Moving along, I will proceed on to the twenty-second set of alleged quotations of the deutercanonical books, this time by Jesus, Luke, and Paul -
John 4:48; Acts 5:12; 15:12; 2 Cor. 12:12 - Jesus', Luke's and Paul's usage of "signs and wonders" follows Wisdom 8:8.
John 4:46 Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” 49 The royal official *said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus *said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. 51 As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. 54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
Jesus used the term "signs and wonders" which is synonymous with "miracles" as seen in other gospels. The Old Testament is filled with "signs and wonders" which is why the Pharisees expected a man who claimed to be a prophet to perform these acts of God.
Acts 5:12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.
Again, "signs and wonders" is a synonym for "miracles". It is interesting to note that Acts 2 is not cited here, even though the term is used there, as well. However, the signs and wonders of the day of Pentecost are shown to be a fulfillment of the passage in Joel
Acts 2:14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Acts 15:12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
Again, "signs and wonders" is a synonym for "miracles". The reference is to multiple miracles performed through Barnabas and Paul, without citing the passages where these are referenced.
II Corinthians 12:11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
In this passage Paul is defending his apostleship, claiming that the various miracles, signs, and wonders which accompanied him is proof it. It is interesting to note that he includes miracles here as a synonym for signs and wonders.
Wisdom 8:1 Indeed, she spans the world from end to end mightily
and governs all things well.
2 Her I loved and sought after from my youth;
I sought to take her for my bride
and was enamored of her beauty.
3 She adds to nobility the splendor of companionship with God;
even the Ruler of all loved her.
4 For she leads into the understanding of God,
and chooses his works.
5 If riches are desirable in life,
what is richer than Wisdom, who produces all things?
6 And if prudence is at work,
who in the world is a better artisan than she?
7 Or if one loves righteousness,
whose works are virtues,
She teaches moderation and prudence,
righteousness and fortitude,
and nothing in life is more useful than these.
8 Or again, if one yearns for wide experience,
she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come.
She understands the turns of phrases and the solutions of riddles;
signs and wonders she knows in advance
and the outcome of times and ages.
9 So I determined to take her to live with me,
knowing that she would be my counselor while all was well,
and my comfort in care and grief.
The passage in Wisdom 8 is a meditation upon Wisdom personified as a woman. It is similar to the initial chapters of Proverbs. In verse 8 signs and wonders are mentioned, but not necessarily synonymous with miracles performed by individuals.
Thus, the words and the concepts of signs and wonders are very commonly found throughout the entire Bible and the New Testament usage of the term is not a quotation or citation from any particular passage.
