What the Bible Says about Signs, Wonders, and Miracles
The Bible presents signs as mighty acts of God that confirm His authority, reveal His character, fulfil prophecy, and strengthen faith. For Christians studying Scripture, for anyone exploring the New Testament for the first time, and for readers asking whether the Bible’s supernatural events are credible, understanding what the Bible says about signs, wonders, and miracles is not merely an academic exercise — it is part of learning how God makes Himself known and how to discern His work rightly.
From the signs given through Moses in Egypt, to the great earthquakes and cosmic disturbances described by the prophets, to the miracles of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament, the Bible consistently presents a God who acts in history. This article traces how Scripture defines signs, wonders, and miracles across the Old and New Testaments; why Jesus performed them; how they functioned in the early church; what different Christians believe about their continuation today; and what these works reveal about God. His signs and wonders are not incidental to the story of Scripture. They are woven all the way through it.
Understanding signs and wonders in a biblical manner is vital for many reasons, including:
1) Affirm Divine Authority – Signs and wonders confirm God’s messengers and their messages, from the prophet Jonah to the apostles of the early church.
2) Reveal God’s Nature – They reveal His power, sovereignty, and compassion, offering believers a deeper understanding of His character — including that He is the Most High God.
3) Fulfil Prophecy – Miracles demonstrate the reliability of God’s Word and show that even the elect can witness the fulfilment of what was spoken long ago.
4) Strengthen Faith – Witnessing and learning about signs and wonders becomes tangible evidence of God’s involvement in the world, building confidence in those who are speaking boldly about their faith.
What Are Signs, Wonders, Miracles, and Miraculous Signs?
Definitions and Distinctions
• Signs: Miraculous events that convey specific messages or confirm divine authority. They serve as indicators of God’s will or presence. The Bible speaks of two signs —great signs and perform signs — as distinct categories, each pointing to a deeper spiritual reality.
• Wonders: Extraordinary occurrences that elicit awe and amazement, displaying God’s power and majesty. They emphasise the supernatural nature of the event, such as the great earthquakes described in Luke 21 as part of the signs of the end times.
• Miracles: Extraordinary events that transcend natural laws, attributed to divine intervention. They encompass both signs and wonders but focus on the event’s supernatural nature — from God gave manna in the wilderness to Jesus raising the dead.
Old Testament Examples
Signs and wonders are not confined to the New Testament. They appear throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, testifying to the reality and power of the Most High God — a title even pagan rulers like Nebuchadnezzar used when confronted with undeniable evidence of God’s power (Daniel 4:2).
• Exodus 7–12: The ten plagues of Egypt were great signs given through Moses, demonstrating God’s authority over Pharaoh and the false gods of Egypt; Moses also showed wonders in Egypt and in the wilderness for forty years, underscoring how God marked out those days in His dealings with Israel. The prophet Jonah’s deliverance from the belly of the fish was also acknowledged by Jesus Himself as a sign — the sign of Jonah — pointing forward to His own death and resurrection.
• Exodus 16:13–15: God gave manna and quail in the wilderness, sustaining all the tribes of Israel during their desert wandering. This was a provision miracle that spoke to God’s faithfulness and care for his people.
• Joshua 10:12–14: At Joshua’s command, the sun stood still — a nature miracle that extended daylight all the way until Israel secured victory over its enemies.
• 1 Kings 18:36–39: Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Zion’s spiritual landscape — Carmel — was a defining moment. God sent fire from heaven, confirming the Lord as the one true God. Elijah had prayed one accord with Israel’s history of covenant faith, and God answered unmistakably.
Miracles in the Old Testament
Some Bible verses that demonstrate the pattern of miraculous signs in the Old Testament include:
• Exodus 7–12: The ten plagues, followed by the Red Sea deliverance and Israel’s forty years in the wilderness, demonstrated God’s power over creation and judgment against those who opposed His people, as He orders times and days according to His covenant plan.
• Exodus 16:13–15: God gave Israel manna and quail in the wilderness. This demonstrated deliverance from God Himself — all the tribes were fed, not just their leaders.
• Joshua 10:12–14: At Joshua’s command, the sun stood still, prolonging daylight to secure victory. This sign testified that the Most High God fought for Israel.
• 1 Kings 18:36–39: Elijah’s prayer on Mount Zion’s rival peak, Mount Carmel, was answered with fire from heaven — a wonder that brought all Israel to their knees in worship.
Miracles in the Life of Jesus Christ
When we come to the New Testament, signs and wonders reach their fullest expression in the ministry of Jesus. He performed many wonders — healing, provision, nature miracles, and resurrection — and the Gospels make clear that these signs were meant to point all the way to His identity as the Son of God.
Types of Miracles
• Healing Miracles – Jesus healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the lame walk, and cleansed lepers. These acts showed His power over disease and suffering, fulfilling what Isaiah had spoken of the coming Messiah.
• Nature Miracles – He calmed storms, walked on water, and turned water into wine. These great signs revealed His authority over creation itself — not the way any ordinary teacher or prophet operated.
• Provision Miracles – Jesus fed thousands with just a few loaves and fish. This miracle echoed God’s giving of manna in the wilderness and pointed to Jesus as the true bread from heaven.
• Resurrection Miracles – He raised people from the dead, including Lazarus, and ultimately conquered death Himself. The resurrection is the greatest of all the many wonders recorded in Scripture.
Jesus performed miracles for several reasons: to demonstrate His divine identity as the teacher sent from God, to fulfil the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures, to show compassion to those who were suffering, and to strengthen people’s faith. He was not performing signs to impress — He was revealing who He was and what God’s Kingdom looked like when it arrived.
Importantly, it was an adulterous generation seeks a sign that Jesus rebuked — not sincere seekers, but those who demanded miraculous proof while refusing to believe (Matthew 12:39). He pointed them instead to the sign of the prophet Jonah: His death and resurrection, the ultimate sign that even the elect would need to reckon with.
Miracles and Faith
Faith played a crucial role in Jesus’ miracles. Many times, He emphasised the importance of speaking boldly in belief before performing a miracle. For example:
• He told the blind men, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29).
• He reassured His disciples during the storm, asking, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).
• In John 20:30–31, it is stated that Jesus performed many wonders so that people would believe in Him and receive eternal life.
Jesus’ miracles were not just displays of power but invitations to trust in Him. They often awakened a deep sense of awe in the soul, and this thought runs through the Gospel accounts. There were many signs that pointed to a greater spiritual truth — that through faith in Him, people could experience the ultimate miracle: salvation and new life.
The Role of the Holy Spirit, Signs, and Wonders in the Early Church
After Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, the apostles continued to perform signs and wonders in the New Testament church. They moved through cities speaking boldly, and God confirmed their message with great signs and healings.
In Acts, the apostles operated in one accord — united in prayer, mission, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. God gave gifts of healing, prophecy, and miracles through them as the gospel spread from Jerusalem to all the tribes of the known world, with these signs commonly given in public settings for the church or gathered people rather than chiefly for private individual guidance. A significant example is found in Acts 14:3, where Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time speaking boldly for the Lord, “who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.”
Scholars from Grand Rapids and other centres of theological study have long recognised that in the New Testament, signs and wonders consistently accompanied the proclamation of the gospel. They were not ends in themselves — they confirmed the message of grace being declared.
The Epistles also reflect on this reality. In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul warns of the lawless one — the antichrist figure — who will come with his own counterfeit lying wonders and false signs. This matters: not every miraculous claim is from God. The Bible calls believers to discernment, because false christs and false prophets will also perform signs in an attempt to deceive even the elect (Matthew 24:24). Signs should not simply be treated as private tools for personal decision. This is why grounding our understanding in Scripture helps us learn how such matters were tied to the life of the church and its religion, not just individual impulse.
Are Signs and Miracles for Today?
This is one of the most discussed questions in New Testament theology. Two main perspectives exist:
• Cessationism – The view, associated with some Reformed theologians and scholars from centres like Grand Rapids, that miraculous gifts were given specifically to authenticate the apostles and the New Testament era. Once that foundation was laid, the argument goes, such signs ceased.
• Continuationism – The view held by Pentecostal, charismatic, and many other traditions that the gifts of the Spirit — including healing, prophecy, and miracles — continue all the way until Christ returns. Proponents point to passages such as Hebrews 13:8 (“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”) and the promise in Joel 2 that God would pour out His Spirit on all the tribes of humanity.
Whichever position one holds, most Christians agree that God is sovereign and can perform signs and wonders at any time He chooses. Testimonies of miraculous healing and divine intervention do not come in the way of theological debate, but through the lived experience of believers around the world — including many in the Global South, where signs and wonders are reported with striking frequency. Even so, fact and testimony both matter when weighing such claims, since ordinary human aid should not be confused with divine miracles, and not every modern miracle movement should be accepted uncritically as biblical.
What Do Signs and Wonders Reveal About God?
Signs and wonders in the Bible reveal so much about God and who He is.
Firstly, they reveal God’s character and power. He is the Most High God — a title affirmed even by pagan kings like Nebuchadnezzar after witnessing miraculous deliverance. His love and care for people are evident as He restored sight to the blind in John 9:1–7 and as He demonstrated His victory over sin and death through the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Luke 24:6–7.
Secondly, they reveal His desire for people to know Him. He does this by inviting His followers to deepen their trust in Him — through His provision of manna in the wilderness, through miracles that affirmed His identity as the Messiah, and through the great signs performed through the apostles.
Thirdly, signs and wonders encourage individuals to explore Scripture personally. When we read accounts of earth distress, great earthquakes, and Jesus’ words about signs in the sun, moon, and stars before His return in Luke 21, we are confronted with the reality that God is Lord over all creation — not just human hearts, but the physical world itself, and every place within it.
Finally, they call us to seek a deeper understanding of God’s works by exploring the Word of God, delving into theology and other courses, such as Alpha, Christian Essentials, and Bible College, with Scripture as our guide for understanding such signs. If you would like to know more about any of these courses, get in touch with us at
C3 Powerhouse Melbourne East or via our Instagram page. We would love to support you in understanding the miraculous signs and wonders of Jesus Christ and help you develop a personal relationship with Him!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does God talk to us through signs?
God does communicate through signs — not the way a vending machine dispenses answers, but through events, circumstances, and even nature that guide and reassure us. In Genesis, the rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant with the earth. The Bible provides numerous examples: the burning bush for Moses (Exodus 3:1–6), Gideon’s fleece test (Judges 6:36–40), and the two signs God gave Moses at the burning bush to confirm his calling (Exodus 4:1–9). Some signs may be unmistakable; others require prayer and reflection. Even when the heavenly lights mark time and seasons in Genesis, they are not given to direct human destiny. Jesus Himself performed many wonders as signs to reveal His divine nature and encourage belief (John 2:11). All of them point to God’s everlasting kingdom. Biblical signs also include circumcision as an outward sign of the eternal covenant with Abraham, unlike pagan uses of the stars.
What does the Bible say about zodiac signs?
The Bible does not endorse astrology or zodiac signs. It acknowledges the creation of celestial bodies but emphasises that their purpose is to mark time and seasons — not to guide human destiny or character. It is an adulterous generation that seeks signs in the stars rather than turning to the living God. The Bible encourages believers to seek guidance from God rather than from celestial signs, and it even gives the stars names to show divine authority over creation. Proverbs 3:5–6 advises:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
This highlights the importance of seeking divine direction over astrological interpretations. Christ now sits at the right hand of God, so believers do not need heavenly omens to know who rules. Scripture also warns that the rich are not spiritually secure simply because of earthly status. In biblical symbolism, three can suggest fullness or wholeness, while six signifies imperfection.
- The Great Red Dragon: Revelation presents a violent spiritual enemy opposed to God’s people, and later beast imagery includes blasphemous names that underscore that rebellion.
- The Beast from the Earth: This figure promotes false worship and deception, including the number 666, which represents the totality of imperfection and evil.
What are the 7 signs in Revelation?
In the Book of Revelation, seven distinct signs appear between chapters 12 and 15. These symbolic visions depict key events in the cosmic struggle between good and evil, culminating in God’s ultimate victory. While not explicitly numbered in the text, they are traditionally recognised as follows:
• The Woman Clothed with the Sun (Revelation 12:1–2): This figure represents God’s people — often interpreted as Israel, the Church, or Mary — giving birth to the Messiah. She stands on the moon and is crowned with twelve stars, representing all the tribes of Israel.
• The Great Red Dragon (Revelation 12:3–4): This dragon symbolises Satan, who seeks to devour the woman’s child. His defeat signals the end of his dominion.
• The Male Child Caught Up to God (Revelation 12:5): The child, representing Jesus, is caught up to God and His throne — symbolising Christ’s ascension and victory.
• The War in Heaven (Revelation 12:7–9): A battle between Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels. The dragon is cast out — a man coming in the clouds of glory has triumphed, and Christ now sits at God’s right hand in authority.
• The Beast from the Sea (Revelation 13:1–10): This beast represents the Antichrist and his empire, performing great signs and lying wonders to deceive the nations, and bearing blasphemous names.
• The Beast from the Earth (Revelation 13:11–18): The False Prophet, who causes even the elect to be tested, promoting worship of the first beast and enforcing allegiance through false signs.
• The Seven Angels with the Last Plagues (Revelation 15:1–8): These angels are entrusted with the final judgments of God, completing His justice and purifying the earth in keeping with Jesus’ teaching about end-time plagues and pestilences.
What is the difference between wonders and miracles?
Whilst wonders elicit awe and amazement — displaying God’s power and majesty — miracles are events that transcend natural laws, attributed to divine intervention. Both appear throughout the New Testament and the Old Testament, though wonders often emphasise the response of awe, while miracles emphasise the act of divine power. Please refer above for further information.
What is the God of wonders and miracles?
The God of wonders and miracles refers to the biblical understanding of God as the Most High God — a divine being who performs extraordinary acts beyond human capability. Throughout the Bible, God is described as working great signs and many wonders to reveal His power, love, and sovereignty.
God’s Wonders and Miracles in Scripture and Bible Verses
• Creation – The universe itself is a testament to God’s wonders. Psalm 19:1 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands,” and Scripture also presents Him as the Lord of hosts who named the stars.
• Miracles of Deliverance – God gave Israel deliverance by parting the Red Sea so they crossed on dry ground (Exodus 14:21–22), delivering His people from bondage, saved Daniel from the lions (Daniel 6:22), and gave the prophet Jonah miraculous rescue from the deep.
• Healing Miracles – Jesus healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, and even raised the dead (Matthew 9:35; John 11:43–44). These signs confirmed His identity as the one the high priest had unknowingly prophesied would die for all the tribes of the nation (John 11:51). In Acts, God also worked signs through Stephen and Philip, and Simon was amazed by what he saw.
• Provision Miracles – God gave manna for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16:14–15), and Jesus fed thousands with a few loaves and fish (Matthew 14:13–21) — signs of His grace and generosity.
• Victory Over Death – The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest miracle, demonstrating God’s power over sin and death (Luke 24:6–7). It is the foundation of Christian hope, and the final answer to every cry for grace in a broken world.
These signs and wonders are not relics of a distant past. They are testimonies to a God who is alive, active, and moving — His wonders still raise our eyes to seek His face and strengthen believers for the fight against evil. We invite you to explore these passages for yourself, to bring your questions and doubts with honesty, and to discover the God who works wonders all the way to the ends of the earth.
