Three Miracles

Luke's purpose in the text is to document gospel restoration promised in the O.T. Peter again takes the center stage, visiting those who had believed the gospel under Philip's ministry (Acts 8:40). It was Jesus who was building the church, not the apostles. Peter follows up on Philip's work. The “superior” follows up the “inferior.” There is cooperation, not competition. The church expansion was Spirit-, not man-driven. God's servants do not always understand what is going on.

Jesus, through the church, continues what He “began both to do and teach” (Acts 1:1). Here is evidence of His continuing presence in the world through His Spirit (John 14:18-20). Jesus promised that His followers would do greater works that He did (John 14:12).
The apostle was being led and directed by an unseen Hand. The gifts of the Spirit are strictly under the Spirit's sovereign control (1 Corinthians 12:11). The purpose of gifts is to authenticate Christ's messianic credentials (Isaiah 42:1-7). They were never to be used to promote the gifted to superior positions in the church. That notion runs against the principle of humility. The gifts show the realization of the biblical promise of healing and wholeness in the messianic age, pointing to Jesus' saving power.

A comparison of the miracles with those of Jesus during His earthly ministry reveal a striking similarity. Luke deliberately wants his readers to see that similarity. Luke wants us to see that it is the same Jesus on both sides of Pentecost.

There are three miracles here. The healing of a paralytic, the raising of a dead woman to life, and the emancipation of a disciple to the liberty of the gospel.