Healing, As It Was Then

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

Acts 5:12

It is still now.

When Jesus ascended, and the disciples were left to continue with what He had shown and taught them we can see that the healing and deliverance ministry did not end with Jesus.  . The disciples were both commissioned and sent by Jesus to the healing ministry. The disciples did as they had been commissioned to do.

The disciples understood that power and authority to heal was not their own but from Christ

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  Acts 3:6

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.  Acts 9:17-18

Prayer was part of their healing ministry

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  James 5:14-15 

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.  And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.   Acts 9:40-41      

There were various methods of healing recorded in Acts which include:

Laying on of hands:            Acts 5:12; 14:3; 19:11; 28:8

Words combined with laying on of hands:

Lame man:   Acts 3:1-10;

Paul's eyes:   Acts 9:17-19

Words combined with lifting up by hand:

Lame man:   Acts 3:1-42;

Paul's eyes:   Acts 9:36-43

Speaking the Word (command of authority):

Slave girl:                  Acts 16:18;

Lystra cripple:          Acts 14:10

Prayer:

Paul's eyes:               Acts 9:36-43;

Publius' father:        Acts 28:8-9

Prayer clothes:         Acts 19:11-12

Shadow:                     Acts 5:12-16

Embrace:                   Acts 19:12

Surrounding:           Acts 14:19-20

No method at all:    Acts 14:19-20

Word and a command to act:

Aeneas:          Acts 9:33-34;

lame man:     Acts 3

Sometimes healing resulted because:

The sick took the initiative:          Lame man at the temple gate:      Acts 3:3

Friends took the initiative:                       Tabitha:                                             Acts 9:38

The apostle took the initiative:

            -Peter:             Aeneas at Lydia:                 Acts 9:34

            -Paul:              Cripple at Lystra:                Acts 14:9

            -Paul:              Philippian slave girl:          Acts 16:18

            -Paul:              Eutychus:                                Acts 20:10

            -Paul:              Publius' father:                   Acts 28:8

The disciples ministered to individuals.  

Individual Healings By Disciples

Event                                                 Acts                                                 Type

Healing of lame beggar                  Acts 3:1-4:22                                     Physical

Paul's eyes                                          Acts 9:10-19; 22:10-21                      Physical

Peter heals Aeneas                          Acts 9:32-35                                       Physical

Peter heals Dorcas (Tabitha)        Acts 9:36-43                                       Raising Dead

Lame man at Lystra                        Acts 14:8-18                                        Physical

Paul raised at Lystra                       Acts 14:19-20                                      Physical

Slave girl at Philippi                        Acts 16:16-40                                      Demonic Deliverance Eutychus                   Acts 20:7-12                                        Raising Dead

Paul's Snakebite                              Acts 28:3-6                                          Physical

Publius' father                                 Acts 28:8-9                                          Physical

The disciples ministered to groups

Collective Healings By Disciples                 

Many wonders and signs                                       Acts 2:42-47

Prayer for confidence and healing signs             Acts 4:23-31

Many healed in Jerusalem                                    Acts 5:12-16

Stephen performs many miracles                        Acts 6:8-15

Philip heals many at Samaria                               Acts 8:5-25,

Paul and Barnabas work signs and wonders     Acts 14:3

Paul heals sick at Ephesus                                     Acts 19:11-12,

Sick people healed at Malta                                   Acts 28:8-9

There were many types of illnesses healed.  

Types Of Illnesses Healed

                                                                                                                        

Fever and bloody flux:                    Plubius' father          Acts 28:8

Blindness:                                         Paul                             Acts 9:8

Head injury (dead):                         Eutychus                    Acts 20:9

Fatal illness:                                     Tabitha                       Acts 9:37

Paralysis:                                           Aeneas                        Acts 9:33

Lameness:                                         "many lame"              Acts 3:2; 8:7; 14;8

Demonic possession:                      Philippi                       Acts 16:16-40

Snakebite:                                         Paul                              Acts 28:3-6

Healings were sometimes performed in response to a request:

Of a sick man lame:                                      Acts 3:2

Of friends (Tabitha):                                    Acts 9:38

Healing resulted as response to a need:

Aeneas the paralyzed:                       Acts 9:33

Eutychus:                                            Acts 20:10

Publius' father:                                  Acts 28:8

The sick on Malta:                            Acts 28:9

Healing resulted as a response to faith:

Cripple at Lystra: Acts 14:9

Healing also resulted as a reaction to vexation:

Philippian slave girl: Acts 16:18

From the examples of the disciples we learn that they were commissioned and sent by Jesus to the healing ministry. They understood their power and authority was from Christ. Prayer was part of their healing ministry and they experienced both delayed and instantaneous results.

Like Jesus, they experienced persecution because of their healing ministry. They used various methods of healing and dealt with a variety of diseases. Sometimes healing resulted because the sick took the initiative, friends took the initiative, or the apostles took the initiative. The disciples ministered to both groups and individuals.

From the New Testament account, it is clear that miracles, healings, and deliverances did not end with the ministry of Jesus Christ. These signs followed "them that believed."

Biblical Studies