What is the gift of miraculous power?

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Both words are in the plural, and again the suggestion is that many varieties of miracles or deeds of power are available. The word translated “miraculous powers” in 1 Corinthians 12:10 is the plural of the word “power” in Acts 1:8, but in the plural, it means deeds of mighty, supernatural power that go beyond anything man can do. They are direct divine interventions in the world of man and nature which are distinguished from healings.

Palma points out that the word translated “miraculous powers” (“working of miracles,” KJV) is used almost exclusively of the activity of God (Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:14; Galatians 3:5; Philippians 3:21) or of Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:7, 9; Ephesians 2:2). He suggests, therefore, that this gift is especially operative in connection with the conflict between God and Satan. These acts of power bringing defeat to Satan might include the judgment of blindness on Elymas (Acts 13:9–11) and the casting out of demons.

Some take this gift as one for raising the dead or nature miracles, such as stilling the storm and walking on the water. But Donald Gee cautions that there is an absence in both Acts and the Epistles of nature miracles. Paul suffered four shipwrecks that we know of. The description of the one at Malta shows that God’s providence enabled them to escape to land, but by swimming, not by a miracle (2 Corinthians 11:25–27; Acts 27:43 to 28:5). Only two occasions of raising the dead are recorded (9:40; 20:10). For the rest, they were referred to the comfort of the blessed hope of the resurrection and our Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

Both the gifts of healing and miraculous powers demonstrate to us and to the world around that Jesus is indeed Victor. At the Cross, the full price was paid and Satan’s doom was sealed. But the full outworking of this will not be seen until we are changed and given bodies that are immortal and incorruptible and until Satan is finally cast into the lake of fire and the last enemy, death, is destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:51–54; 15:26; Revelation 20:10–14). In the meantime, there are gracious spiritual gifts that are available to give us a foretaste of this in healings and miracles, not as we make demands, but as the Spirit wills (1 Corinthians 12:11).


Horton, S. M. (2005). What the Bible Says about the Holy Spirit (pp. 275–276). Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House.

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