In this article we will learn from 12 stories of healing in the Book of Acts.
These are stories of how the early disciples and the early Church continued the healing ministry of Jesus!
Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar
Acts 3:1-13
‘Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.’
Out of our daily discipline of prayer, opportunities can arise to heal someone who is sick. It’s amazing how opportunities seem to increase the more we pray!
The Apostles Heal Many
Acts 5:12-16
‘The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.’
The apostles were performing ‘many’ Miraculous signs and wonders. In a time where it’s amazing to see a few miracles, they were performing many! What’s it going to take to get to the stage where we are performing many miracles, signs and wonders?
Phillip Heals Many Paralytics and Cripples
Acts 8:6-8
‘Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.’
Crowds listened intently partly because they wanted to see the miraculous signs Philip did!
Perhaps crowds would listen to our message if we performed more miracles amongst them!
Ananias Heals Sauls Blindness
Acts 9:11-19
The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Ananias seems like an ‘ordinary disciple’, not described as an apostle or an evangelist – yet God showed him a vision that he would lay hands on Saul who became Paul and restore his sight!
Peter Heals a Paralytic Bedridden For 8 Years
Acts 9:32-35
‘Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.’
The healing of this one man caused the whole population of two towns to turn to the Lord!
Dorcas Raised From the Dead
Acts 9:36-43
‘There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas. She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”
So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive.
The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.’
As a result of this miraculous raising from the dead, news spread throughout the whole town and many believed in the Lord!
Signs, Wonders & Miracles Confirm the Message
Acts 14:3
‘But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders.’
Signs and wonders are proof that our message is true!
Paul heals man lame from birth
Acts 14:8-10
‘While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.’
Do you have faith to be healed?
Miraculous signs and wonders amongst the Gentiles
Acts 15:12
‘Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.’
It’s great to hear testimony of the miraculous signs and wonders God has done through the ministry of others!
Extraordinary miracles/Paul’s Handkerchiefs & Aprons
Acts 19:11-12
‘God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.’
Paul got to the stage where he was not just performing miracles, but unusual miracles!
Died of Boredom & raised to life
Acts 20:9-12
‘As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.’
Raising this young man from the dead seemed like an ordinary occurance as they just continued what they were doing after as if nothing special had taken place!
Healing on the Island of Malta
Acts 28:7-10
‘Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.’
The first healing of the chief official led to the whole island being healed!
I want to encourage you to meditate on these New Testament stories of healing and let faith arise, step out in boldness and heal the sick!
