God Confirming Paul's Message By Miracles Series

The “SPECIAL MIRACLES” that Paul performed were unique. In other words, these “SPECIAL” MIRACLES were no ordinary or chance happenings. The word the Holy Spirit uses for “MIRACLES” is “dunamis,”—meaning “mighty works,” mighty manifestations of power—it is the word from which we get our word dynamite. God wrought SPECIAL MIRACLES by the hands of Paul. He was exercising the gifts of an apostle. Calling these particular miracles “SPECIAL” implies that Paul was not accustomed to such work.

There was evidently something unusual and extraordinary about these miracles. They were intended, no doubt, to emulate the healing power of the Lords own garments (Mark 5:27; 6:56) and to parallel the influence of Peter’s shadow, as well as to enhance the authority of Paul’s evangelistic efforts at Ephesus. Modern “healers” who offer to send healing “prayer clothes” through the mail to those who support their “ministry” should be treated with the skepticism they deserve. This was a special miracle, special in every sense of the word, and not a miracle to be duplicated by others.

SO THAT FROM HIS BODY WERE BROUGHT UNTO THE SICK HANDKERCHIEFS OR APRONS. The word for “BODY” here is one of Luke’s medical words. It is the usual word for skin, and it occurs only here in the New Testament.

The word for “HANDKERCHIEFS” is translated “napkin” in John 11:44, 20:7, and Luke 19:20, where it is used for the napkin bound around the face of Lazarus in the tomb and for the napkin placed on the face of the Lord Jesus in the tomb. Literally it means “sweat cloth.” The word for “APRONS” refers to the linen aprons used by Paul in his tent-making. The napkin would be the sweat rag he wore on his head and the apron would be the cloth he tied around his waist. You could scarcely imagine two more commonplace articles to be used in conveying miraculous power. It is the Holy Spirit’s way, perhaps, of acknowledging, blessing, and sanctifying those physical labors of Paul by which he supported himself in the ministry.

Remember that he was a tentmaker and this was a warm climate. While he was working, he would be perspiring. He would use these cloths, these handkerchiefs and aprons, to wipe his brow. They were dirty. They had his perspiration from his body on them. People would come and pick up these dirty cloths and would be healed of their diseases! In that area there were the mystery religions which used white garments and emphasized that everything must be very clean and white. Everything had to be just so. It seems that God Was rebuking all of that sort of thing. He used these dirty, sweaty cloths to heal people.

This reveals the special power that was granted to the apostle Paul. As far as I know, this is the only incident like this that ever took place—including the day in which we live. Paul’s dirty, sweaty cloths had no magical powers in themselves. Certainly this is no basis for people trying to repeat such miracles today. It is almost blasphemous for anyone to send out a little handkerchief and claim there is a power in it. Paul’s handkerchief was an old sweat cloth. God used that to rebuke the heathen, pagan religions of that day. Diseases were healed and evil spirits went out of them when they picked up these dirty, sweaty cloths. The mention of evil spirits links this portion with the next incident we shall study (Acts 19:13-20).