One of the reasons that the disciples prayed in chapter 4 verse 30 the way they did, namely, give us boldness, stretch forth your hand to heal, perform signs and wonders by the name of your holy servant Jesus.

One of the reasons is because people came to Christ when that happened.

People got saved when that happened.

Why did the early church pray for signs and wonders?

In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper opens Acts 4, verse 30 through Chapter 5,

verse 14, to reveal how bold prayers for God's power led to conversions and gospel witness.

This sermon was originally delivered at Bethlehem Baptist Church on February 17, 1991.

Let's look at today's text.

Why were signs and wonders desirable?

Simple question.

Answers right on the face of it, I think.

But let's just work through a few verses here to let it come out.

Verse 12, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hand of the apostles.

And they were all together in Solomon's portico, and two results happened to these signs and wonders and the Christians gathering there. Effect number one was a kind of trembling, fearful awe at these people.

The outsiders, the unbelievers kind of stood in awe of what in the world

was going on here among these Christians because Anonice and Safara had just dropped dead.

And the verse preceding, verse 11 said, fear spread through the church, through the city.

And now here comes this Peter before who two people dropped dead, and he's doing many signs and wonders.

And I'll tell you, these people were very hesitant to say, oh, neat, let's get in on this.

They were not quick to do that.

That's the point of verse 13.

None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor.

...