Acts 19:11

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, Acts 19:11

The words are rather difficult to translate literally, but a close rendering of the Greek would be, “And miracles – not matched – God was working by the hands of Paul” (CG).

The previous verse noted that Paul continued in the school of Tyrannus for two years and that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord. This included both Jews and Greeks. With that noted, it next says, “And miracles – not matched.” The word translated as “miracles” is dunamis. It signifies “ability to perform,” and is often translated as “mighty works,” “power,” etc. It was commonly used to describe the deeds Jesus performed, and it has also been used in Acts quite a few times.

This is the only time it is used of Paul’s abilities, and it is also the last time it is used in the book of Acts. One can see the etymological root for our modern word “dynamite” in it. The next words are rather difficult to translate as they read in the Greek, ou tas tychousas, or as close to literal as possible, “not the matched.”

The verb is tugchanó. It means “to strike (hit the mark, i.e. ‘spot on,’ ‘hit the bullseye’); to light upon, fall in line with; ‘happen to find oneself’ in the scene of life the Lord has already prepared” (HELPS Word Studies). As it is preceded by the word “not,” and being in the form of an aorist participle, saying “not matched” gives a close sense of what is being conveyed. Paul hit the mark with his miracles so precisely that they were not matched by anyone else. 

The same phrase is similar to that stated in Acts 28:2, where it says, “And the natives showed us unusual kindness.” Translating the words as an adjective in this manner doesn’t convey the full sense of the words. As for the cause of the miracles, it next says, “God was working by the hands of Paul.”

In these words, Aristotle’s four causes can be expressed: The material cause is Paul, he is the one who makes the thing (like wood in a table) to be. The formal cause, the design, is the miracle as it occurs. The efficient cause, what brings it about, is the Lord’s presence working through Paul. And the final cause, the purpose, is that God will be glorified.

Life application: When you read in the Bible about miracles that occur, the Lord’s battles that will be waged, prophecies that are made, etc., each of these is occurring in a manner that displays how God operates within His creation. A good way to think of them is to consider them in relation to the causes expressed by Aristotle.

If you have a beautiful wood table in your house, it didn’t just wind up there by chance. There is the material cause of the table, wood. That can be further subdivided into types of wood. Other materials are also probably used, but for simplicity’s sake, wood alone is sufficient.

There is the formal cause of the table, its design. You may want a dinner table, a corner table, a nightstand, etc. Whatever the design is, that is the formal cause.

There is also the efficient cause, the carpenter (or simply carpentry). That is what makes the wood into a table, taking into consideration the design and purpose.

Lastly, there is the final cause. What is the ultimate purpose of what is being made? It may be dining. It may be for displaying an antique. It may be a butcher’s table. That is what it is used for and why it was built in the first place.

In considering these things from a biblical perspective, one can see that God is the efficient cause of these things, He selects the formal and efficient causes to effect the purpose that is to come about. And His glory is the final cause of what occurs.

If you evaluate “miracles,” “healings,” “teachings,” and so forth of people who claim they serve the Lord, you may not be able to determine the efficient cause, but you can with careful paying attention be wise enough to discern if they are meeting the proper final cause. Is God truly being glorified through what they are doing, or is their enrichment, fame, power, etc., really what is being highlighted?

Think about the ministries you follow and consider what their ultimate purpose is. God’s glory. That should be it!

Lord God, we do have needs in this world, but ultimately, what happens to us is not all that important because You have promised us something far better in the life to come. Help us to be focused on Your glory at all times. May we be willing to share with others the good news of Jesus Christ so that You will be glorified through their acceptance of Him. Amen.