By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
The verse is part of a prayer asking God to answer threats by enabling His servants to speak His word with boldness. The disciples prayed it while facing the same determined opposition Jesus had faced, asking for power to carry on their ministry with boldness and for strength for ministry amid such opposition. In the verse they ask God to stretch forth His hand to heal and to do signs and wonders by the name of Jesus as His holy child. They sought continued healing and powerful acts done through that name, with healing and signs presented as acts of God's power associated with Jesus' name and done through His authority.
Healing and signs in Jesus' name are acts of God's own power and authority representing Jesus and continuing His work after His death and resurrection. They were not done by the disciples' own power or holiness. The prayer was offered in united prayer by disciples who were aware of their weakness and unworthiness. From that sense they sought strength through humility and prayer, then pressed forward in Christ's service relying on His strength, wisdom, righteousness, and resources.
God answered their united prayer by filling them anew with the Holy Spirit. Filled in this way the believers spoke boldly, proclaiming the word with boldness, courage, and convincing power. The healing of the man born lame demonstrates this prayer, since he was restored through Jesus' name. God thereby bore witness to the gospel proclamation, and the apostles' witness to the resurrection was given with great power and grace.
Their miracles demonstrated that Jesus, though despised and slain, is the Saviour of the world. The resulting multitude of believers responded with shared purpose and generosity toward those in need. The prayer stands as a model for ministers and physicians who speak for Christ to seek holy boldness and power from God for healing and signs and wonders as they proclaim the word.
The verse is part of a prayer asking God to answer threats by enabling His servants to speak His word with boldness. The disciples prayed it while facing the same determined opposition Jesus had faced, asking for power to carry on their ministry with boldness and for strength for ministry amid such opposition. In the verse they ask God to stretch forth His hand to heal and to do signs and wonders by the name of Jesus as His holy child. They sought continued healing and powerful acts done through that name, with healing and signs presented as acts of God's power associated with Jesus' name and done through His authority.
Healing and signs in Jesus' name are acts of God's own power and authority representing Jesus and continuing His work after His death and resurrection. They were not done by the disciples' own power or holiness. The prayer was offered in united prayer by disciples who were aware of their weakness and unworthiness. From that sense they sought strength through humility and prayer, then pressed forward in Christ's service relying on His strength, wisdom, righteousness, and resources.
God answered their united prayer by filling them anew with the Holy Spirit. Filled in this way the believers spoke boldly, proclaiming the word with boldness, courage, and convincing power. The healing of the man born lame demonstrates this prayer, since he was restored through Jesus' name. God thereby bore witness to the gospel proclamation, and the apostles' witness to the resurrection was given with great power and grace.
Their miracles demonstrated that Jesus, though despised and slain, is the Saviour of the world. The resulting multitude of believers responded with shared purpose and generosity toward those in need. The prayer stands as a model for ministers and physicians who speak for Christ to seek holy boldness and power from God for healing and signs and wonders as they proclaim the word.