Movement of Signs and Wonders: What is the Biblical View of Signs and Wonders?

In her article, Ps Chai Moon Leong explores the biblical view of signs and wonders, revealing them as supernatural acts of God that authenticate His word and advance His mission of salvation.

Throughout the Scriptures, “signs and wonders” refer to God’s spectacular, direct interventions that elicit awe and amazement from people, testifying to His sovereignty and eternity. Prophets as divine spokespersons may expect to perform signs and wonders to convey the Lord’s message as He directs.

God’s miraculous acts confirm His Word and draw people to faith by pointing to His love for mankind. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, it teaches that God does signs and wonders to establish that He is the loving Sovereign of the world for the eternity of His people. The Bible portrays signs and wonders not as ends in themselves but as instruments pointing beyond the event to the loving and living God who desires relationships with His people.

The biblical view is therefore both theological and missional: signs and wonders manifest God’s sovereignty, confirm His word, and advance His redemptive purpose. But not all signs and wonders are pointers to God; false prophets, who can be distinguished by their false message, may offer validating signs and wonders (Deuteronomy 13:1-3; cf. 5:7).

Signs and Wonders in the Old Testament

The terms for “signs and wonders” used in the Old Testament consistently refer to supernatural, spectacular acts clearly beyond human ability and pointing to God’s deliverance and saving purpose. A primary example is the Exodus narrative. Through the ten plagues and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 7–14), God demonstrated His power to deliver Israel and His authority over Egypt’s deities. These miraculous acts were not arbitrary but purposeful—intended to establish Israel’s trust and remind them of their covenant relationship with Him (Deuteronomy 4:34–35). The Hebrew word for “sign” refers to something that points beyond itself. In Exodus 4:8-9, Moses draws people’s attention and points to God’s presence and promises of grace and power of deliverance—the significance of a sign.

Genesis contains the foundational revelation for the subject of signs and wonders. Genesis teaches that God is actively involved in the world; He is the creator of the universe, and God made mankind for intimate and personal fellowship with Himself. God’s interventions—the supernatural—should be considered a normal aspect of human life. The Lord uses signs and wonders throughout the Old Testament to prove His status as the only true God with sovereign authority and to validate the claims of His prophets. Moses did not manipulate; he just obeyed God and revealed His decisions. God performs awe-inspiring wonders to authenticate and confirm His message and His messengers. Moses himself had the testimony of the ultimate prophet because of the signs and wonders he did for the Lord (Deuteronomy 34:10-12).

God performs awe-inspiring wonders to authenticate and confirm His message and His messengers.

Beyond the Exodus, the prophetic tradition also features miraculous wonders. Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:24, 37-39) highlighted God’s exclusive power, which also confirmed Elijah as His prophet. Elisha’s miracles—multiplying oil, raising the dead, and healing Naaman (2 Kings 4–5)—confirmed his prophetic calling. These signs functioned as divine affirmation of the prophets’ message, summoning Israel back to covenant obedience. Thus, in the Old Testament, signs and wonders were never merely spectacular; they fulfilled a theological purpose by revealing God’s character and confirming His salvation of His people.

All of God’s interventions should reassure believers of His commitment to His redeeming mission and His power to overcome any opposition. One of the most awesome miracles of nature occurred when the Lord answered Joshua’s prayer by doing something to the sunlight, referred to as the sun “standing still,” so that they could win in battle (Joshua 10:13). Our God is the supreme, divine Warrior who delivers those who have a faith relationship with Him. Genesis through Malachi proclaims that the Lord wants fellowship with people for eternity and so He intervenes as the all-powerful and sovereign who restores all who are willing to fellowship with Him. The restoration will forever act as signs and wonders to show His sovereignty, holiness and saving purpose.

All of God’s interventions should reassure believers of His commitment to His redeeming mission and His power to overcome any opposition.

Signs and Wonders in the New Testament
In the New Testament, signs and wonders reach their fullest expression in the ministry of Jesus Christ. His miracles fulfilled messianic prophecy, as Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah would open blind eyes, unstop deaf ears, and make the lame walk (Isaiah 35:5–6). Jesus’ healing of the sick, calming of storms, feeding of multitudes, and raising of the dead indicated that the kingdom of God had entered history (Matthew 11:4–5).

Following the Old Testament, New Testament writers use the phrase “signs and wonders” to emphasize saving activity. Isaiah’s words in Luke 4:18-19 capture well the deliverance aspects of the gospel: word and deed. “[God] has anointed me to preach good news to the poor…to release the oppressed.” The word announces that Jesus has taken care of sins and their consequences. The deed involves signs and wonders, healing, the Spirit’s work of regeneration, or deliverance. For example, unbelievers have sinful natures that hold them in bondage. When the Spirit regenerates them, they experience signs and wonders. Regeneration is the liberating experience from internal bondage. This helps one understand why signs and wonders in the Bible always occur in evangelistic contexts.

They are the kingdom of God, the resurrection power of Jesus, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to deliver people from sin. It is salvation as God’s powerful deed that frees the captive from the power of darkness and the dominion of evil. As a result, the believer is saved—rescued from spiritual separation—reborn with a fresh start, free from guilt because of God’s forgiveness, and able to enjoy a new, personal relationship with Him. “Signs and wonders” specifically occur in evangelistic contexts and manifest God’s salvation. The gospel is the presence, power, and kingdom of Jesus bringing deliverance. Signs and wonders are kingdom events.

“Signs and wonders” specifically occur in evangelistic contexts and manifest God’s salvation.

Acts, Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Hebrews speak of Jesus as the Gospel. Paul in Romans 15:18-19 states, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So, from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.” These verses arise from a missional context. Paul in writing to the Roman church, spoke about the gospel of Christ as “word and deed’ and as “signs and wonders”. In the power of “signs and wonders” parallels “in the power of the Holy Spirit.” Paul connected the Holy Spirit with signs and wonders, and the Holy Spirit was the agent behind them. For instance, in Hebrews 2:4, signs and wonders occur with miracles, connecting the working of the Spirit and the preaching of the Gospel.

The Gospel of John emphasizes the seven “signs” that reveal Jesus’ identity as the Son of God. Signs in John point to Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and His nature. Each sign, though different, has a consistent reference. John concludes that these were written so that readers “may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30–31). The miracles were never intended as entertainment but as testimonies pointing to faith in Christ.

At the same time, Jesus warned against seeking signs as substitutes for genuine faith. When religious leaders demanded a sign, He replied that none would be given except “the sign of Jonah,” referring to His death and resurrection (Matthew 12:39–40). This highlights a central truth: the greatest wonder in the biblical narrative is not healing or deliverance but the redemptive work of Christ Himself. The true believer does not need miracles to confirm the Bible or preaching. “Signs and wonders,” as defined by the New Testament, occur when someone shares the gospel in the presence of faith. However, it is crucial to exercise discernment. The New Testament warns of counterfeit signs and wonders used to deceive (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10; Revelation 13:13–14). Therefore, signs must always be evaluated against the truth of God’s Word and the centrality of the gospel.

This highlights a central truth: the greatest wonder in the biblical narrative is not healing or deliverance but the redemptive work of Christ Himself.

Signs and Wonders in the Early Church
The book of Acts records the historical events surrounding church’s expansion. Signs and wonders continued through the apostles, authenticating the gospel message and demonstrating the Holy Spirit’s power. Acts 2:43 states, “Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.” Healings, deliverances, and miracles served to confirm apostolic preaching. These wonders also facilitated the spread of the gospel to new regions.

When Philip ministered in Samaria, miraculous healings led to great joy in the city and opened hearts to the message of Christ (Acts 8:6–8). Paul and Barnabas likewise testified that the Lord “confirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders” (Acts 14:3). Thus, signs functioned as divine validation of missionary work and as a means of advancing the kingdom across cultural and geographic boundaries.

Healings, deliverances, and miracles served to confirm apostolic preaching. These wonders also facilitated the spread of the gospel to new regions.

Conclusion
The biblical view presents signs and wonders as saving acts of God designed to reveal His power, authenticate His messengers, and advance His redemptive work. From the plagues of Egypt to the miracles of Christ and the apostles, these wonders consistently point beyond themselves to God’s salvation. Signs and wonders are subordinate to the gospel, finding their ultimate fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Signs are valuable only insofar as they glorify Christ, strengthen faith, and advance the mission of the gospel. The resurrection of Jesus remains the ultimate sign to which all others point, reminding believers that God’s greatest wonder is His saving work in Christ. To embrace a biblical perspective is to welcome God’s miraculous power while keeping Christ and His kingdom as the true focus.

The biblical view presents signs and wonders as saving acts of God designed to reveal His power, authenticate His messengers, and advance His redemptive work.