New International Version God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. New Living Translation And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose. English Standard Version while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Berean Standard Bible and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. Berean Literal Bible God testifying with them both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles, and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to His will. King James Bible God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? New King James Version God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? New American Standard Bible God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. NASB 1995 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. NASB 1977 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Legacy Standard Bible God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Amplified Bible [and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Berean Annotated Bible and was affirmed by God {Theou} through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit {Hagiou Pneumatos} distributed according to His will. Christian Standard Bible At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will. Holman Christian Standard Bible At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will. American Standard Version God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will. Contemporary English Version God himself showed that his message was true by working all kinds of powerful miracles and wonders. He also gave his Holy Spirit to anyone he chose to. English Revised Version God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will. GOD'S WORD® Translation God verified what they said through miraculous signs, amazing things, other powerful acts, and with other gifts from the Holy Spirit as he wanted. Good News Translation At the same time God added his witness to theirs by performing all kinds of miracles and wonders and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will. International Standard Version while God added his testimony through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. NET Bible while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. New Heart English Bible God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will? Webster's Bible Translation God also bearing them testimony, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will? Weymouth New Testament while God corroborated their testimony by signs and marvels and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed in accordance with His own will. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. World English Bible God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionGod also bearing joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will. Berean Literal Bible God testifying with them both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles, and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to His will. Young's Literal Translation God also bearing joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will. Smith's Literal Translation God confirming the testimony, together with signs and wonders, and various powers, and partitions of the Holy Spirit, according to his will. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleGod also bearing them witness by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will. Catholic Public Domain Version with God testifying to it by signs and wonders, and by various miracles, and by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, in accord with his own will. New American Bible God added his testimony by signs, wonders, various acts of power, and distribution of the gifts of the holy Spirit according to his will. New Revised Standard Version while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd to which God testified with signs and wonders and with divers miracles, and with the gift of the Holy Spirit, given according to his will. Aramaic Bible in Plain English While God testified concerning them with signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of The Spirit of Holiness, which were given according to his will? NT Translations Anderson New TestamentGod also bearing testimony with them by signs and wonders, and by various mighty deeds, and by distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will. Godbey New Testament God at the same time witnessing, by signs and indeed by wonders, and various dynamites, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his will. Haweis New Testament God superadding his testimony with them, by signs, and wonders, and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Mace New Testament God also giving an additional testimony both by signs, by prodigies, by divers miracles, and gifts of the holy spirit, which he distributes as he pleases. Weymouth New Testament while God corroborated their testimony by signs and marvels and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed in accordance with His own will. Worrell New Testament God testifying with them, both with signs and wonders and manifold miracles, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will? Worsley New Testament God also testifying together with them by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the holy Spirit, according to his own will. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Salvation Confirmed…3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. 5For it is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.… Cross References and was affirmed by God Acts 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. Acts 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it. through signs, Acts 4:30 as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” Romans 15:19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Acts 2:43 A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. wonders, Acts 7:36 He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness. Acts 15:12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. Exodus 7:3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, various miracles, Acts 19:11 God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, Galatians 3:5 Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe? 2 Corinthians 12:12 The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance. and gifts of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. / There are different ministries, but the same Lord. / There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. … Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:45 All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. distributed according to His will. 1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines. Treasury of Scripture God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? God. Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: Acts 2:32,33 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses… gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit… Ephesians 4:8-11 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men… according. Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Ephesians 1:5,9 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, … Jump to Previous Accordance Bearing Bore Distributed Distribution Distributions Divers Ghost Gifts Holy Manifold Marvels Miracles Natural Pleasure Power Signs Spirit Testified Testifying Testimony Various Witness Wonders WorksJump to Next Accordance Bearing Bore Distributed Distribution Distributions Divers Ghost Gifts Holy Manifold Marvels Miracles Natural Pleasure Power Signs Spirit Testified Testifying Testimony Various Witness Wonders WorksHebrews 2 1. We ought to be obedient to Christ Jesus;5. and that because he condescended to take our nature upon himself; 14. as it was necessary. and was affirmed by God God Himself bore witness to the salvation first proclaimed by the Lord and passed on by those who heard Him. The gospel rests not on human invention but on God’s public confirmation of His Son and His saving work. Act 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth… through signs, God used visible acts of power to direct attention to the truth He was revealing. Jesus’ signs, including the healing of the sick and the turning of water into wine, displayed His glory and identified Him as the promised Messiah. God had likewise confirmed His covenant purposes through signs in Israel’s history, including the rainbow after the flood and the mighty acts against Egypt. Act 4:30 As You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs… wonders, Extraordinary deeds awakened awe and demonstrated the presence of God among His people. The exodus from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea showed that the Lord alone could deliver Israel from bondage. Jesus and the apostles performed wonders that testified to the arrival of God’s kingdom and the authority of Christ. Act 7:36 He led them out and performed wonders and signs… various miracles, Healings, deliverances from demons, and acts of provision revealed God’s authority over disease, evil spirits, nature, and death. Such works fulfilled the prophetic expectation that the Messiah would open blind eyes, heal the lame, and bring restoration to those afflicted by the curse of sin. Act 19:11 God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, and gifts of the Holy Spirit The risen Christ poured out the Holy Spirit upon His church, empowering believers to proclaim the gospel and serve one another. Spiritual gifts strengthened the apostolic witness and built up the body of Christ through wisdom, faith, prophecy, healing, service, and other ministries. 1Co 12:4-11 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.… distributed according to His will. The Holy Spirit sovereignly gives gifts for God’s redemptive purposes and the common good of the church. No believer earns or controls these endowments; each servant of Christ is called to receive God’s provision with humility and use it faithfully for His glory. 1Co 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit… Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe ultimate source of authority and power, who confirms His message through supernatural means. 2. Holy Spirit The third person of the Trinity, who distributes spiritual gifts according to God's will. 3. Signs, Wonders, and Miracles Supernatural acts that serve as evidence of God's power and confirmation of His message. 4. Recipients of the Message Early Christians and believers who witnessed these divine acts as a testament to the truth of the Gospel. 5. The Apostolic Era The period during which the apostles spread the Gospel, often accompanied by miraculous signs. Teaching Points Divine ConfirmationGod uses supernatural means to confirm His message, emphasizing the reliability and truth of the Gospel. Role of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is active in distributing gifts, highlighting the importance of spiritual gifts in the life of the church. Faith and Evidence While faith is essential, God provides evidence through miracles to strengthen and affirm our belief. God's Sovereignty The distribution of gifts and the occurrence of miracles are according to God's will, reminding us of His ultimate authority and plan. Witness and Testimony Believers are called to be witnesses of God's power, sharing how He has worked in their lives through signs and wonders. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Hebrews 2:4?2. How does Hebrews 2:4 affirm God's testimony through "signs, wonders, and miracles"? 3. What role do "gifts of the Holy Spirit" play in confirming God's message? 4. How can we discern God's work today through "signs and wonders"? 5. How does Hebrews 2:4 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20? 6. How can believers today seek and recognize the Holy Spirit's gifts? 7. How does Hebrews 2:4 affirm the authenticity of divine miracles and signs? 8. Why does God use signs and wonders according to Hebrews 2:4? 9. How do gifts of the Holy Spirit relate to Hebrews 2:4? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Hebrews 2? What Does Hebrews 2:4 Mean Affirmed by God“and was affirmed by God” (Hebrews 2:4a) • The good news first “spoken by the Lord” (Hebrews 2:3) is not a human invention; the Father Himself verifies it. • Mark 16:20 shows the pattern: “the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.” • Acts 14:3 echoes the same testimony as the apostles “spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.” • God’s direct endorsement secures our confidence that every promise in the gospel is reliable and literally true (John 5:36; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Through signs “through signs” (Hebrews 2:4b) • A “sign” points beyond itself, like Jesus’ first miracle at Cana that “revealed His glory” (John 2:11). • Signs often confirm identity: “Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs” (Acts 2:22). • For believers they strengthen faith; for unbelievers they remove excuses (John 20:30–31). Wonders “wonders” (Hebrews 2:4c) • Wonders awaken holy awe, reminding us that God is near and active (Acts 2:19). • They can be cosmic (e.g., the darkening at the cross, Luke 23:44–47) or personal (Acts 3:10, the healed beggar). • Their purpose is never entertainment but to draw attention to the Majesty behind them (Psalm 72:18). Various miracles “various miracles” (Hebrews 2:4d) • Scripture records a wide range: – Power over nature (Mark 4:39) – Healing disease (Acts 5:15–16) – Deliverance from evil spirits (Acts 19:11–12) – Raising the dead (Acts 9:40) • Each miracle displays God’s kingdom breaking into a fallen world, validating the message that Christ reverses the curse (Matthew 11:4–5). Gifts of the Holy Spirit “and gifts of the Holy Spirit” (Hebrews 2:4e) • Beyond outward signs, the Spirit equips believers with inward and outward gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4–11; Romans 12:6–8). • These gifts continue the testimony of Jesus in the church—prophecy, wisdom, mercy, teaching, and more—each revealing some facet of His grace (1 Peter 4:10–11). • The presence of these gifts assures us that God is still at work and that Scripture’s promises are living realities. Distributed according to His will “distributed according to His will” (Hebrews 2:4f) • The Spirit “apportions them to each one as He determines” (1 Corinthians 12:11). • No gift is earned; all are sovereignly assigned for the common good (Ephesians 4:7, 16). • This truth guards against pride (because gifts are received) and against envy (because God decides). • It also encourages dependence: since He distributes, we look to Him for fresh empowerment (James 1:17). summary Hebrews 2:4 teaches that God Himself validates the gospel message by a fourfold witness: tangible signs, awe-inspiring wonders, diverse miracles, and Spirit-given gifts. Each element highlights His active involvement, proving the message is both true and vital. Because these confirmations are sovereignly dispensed, we receive them with gratitude, steward them faithfully, and rest in the assurance that the God who once attested His word still does so today. (4) God also bearing them witness.—That is, bearing witness with them to the truth they preached. Mark 16:20 is a striking parallel; see also Acts 4:30. The divine attestation was given by miracles and by “gifts” (literally, distributions, as in the margin; see 1Corinthians 12:11) “of the Holy Ghost.” We have here, as in Acts 2:22 and 2Corinthians 12:12 (see the Notes), the full threefold description of miracles, as “signs” and “wonders” and “powers”; as wonderful works that are wrought by divine power, and are thus signs of the divine presence and symbols of a corresponding spiritual work. The words here used are illustrated especially by 2Corinthians 12:12...Verse 4. - God also bearing them witness; rather, God attesting with them. The word is συνεπιμαρτυροῦντος, a double compound, meaning to attest jointly with others. The idea is that the hearers of "the Lord" testified, and God attested their testimony by the signs that accompanied their ministry. The passage is instructive as expressing the grounds of acceptance of the gospel. Its truth was already "confirmed" to believers by the testimony of unimpeachable witnesses to that which, so attested, carried with it its own evidence. But the signs attending the apostolic ministry were granted for further attestation. Thus "signs and wonders," the craving for which as a condition of belief was so condemned by our Lord, have their true evidential value assigned them. They did not furnish the original basis of belief, which rested on Christ himself, his Person. and his work, as unimpeachably attested. They came in only as suitable accompaniments of a Divine dispensation, and as additional confirmations. The apologists of the last generation were given to rest the evidence of Christianity too exclusively on miracles. The tendency of the present age is to dwell rather on its internal evidence, and, so far as it can be done, to explain away the miracles. They are not to be explained away, having been, as has been said, fitting accompaniments and confirmations of such a dispensation as the gospel was. But to us, as well as to those early believers, they are not the first or main ground of our belief. To us, as re them, Christ and his gospel, testified to as they are by" them that heard," are their own sufficient evidence. Indeed, the cogency of the "signs" in the way of evidence is less now than formerly, since they too have now passed into the category of things that rest on testimony. The evidential counterpart to them in our case is the continued attestation which God gives to the gospel in its living power on the souls of men, and its results in the world before our eyes. It is thus that our faith is strengthened in "the salvation at first spoken through the Lord, and confirmed to us by them that heard." Four expressions are used for the miraculous accompaniments of the first preaching of the gospel, denoting, apparently, not so much different classes of miracles, as different ways of regarding them. They were(1) signs (σημεῖα), attesting the truth of what was preached; (2) wonders (τέρατα), something out of the common course of things, arresting attention; (3) diverse powers (ποικίλαι δυνάμεις), varying manifestations of a Divine power at work; . . . Greek [and] was affirmedσυνεπιμαρτυροῦντος (synepimartyrountos) Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 4901: To unite in bearing witness, sanction. From sun and epimartureo; to testify further jointly, i.e. Unite in adding evidence. by God Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. through τε (te) Conjunction Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also. signs, σημείοις (sēmeiois) Noun - Dative Neuter Plural Strong's 4592: Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of semaino; an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally. wonders, τέρασιν (terasin) Noun - Dative Neuter Plural Strong's 5059: A wonder, portent, marvel. Of uncertain affinity; a prodigy or omen. various ποικίλαις (poikilais) Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 4164: Various, of different colors, diverse, various. Of uncertain derivation; motley, i.e. Various in character. miracles, δυνάμεσιν (dynamesin) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 1411: From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power. and {gifts} καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. of [the] Holy Ἁγίου (Hagiou) Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred. Spirit Πνεύματος (Pneumatos) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit. distributed μερισμοῖς (merismois) Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 3311: From merizo; a separation or distribution. according to κατὰ (kata) Preposition Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined). His αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. will. θέλησιν (thelēsin) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 2308: A willing, will. From ethelo; determination, i.e. Option. Additonal Resources Hebrews 2:4 Blue Letter BibleHebrews 2:4 Bible Gateway Hebrews 2:4 Bible.com Hebrews 2:4 NIV |
    |