruction of Sennacherib's army
2 Kings 19:35; Isaiah 37:36

Return of the shadow on the sun dial
2 Kings 20:9-11

Hezekiah's cure
Isaiah 38:21

Deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego
Daniel 3:23-27

Deliverance of Daniel
Daniel 6:22

The sea calmed, on Jonah being cast into it
Jonah 1:15

Jonah in the fish's belly
Jonah 1:17; Jonah 2:10

Jonah's gourd
Jonah 4:6-7

Conception by Elizabeth
Luke 1:18; Luke 1:24-25

The incarnation of Jesus
Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-80

The appearance of the star of Bethlehem
Matthew 2:1-9

The deliverance of Jesus
Matthew 2:13-23

Miracles of Jesus, in chronological order:

Water made into wine
John 2:1-11

Heals the nobleman's son
John 4:46-54

Draught of fishes
Luke 5:1-11

Heals the demoniac
Mark 1:23-26; Luke 4:33-36

Heals Peter's mother-in-law
Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39

Cleanses the leper
Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16

Heals the paralytic
Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26

Healing of the impotent man
John 5:1-16

Restoring the withered hand
Matthew 12:9-13; Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:6-11

Restores the centurion's servant
Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10

Raises the widow's son to life
Luke 7:11-16

Heals a demoniac
Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:11; Luke 11:14-15

Stills the tempest
Matthew 8:23-27; Matthew 14:32; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

Casts devils out of two men of Gadara
Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39

Raises from the dead the daughter of Jairus
Matthew 9:18-19; Matthew 9:23-26; Mark 5:22-24; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:41-42; Luke 8:49-56

Cures the woman with the issue of blood
Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48

Restores two blind men to sight
Matthew 9:27-31

Heals a demoniac
Matthew 9:32-33

Feeds five thousand people
Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-14

Walks on the sea
Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21

Heals the daughter of the Syro-Phenician woman
Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30

Feeds four thousand people
Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-9

Restores one deaf and dumb
Mark 7:31-37

Restores a blind man
Mark 8:22-26

Restores lunatic child
Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43

Tribute money obtained from a fish's mouth
Matthew 17:24-27

Restores ten lepers
Luke 17:11-19

Opens the eyes of a man born blind
Luke 43:9

Raises Lazarus from the dead
John 11:1-46

Heals the woman with the spirit of infirmity
Luke 13:10-17

Cures a man with dropsy
Luke 14:1-6

Restores two blind men near Jericho
Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43

Curses a fig tree
Matthew 21:17-22; Mark 11:12-14; Mark 11:20-24

Heals the ear of Malchus
Luke 22:49-51

Second draught of fishes
John 21:6

Miracles of the disciples of Jesus:

By the seventy
Luke 10:17-20

By other disciples
Mark 9:39; John 14:12

By the apostles
Acts 3:6; Acts 3:12-13; Acts 3:16; Acts 4:10; Acts 4:30; Acts 9:34-35; Acts 16:18

Of Peter:

Cures the sick
Acts 5:15-16

Cures Aeneas
Acts 9:34

Raises Dorcas
Acts 9:40

Causes the death of Ananias and Sapphira
Acts 5:5; Acts 5:10

Peter and John cure a lame man
Acts 3:2-11

Peter and other apostles delivered from prison
Acts 5:19-23; Acts 12:6-11; Acts 16:26

Philip carried away by the Spirit
Acts 8:39

Of Paul:

Strikes Elymas with blindness
Acts 13:11

Heals a cripple
Acts 14:10

Casts out evil spirits, and cures sick
Acts 16:18; Acts 19:11-12; Acts 28:8-9

Raises Eutychus to life
Acts 20:9-12

Shakes a viper off his hand
Acts 28:5

Paul cured of blindness
Acts 9:3-6; Acts 9:17-18

Convincing effect of miracles
Exodus 4:28-31; Exodus 10:7; Exodus 10:16-17; Exodus 12:31-33; Exodus 14:25; Exodus 14:31; Judges 6:17-22; Judges 6:36-40; Judges 7:1; Daniel 3:28-29; Daniel 4:2-3; Luke 5:4-11; John 2:11; John 2:22-23; John 4:48-53; John 7:31; John 11:43-45; John 12:10-11; John 20:30-31; Acts 8:6; Acts 9:32-42; Acts 13:8-12; Acts 19:13-18; Romans 15:18-19

Design of miracles
Exodus 3:19-20; Exodus 4:2-9; Exodus 7:5; Exodus 7:17; Exodus 8:8-10; Exodus 8:22; Exodus 9:14-16; Exodus 9:29; Exodus 10:1-2; Exodus 10:16-17; Exodus 11:1; Exodus 11:7-9; Exodus 12:29-33; Exodus 14:4; Exodus 14:18; Exodus 14:24-25; Exodus 14:31; Exodus 16:4-6; Exodus 19:4-5; Exodus 19:9; Numbers 14:11; Numbers 16:28-35; Numbers 17:1-12; Deuteronomy 4:33-35; Deuteronomy 11:1-8; Deuteronomy 29:1-9; Joshua 2:9-11; Joshua 3:10-11; Joshua 4:23-24; Joshua 5:1; Judges 2:7; 1 Samuel 6:6-18; 1 Samuel 12:17-18; 1 Kings 18:24; 1 Kings 18:37-39; 2 Kings 5:14-15; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3; Psalms 78:10-32; Psalms 106:9-12; Jeremiah 32:20; Daniel 2:47; Daniel 3:28-29; Daniel 6:20-27; Jonah 1:14-16; Zech 2:9; Matthew 4:3; Luke 4:3; Luke 4:6; Matthew 11:3-5; Mark 2:9-12; Luke 5:26; Luke 18:42-43; John 2:11; John 4:48; John 5:36; John 9:3; John 11:4; John 11:40-42; Acts 2:22; Acts 3:1-10; Acts 4:21-22; 1 Corinthians 1:22

Miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost:

Foretold
Isaiah 35:4-6; Joel 2:28-29

Of different kinds
1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Enumerated
1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:28

Christ was endued with
Matthew 12:28

Poured out on Pentecost
Acts 2:1-4

Communicated:

On preaching the gospel
Acts 10:44-46

By laying on of the apostles' hands
Acts 8:17-18; Acts 19:6

For the confirmation of the gospel
Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3; Romans 15:19; Hebrews 2:4

For the edification of the church
1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 14:12-13

To be sought after
1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:1

Temporary nature of
1 Corinthians 13:8

Not to be:

Neglected
1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6

Despised
1 Thessalonians 5:20

Purchased
Acts 8:20

Miscellany of minor sub-topics:

Called:

Marvelous Things
Psalms 78:12

Marvelous Works
Isaiah 29:14; Psalms 105:5

Signs and Wonders
Jeremiah 32:21; John 4:48; 2 Corinthians 12:12

Performed through the power:

Of God
John 3:2; Acts 14:3; Acts 15:12; Acts 19:11

Of the Holy Ghost
Matthew 12:28; Romans 15:19; 1 Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 12:30

Performed in the name of Christ
Mark 16:17; Acts 3:16; Acts 4:30

Faith required:

In those who perform
Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21; John 14:12; Acts 3:16; Acts 6:8

In those for whom they were performed
Matthew 9:28; Mark 9:22-24; Acts 14:9

Power to work miracles, given the disciples
Mark 3:14-15; Mark 16:17-18; Mark 16:20

Demanded by unbelievers
Matthew 12:38-39; Matthew 16:1; Luke 11:16; Luke 11:29; Luke 23:8

Alleged miracles performed:

By magicians
Exodus 7:10-12; Exodus 7:22; Exodus 8:7

By other impostors
Matthew 7:22

Through the powers of evil
2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 16:14

Miracles wrought in support of false religions:

General references
Deuteronomy 13:1-2

By false christs
Matthew 24:24

By false prophets
Matthew 24:24; Revelation 19:20

By the witch of En-Dor
1 Samuel 28:7-14

By Simon Magus
Acts 8:9-11

Not to be regarded
Deuteronomy 13:3

Deceive the ungodly
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Revelation 13:14; Revelation 19:20

A mark of apostasy
2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13

A miracle may be defined to be a plain and manifest exercise by a man, or by God at the call of a man, of those powers which belong only to the Creator and Lord of nature; and this for the declared object of attesting that a divine mission is given to that man. It is not, therefore, the wonder , the exception to common experience, that constitutes the miracle , as is assumed both in the popular use of the word and by most objectors against miracles. No phenomenon in nature, however unusual, no event in the course of God's providence, however unexpected, is a miracle unless it can be traced to the agency of man (including prayer under the term agency), and unless it be put forth as a proof of divine mission. Prodigies and special providences are not miracles. (A miracle is not a violation of the laws of nature. It is God's acting upon nature in a degree far beyond our powers, but the same king of act as our wills are continually exerting upon nature. We do not in lifting a stone interfere with any law of nature, but exert a higher force among the laws. Prof. Tyndall says that "science does assert that without a disturbance of natural law quite as serious as the stoppage of an eclipse, or the rolling of the St. Lawrence up the falls of Niagara, no act of humiliation, individual or nation, could call one shower from heaven." And yet men by firing cannon during battle can cause a shower: does that cause such a commotion among the laws of nature? The exertion of a will upon the laws does not make a disturbance of natural law; and a miracle is simply the exertion of God's will upon nature.

ED.) Again, the term "nature" suggests to many persons the idea of a great system of things endowed with powers and forces of its own

a sort of machine, set a-going originally by a first cause, but continuing its motions of itself. Hence we are apt to imagine that a change in the motion or operation of any part of it by God would produce the same disturbance of the other parts as such a change would be likely to produce in them if made by us or by any other natural agent. But if the motions and operations of material things be produced really by the divine will, then his choosing to change, for a special purpose, the ordinary motion of one part does not necessarily or probably imply his choosing to change the ordinary motions of other parts in a way not at all requisite for the accomplishment of that special purpose. It is as easy for him to continue the ordinary course of the rest, with the change of one part, as of all the phenomena without any change at all. Thus, though the stoppage of the motion of the earth in the ordinary course of nature would be attended with terrible convulsions, the stoppage of the earth miraculously , for a special purpose to be served by that only , would not of itself be followed by any such consequences. (Indeed, by the action of gravitation it could be stopped, as a stone thrown up is stopped, in less than two minutes, and yet so gently as not to stir the smallest feather or mote on its surface.

ED.) From the same conception of nature as a machine, we are apt to think of interferences with the ordinary course of nature as implying some imperfection in it. But it is manifest that this is a false analogy; for the reason why machines are made is to save us trouble; and, therefore, they are more perfect in proportion as they answer this purpose. But no one can seriously imagine that the universe is a machine for the purpose of saving trouble to the Almighty. Again, when miracles are described as "interferences with the law of nature," this description makes them appear improbable to many minds, from their not sufficiently considering that the laws of nature interfere with one another, and that we cannot get rid of "interferences" upon any hypothesis consistent with experience. The circumstances of the Christian miracles are utterly unlike those of any pretended instances of magical wonders. This difference consists in

(1) The greatness, number, completeness and publicity of the miracles. (2) In the character of the miracles. They were all beneficial, helpful, instructive, and worthy of God as their author. (3) The natural beneficial tendency of the doctrine they attested. (4) The connection of them with a whole scheme of revelation extending from the origin of the human race to the time of Christ.