– In the OT the word miracle is used in the sense of “something wonderful performed by God” and is susceptible of several synonyms:
Ex 11:7 : Let these people go so that they may worship the Lord their God. […] will Egypt be ruined?”.
Num 26:10 : The earth, opening its mouth, swallowed them with Korah, while their group perished in the fire.
1Sm 14:15 : Terror spread in the camp of the Philistines, as well as in the region and among all the people.
Is 21,4 : My reason goes haywire, terror invades me, and the desired twilight frightens me.
– Extraordinary and mysterious event that reveals the power of God, to which everything is possible:
Mk 10:27 : Jesus, looking at them, said: “With men this is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
– The OT knows wonders involving nature:
Ex 7–14 : The Lord said to Moses: “See, I will make you a god to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet”.
– And cures:
2 Kings 5:14 : Naaman […] bathed there seven times, as the man of God had commanded him, and his flesh became tender.
Tob 11,3-14 : We could take the lead, letting your wife, the servants and the flocks go slowly along the way.
– Jesus performed many of what the synoptics call miracles, and John, signs:
Jo 6,2.14 : A large crowd followed him, because they saw the miracles he performed for the sick.
Jn 7:31 : Many of the people, however, believed in him and asked: “When the Christ comes, will he do more miracles than this man does?”.
Jn 11:47 : The high priests and the Pharisees convened a council and said: “What shall we do? This man multiplies miracles.”
– To demonstrate the union of Jesus with the Father:
John 2:22 : After he rose from the dead, his disciples remembered these words and believed the scripture.
Jn 11:41 : Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: “Father, I thank you for listening to me”.
– And the arrival of messianic times:
Mt 11 :2 : Having heard John in his prison of the works of Christ, he sent word to him through his disciples.
Mt 12:28 : But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come for you.
– Miracles are signs in relation to faith:
John 2:23 : Jesus was celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem, and many believed in his name because of the miracles he performed.
Jo 6,2.14.26 : A large crowd followed him, because they saw the miracles he performed for the sick.
Jn 7:31 : When the Christ comes, will he do more miracles than this man does?
Jn 11:47 : The high priests and the Pharisees convened a council and said: “What shall we do? This man multiplies miracles.”
– And for the conversion:
Mt 11:20 : Then Jesus began to rebuke the cities where he had performed a large number of his miracles.
– Only with faith can one understand the meaning of miracles:
Mk 1,40 : A leper approached him, begging him on his knees: “If you want, you can cleanse me”.
Mk 6:54 : As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized him.
– Jesus does not want to appear only as a thaumaturge:
Mt 4,6-7 : If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written: He gave his angels orders concerning you.
Mk 15:29 : Those who were passing by reviled him […] saying: “Hello! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days.”
– Miracles are at odds with unbelief:
Mk 6,5 : He could not perform any miracle there. He only healed a few sick people by laying hands on them.
Jn 12:37 : Although he had performed so many miracles in their presence, they did not believe in him.
– John the Baptist also worked miracles:
Mt 14:2 : And he said to his courtiers: “It is John the Baptist who has risen. That’s why he works so many miracles.”
– The apostles are granted the power to perform miracles for the confirmation of their preaching:
Mk 3:14 : He appointed twelve of them to stay with him.
Mk 6:13 : They cast out many demons, anointed many who were sick with oil and cured them.
Mk 16,17-18 : These miracles will accompany those who believe: they will drive out demons in my name.
Lk 10:17 : The seventy-two returned with joy, saying: “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”.
Acts 2:43 : Fear seized them all, because many wonders and miracles were also performed by the apostles.
Acts 3,1-8 : They took a man who was lame from birth and they put them every day at the gate of the temple, called Formosa.
Acts 4:30 : Stretch out your hand so that healings, miracles and wonders may be performed in the name of Jesus, your holy servant!
Acts 5:15 : They brought the sick… so that when Peter passed by, at least his shadow would cover some of them.
Acts 9,32-33 : Peter, who had been walking everywhere from town to town, also went down to the faithful who lived in Lydda.
Acts 14:8-10 : In Lystra there lived a man crippled in his legs, lame from birth, who had never walked.
Acts 16:18 : Paul was angry. He turned to her and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”
Acts 19:11-12 : And the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits departed.
Acts 28:3-9 : Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put it on the fire. At that a viper […] bit his hand.
– There is also the possibility of false miracles, which can lead to deviate from the faith:
Mt 7:22 : Lord, […] did we not cast out demons in your name and perform many miracles?
Mt 24:24 : For false Christs and false prophets will arise, who will perform miracles to the point of seducing.
2Th 2,9 : The manifestation of the wicked will be accompanied, thanks to the power of Satan, with all luck and portents.
Rev 13,11-13 : But these overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and their eloquent testimony.
– In the NT, the word miracle is used in the usual sense, as a reason for credibility, as it manifests the power of Christ, and leads us to believe in his person, and the mission of the evangelizers:
Mt 9:6 : So that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
Mk 16,17-20 : These miracles will accompany those who believe: they will drive out demons in my name.
Jn 10:38 : If you do not want to believe in me, believe in my works, so that you may know and recognize that the Father is in me.
John 14:12 : Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do.
Jn 15:24 : If I had not done among them works, as no one else did, they would not have sin.
