Thorn Ville Church – Throughout the New Testament, the apostles stand as unforgettable figures healers, preachers, miracle-workers but they did not begin that way. Most were fishermen, tax collectors, tradesmen ordinary men with no social power or academic prestige. And yet, within a few years of Christ’s resurrection, these same men were performing extraordinary acts that defied the laws of nature, confounded rulers, and changed history. What transformed them was not self-mastery or political leverage. But Divine Power granted through faith and the authority of Jesus’ name.
Their stories are not just ancient history they are demonstrations of how divine power can work through the seemingly unqualified, the unprepared, and the unknown when they walk in obedience.
Power to Heal the Sick
One of the clearest manifestations of divine power in the lives of the apostles was their ability to heal sickness and physical affliction. The Book of Acts records many such moments, but one of the most striking occurs in Acts 3. When Peter and John encounter a lame man begging at the temple gate called Beautiful.
The man had been crippled from birth and asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him and said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Instantly, the man’s feet and ankles became strong, and he walked, leaped, and praised God.
This miracle, performed not through wealth or status but through the invocation of Jesus’ name. Illustrates the principle that the apostles did not act on their own power, but on delegated spiritual authority. Time and again, the sick were healed not only by direct touch but even by Peter’s shadow passing over them (Acts 5:15).
These events weren’t random displays of power. They were signs that affirmed the message the apostles preached: that Jesus was alive, and His kingdom had begun.
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Authority Over Evil
The power of the apostles extended beyond healing. They also demonstrated spiritual authority over demonic forces. In Acts 16, Paul encounters a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. Though she spoke truth identifying Paul and Silas as servants of God her words were disruptive. After several days, Paul turned and commanded the spirit to leave her in the name of Jesus Christ and it obeyed immediately.
This wasn’t the only time the apostles confronted evil. In Acts 19, some Jewish exorcists tried to cast out demons “in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches,” but the spirits recognized the name and the authority behind it and also knew who didn’t truly walk in that power.
The incident highlights a sobering reality: divine power cannot be mimicked or manipulated. It flows through those who are surrendered, filled with the Spirit, and grounded in the mission of Christ.
Boldness in the Face of Persecution
Another mark of divine empowerment is not just what the apostles did but what they endured. After healing the lame man at the temple, Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. These same rulers had condemned Jesus to death, yet Peter boldly proclaimed, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
The courage they displayed was not natural. These were men who, just weeks earlier, had fled and denied Jesus. But filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke with authority and boldness, refusing to stop preaching, even under the threat of death.
This divine boldness continued throughout the book of Acts. Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and imprisoned but he kept preaching. The apostles’ willingness to suffer affirmed the truth of their message, and that divine power was not just for display it was a sustaining force.
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The Legacy of Apostolic Power in Today’s Church
While the apostles lived in a unique era of spiritual outpouring. Many Christian traditions believe that the same Spirit that empowered them is still active today. Around the world, stories continue to emerge of healing, deliverance, and supernatural courage in the face of adversity. In mission fields, underground churches, and even in quiet hospital rooms, people still call on the name of Jesus and witness transformation.
This doesn’t mean all believers will perform miracles but it does affirm that God’s power still chooses the humble. Works through the willing, and flows through faith rather than title.
The apostles’ lives remind us that we don’t need to be extraordinary to do something extraordinary. Like Peter, who once sank in the sea but later stood before crowds and nations, or Paul. Who went from persecutor to preacher, the real difference was this they surrendered to a power greater than themselves.