Meaning of SIGNS

Acts of power, wonders and signs.
The NT designates miracles with the terms:

(A) "dunameis", "powers",

(B) "terata", "prodigies, amazing deeds",

(C) "semeia", "signs" (Acts 2:22).
Indeed, the miracle is:

(A) A work of power.
The miracles in Egypt were intended to show Pharaoh the power of God (Ex. 9:16), just as those executed in the conquest of Canaan continued to demonstrate it to the Israelites (Ps. 111:6). In the same way, the healing of Acts. 3:6, 12, 16 demonstrated the infinite power of the name of Jesus.

(B) A prodigy that arouses astonishment.
All of nature is filled with inexplicable manifestations of God's power and wisdom (Rom. 1:19-20), and our own body is a true "walking miracle" (just think about the functioning of our brain).

But we are so used to it that it no longer surprises us. God sometimes raises unusual wonders to force man to stop and say, along with the magicians of Egypt: "This is the finger of God" (Ex. 8:15; Mark 2:12; 5:42; 6:51; 7:37; Acts 3:10).

(C) A sign.
The miracle is not an end in itself; directs our gaze further, to reveal the immediate presence of God. It demonstrates that the miraculous instrument is in direct relationship with the spiritual world, and becomes the seal of his authority as God's messenger (John 2:18; 3:2; 5:36; Acts 14:3; 2 Cor. 12:12).

Therefore, miracles are part of revelation. The miracles of Christ have been the Act, while the Gospel has been the Word. The Savior did not limit himself to teaching, but acted on the environment, and freed men from their ailments, physical or moral.

There is a close relationship between Jesus' statements and his actions. Immediately after saying “I am the light of the world” he gave sight to the man born blind (John 8:12; 9:5-7). Having declared, “I am the resurrection and the life,” he brought Lazarus out of the tomb (John 11:25, 43).

His entire speech about the bread of life is a commentary on the multiplication of the loaves (John 6:11, 26-58). It is after healing a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years that Jesus said, "My Father works until now, and I work" (John 5:5-19).

The miracles performed by Moses are also signs of the sovereignty of God, who has as much authority over Pharaoh as over Israel (Ex. 4:5, 8-9). Each of the ten plagues was to produce this effect: "And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord" (Ex. 7:5).

The death of the firstborn in particular is a judgment on all the powerless idols of the land (Ex. 12:12). The miracle of the quail demonstrated to Israel that theirs was a God capable of providing for her needs (Ex. 16:12). Thus, it can be said that miracles always have a spiritual object; for example, Christ deliberately refused to perform wonders if they did not meet this condition (Mt. 4:3-7; 12:38-40; 16:1, 4).