Scripture Confirmations of New Church Doctrine [Brief Latin Title: Dicta Probantia]

1. The Apostles; Miracles

The apostles are named (Acts of the Apostles 1:13, 26).

Judas the traitor burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out (Acts of the Apostles 1:16-19).

Many miracles and signs were done by the apostles (Acts of the Apostles 2:43). Peter and John healed the lame man sitting at the gate of the temple, therefore all were astonished, but when the priests heard them preaching about Jesus, they laid hands upon them, thrust them into prison, and afterwards having threatened them sent them away because of the people (Acts of the Apostles 3:1-20; 4). This miracle was done in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts of the Apostles 4:10, 30).

Many miracles done by the apostles (Acts of the Apostles 5:12, 5:15, 5:16), but yet they were put in prison by the high priest, and although they were led out thence by an angel miraculously, yet they were beaten, and warned not to preach concerning Jesus (verses 29-40).

Stephen also did great signs and miracles (Acts of the Apostles 6:8).

Miracles done by Philip (Acts of the Apostles 8:6, 7, 13).

Simon the sorcerer made himself great in Samaria, saying, here is the great power of God; but he was severely reproved by Peter (Acts of the Apostles 8:9, 10 seq., 20-24).

Miracles done by Peter, and also that he raised the dead to life (Acts of the Apostles 9:33, 34, 36-42).

The miracle of Paul, that a certain man was made blind (Acts of the Apostles 13:11); also others (Acts of the Apostles 19:11, 12; 20:9 seq.; 28:3 seq., 8).

Miracles done by the disciples, and with Paul (Acts of the Apostles 14:3, 8-10, 19, 20; 16:25, 26 seq.).

598. (Vers. 13.) "Et facit signa magna," significat testificationes quod quae docent vera sint, tametsi sunt falsa. - Per "signa" significantur testificationes quod vera sint, quia olim signa facta sunt, ut testificarentur veritatem; sed postquam signa et miracula cessarunt, usque manet significatio eorum, quae est testificatio veritatis: hic autem per "signa" significantur testificationes a Bestia seu Pseudopropheta quod falsa ejus essent vera, ex causa quia post confirmationes non aliter apparent. Quod testificationes quod verum sit, per signa significentur, constare potest ex sequentibus locis:

In Consummatione saeculi "surgent falsi Christi et Pseudoprophetae, dabunt Signa magna et Portenta, ac in errorem inducent, si possibile est, etiam electos," (Matthaeus 24:24; Marcus 13:22);

"Terribilia quoque Signa de Caelo erunt; erunt Signa in sole, luna et astris, resonante mari et salo," (Luca 21:11, 25);

Jehovah "irrita reddit Signa mendacium, divinatores insanos reddit, rejiciens sapientes retro, et scientiam illorum stultam facit," (Esaias 44:25);

"Viam gentium ne discite, et a Signis caelorum ne consternemini," (Jeremias 10:2); ¹

"Sunt Spiritus daemonum facientes Signa, ad congregandum eos in bellum diei illius magni," (Apocalypsis 16:14);

"Comprehensa est Bestia et cum ea Pseudopropheta, qui fecit Signa coram illa, et seduxit," (Apocalypsis 19:20).

Quod "signa" fuerint testificationes quod veritas sit, patet adhuc ab his:

Discipuli dixerunt ad Jesum, "Quodnam facis Signum, ut credamus Tibi; quid ² operaris," (Johannes 6:30-33);

Judaei, Scribae et Pharisaei quaerebant Signum a Domino, ut scirent quod Christus esset, (Matthaeus 12:38-40; 16:1-4; Marcus 8:11-12; Luca 11:16, 29-30; Johannes 2:16, 18-19);

Discipuli dixerunt ad Jesum, "Quodnam Signum Adventus Tui et Consummationis saeculi," (Matthaeus 24:3; Marcus 13:4); ³

"Si non crediderint tibi, nec audiverint vocem Signi primi, credent tamen voci Signi posterioris," (Exodus 4:8-9); ⁴

"vox signi" est testificatio.

"Posuerunt inter eos verba Signorum Suorum," (Psalm. 105:27);

Dixit ad Achasum, "Pete tibi Signum a Jehovah," (Esaias 7:11, 14);

"Hoc tibi Signum a Jehovah, ecce retraham umbram graduum, quae descendit in gradibus Achasi pro sole," (Esaias 38:7-8);

"Dixit Hischias, Quodnam Signum quod ascensurus sim in domum Jehovae," (Esaias 38:22); ⁵

"Hoc vobis Signum quod visitaturus Ego super vos in loco hoc, ut sciatis quod consistant verba Mea," (Jeremias 44:29-30);

Jehovah "fac mecum Signum in bonum, ut videant osores mei et pudefiant," (Psalm. 86:17);

"Nuntient vobis quae contingent, ut ponamus cor nostrum, indicate Signum in futurum, ut sciamus quod dii vos," (Esaias 41:22-23);

"Rugierunt hostes in festi tui medio, posuerunt Signa sua Signa," (Psalm. 74:3-4, 9).

(Praeter alibi, ut Esaias 45:11, 13; Jeremias 32:20-21; ⁶ Ezechiel 4:3; Psalm. 65:7-9 (B.A. 6-8); ⁷ Psalm. 78:42-43; Exodus 7:3; ⁸ Numeri 14:17, 22; Deuteronomius 4:34; 13:2-4 (B.A. 1-3); Judicum 6:17, 21; 1 Samuelis 2:34; ⁹ 14:10; Marcus 16:17-18; 20; ¹⁰ Luca 2:11-12, 16).

Similia significantur per "Signa foederis"

(Genesis 9:13; 17:11; Ezechiel 20:12, 20).

Ex his clare videri potest quod per "signa magna," quae facit haec Bestia Draconis, non intelligantur signa, sed testificationes ab illis, quod quae docent vera sint: unusquisque enim haereticus, qui se confirmavit in falsis, post confirmationem contestatur quod falsa ejus sint vera; non enim tunc videt vera amplius, quoniam confirmatio falsi est negatio veri, et verum negatum amittit lucem suam et quantum falsa ex confirmationis luce, quae est lux fatua, nitent, tantum lux veri fit caligo, videatur supra (566).

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