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Evidence ID: HIS-EV47
Evidence: Jesus’ Miracles were Witnessed by Many People
Summary: Jesus and his disciples performed thousands of miracles during their ministries. Every miracle performed by Jesus and his disciples was witnessed by one or more people. Nowhere in the New Testament, or in the writings of the first century church fathers and critics does anyone refute the miracle accounts. They regarded them as authentic. Therefore, Jesus' miracles are well attested by thousands of witnesses.
Description: Jesus performed many miracles during his ministry. In fact, miracles permeated his ministry so much so that people were amazed and astonished with the works of Jesus. There are many references in the New Testament to Jesus' miracles.
The following table enumerates the Jesus' miracle recorded in the gospels:
| # | Miracle | Matthew | Mark | Luke | John |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jesus Turns Water into Wine at the Wedding in Cana | John 2:1-11 | |||
| 2 | Jesus Heals an Official's Son at Capernaum in Galilee | John 4:43-54 | |||
| 3 | Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit From a Man in Capernaum | Mark 1:21-27 | Luke 4:31-36 | ||
| 4 | Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law Sick With Fever | Matthew 8:14-15 | Mark 1:29-31 | Luke 4:38-39 | |
| 5 | Jesus Heals Many Sick and Oppressed at Evening | Matthew 8:16-17 | Mark 1:32-34 | Luke 4:40-41 | |
| 6 | First Miraculous Catch of Fish on the Lake of Gennesaret | Luke 5:1-11 | |||
| 7 | Jesus Cleanses a Man With Leprosy | Matthew 8:1-4 | Mark 1:40-45 | Luke 5:12-14 | |
| 8 | Jesus Heals a Centurion's Paralyzed Servant in Capernaum | Matthew 8:5-13 | Luke 7:1-10 | ||
| 9 | Jesus Heals a Paralytic Who Was Let Down From the Roof | Matthew 9:1-8 | Mark 2:1-12 | Luke 5:17-26 | |
| 10 | Jesus Heals a Man's Withered Hand on the Sabbath | Matthew 12:9-14 | Mark 3:1-6 | Luke 6:6-11 | |
| 11 | Jesus Raises a Widow's Son From the Dead in Nain | Luke 7:11-17 | |||
| 12 | Jesus Calms a Storm on the Sea | Matthew 8:23-27 | Mark 4:35-41 | Luke 8:22-25 | |
| 13 | Jesus Casts Demons into a Herd of Pigs | Matthew 8:28-33 | Mark 5:1-20 | Luke 8:26-39 | |
| 14 | Jesus Heals a Woman in the Crowd With an Issue of Blood | Matthew 9:20-22 | Mark 5:25-34 | Luke 8:42-48 | |
| 15 | Jesus Raises Jairus' Daughter Back to Life | Matthew 9:18-26 | Mark 5:21-43 | Luke 8:40-56 | |
| 16 | Jesus Heals Two Blind Men | Matthew 9:27-31 | |||
| 17 | Jesus Heals a Man Who Was Unable to Speak | Matthew 9:32-34 | |||
| 18 | Jesus Heals an Invalid at Bethesda | John 5:1-15 | |||
| 19 | Jesus Feeds 5000 Plus Women and Children | Matthew 14:13-21 | Mark 6:30-44 | Luke 9:10-17 | John 6:1-15 |
| 20 | Jesus Walks on Water | Matthew 14:22-33 | Mark 6:45-52 | John 6:16-21 | |
| 21 | Jesus Heals Many Sick in Gennesaret as They Touch His Garment | Matthew 14:34-36 | Mark 6:53-56 | ||
| 22 | Jesus Heals a Gentile Woman's Demon-Possessed Daughter | Matthew 15:21-28 | Mark 7:24-30 | ||
| 23 | Jesus Heals a Deaf and Dumb Man | Mark 7:31-37 | |||
| 24 | Jesus Feeds 4000 Plus Women and Children | Matthew 15:32-39 | Mark 8:1-13 | ||
| 25 | Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida | Mark 8:22-26 | |||
| 26 | Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind by Spitting in His Eyes | John 9:1-12 | |||
| 27 | Jesus Heals a Boy With an Unclean Spirit | Matthew 17:14-20 | Mark 9:14-29 | Luke 9:37-43 | |
| 28 | Miraculous Temple Tax in a Fish's Mouth | Matthew 17:24-27 | |||
| 29 | Jesus Heals a Blind & Mute Demoniac | Matthew 12:22-23 | Luke 11:14-23 | ||
| 30 | Jesus Heals a Woman Who Had Been Crippled for 18 Years | Luke 13:10-17 | |||
| 31 | Jesus Heals a Man With Dropsy on the Sabbath | Luke 14:1-6 | |||
| 32 | Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers on the Way to Jerusalem | Luke 17:11-19 | |||
| 33 | Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead in Bethany | John 11:1-45 | |||
| 34 | Jesus Restores Sight to Bartimaeus in Jericho | Matthew 20:29-34 | Mark 10:46-52 | Luke 18:35-43 | |
| 35 | Jesus Withers the Fig Tree on the Road From Bethany | Matthew 21:18-22 | Mark 11:12-14 | ||
| 36 | Jesus Heals a Servant's Severed Ear While He Is Being Arrested | Luke 22:50-51 | |||
| 37 | Resurrection of the Saints | Matthew 27:52-53 | |||
| 38 | Second Miraculous Catch of Fish at the Sea of Tiberias | John 21:4-11 |
In addition to these miracles, the apostle Matthew testifies that Jesus performed hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of miracles. According to the Gospel of Matthew, knowledge of his miracles spread throughout the entire region of Galilee. Countless people brought those who were sick, and demon possessed to Jesus.
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. (Matthew 4:23-24)
The apostle John also testifies that the disciples witnessed many other miraculous signs.
The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. (John 20:30)
Working miracles was an integral part of Jesus' ministry. He exercised his power to heal and cast out demons everywhere he went and with everyone he encountered.
Perhaps the greatest miracles were those of Jesus' incarnation and resurrection. These two miracles speak of God's desire to redeem mankind.
Jesus' miracles were noted by the extra-biblical sources. Based on Professor Schlomo Pines interpretation of Flavius Josephus' 18.3.3 passage [HIS-EV18] [REF-FJO02], Jesus was regarded by first-century Christian as a miracle worker based on the testimony of the apostles and apostolic fathers.
"At this time there was wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders." [REF-AWH01]
Based on the gospel account in Matthew 10:1-15, Jesus gave his twelve disciples the authority to perform miracles. The authority manifests the divine power of Jesus. See also Mark 6:7-13 and Luke 9:1-6.
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. Matthew 10:1
In the Book of Acts, the disciples performed miracles as well. The following table enumerates the disciples' miracles recorded in Book of Acts:
| # | Miracle | Acts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Disciples Perform Many Wonders and Signs | Acts 2:43 |
| 2 | Disciples Filled with Boldness | Acts 4:29-31 |
| 3 | Disciples Perform Many Wonders and Signs | Acts 5:12-15 |
| 4 | Stephen Performs Many Wonders and Signs | Acts 6:8 |
| 5 | Philip Performs Signs | Acts 8:6-7 |
| 6 | Peter Heals Aeneas | Acts 9:34 |
| 7 | Paul and Barnabas Perform Many Wonders and Signs | Acts 14:3 |
The disciples were acting on behalf of Jesus by invoking his supernatural power. This power was fully vested in them by Jesus himself (Matthew 10:1). The miracles performed by the disciples further authenticated Jesus' message.
We also have reports from modern day missionaries where they are able to heal as a means to authenticate the Gospel message.
Based on these accounts, every miracle performed by Jesus and his disciples were witnessed by one or more people. Nowhere in the New Testament, or in the writings of the first century church fathers and critics does anyone refute the miracle accounts. They regarded them as authentic and well attested by thousands of witnesses.
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