1Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. 2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4God 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?
5For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels. 6But one has somewhere testified, saying,
“What is man, that you think of him?
Or the son of man, that you care for him?
7You made him a little lower than the angels.
You crowned him with glory and honor.
8You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t yet see all things subjected to him. 9But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.
10For it became him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12saying,
“I will declare your name to my brothers.
Among the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.” 14Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham. 17Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
Many view the Bible as a continuous book of miracles from Genesis to Revelation. However, biblical miracles authenticate a new direction in God’s program. Thus, they cluster around five different biblical eras: Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and entrance into Canaan during the days of Moses and Joshua, the confrontation of Israel’s apostasy during the prophetic ministries of Elijah and Elisha, the offer of the kingdom to first-century Israel during the time of Christ, the inauguration of the church age during the days of the apostles, and the re-offer of the kingdom to future Israel during the tribulation period (Rev 11:5-6). In this sense, miracles are largely confirmatory (Heb 2:3-4). They represent signs authenticating that God is doing something new (Acts 2:14, 22; 1 Cor 14:22).
In the book of Acts, miracles that are done through humans authenticate that the infant church was a fresh work of God. After the death of the apostles, who were the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20), these types of miracles ceased, even as evidenced by Paul leaving Trophimus sick at Miletus (2 Tim 4:20). The gradual decrease of miracles in the book of Acts does not mean that God is not able to do miracles on His own to accomplish His purposes in the earth.