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| 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. |
Mr 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mr 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them,... and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
The pronouns 'them' have SPECIFIC reference to the apostles ONLY -[i.e. the unbelieving 11 apostles mentioned in verse 14 - "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen."]
The signs were promised to follow the apostles who would believe/obey their commission to go and preach the gospel everywhere. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
And these are the records of the fulfillment of that promise... those signs ACCOMPANIED the apostles. These signs have reference to the apostles, NOT those who would believe the preaching of the apostles. Those who think of the latter are completely deceived and deluded!
Ac 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by THE APOSTLES.
Ac 5:12 And by the hands of THE APOSTLES were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
Ac 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Ro 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
With the passing of the apostles, the signs of the apostles passed with them!!!
Don't look for the signs of the apostles... the have ceased with the apostles. If you do, the spirit of delusion shall overtake you and you will be deluded by the devil.
Instead study and contend for the faith once delivered to the saints by the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Paul last words to the NT pastors teachers:
4:1 ¶ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
He exhorted Timothy to do thus: (1Tim 4)
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
