David Hathaway

One truth I can never escape is this: the miracles recorded in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles were the evidence that confirmed the truth of the message. Acts 8:6 tells us what happened: "The people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." They didn't just hear Philip's words – they saw the power of God at work. The message and the miracles went together. Do you see the importance of the ministry of healing? Both Philip and Simon were attracting crowds, but there was a crucial difference. Simon was preaching himself, while Philip was preaching Christ. Simon's sorceries were a counterfeit demonstration, designed to impress people with his own power. Philip, however, ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit. The miracles of healing – the lame walking, the sick restored, and lives transformed – were God's confirmation of the Gospel he preached. Those miracles were not the message itself, but they were the evidence that the message was