The term "astonishingly" is not directly found in the text of the Bible; however, the concept of being astonished or amazed is prevalent throughout the Scriptures. This entry explores the biblical context and significance of astonishment as it relates to the works and words of God, the ministry of Jesus Christ, and the response of people to divine acts and teachings.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, astonishment often accompanies the mighty acts of God. The Hebrew people frequently experienced awe and wonder at God's miraculous interventions. For instance, in Exodus 15:11, after the crossing of the Red Sea, Moses and the Israelites sing, "Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?" This sense of wonder and astonishment is a recurring theme as God demonstrates His power and faithfulness to His people.

The prophets also speak of astonishment in the context of God's judgment and mercy. In Habakkuk 1:5, the LORD declares, "Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you." Here, astonishment is linked to the unexpected and overwhelming nature of God's actions, whether in judgment or deliverance.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the ministry of Jesus Christ is marked by numerous instances of astonishment. The people who witnessed His teachings and miracles often responded with amazement. In Matthew 7:28-29, after the Sermon on the Mount, it is recorded, "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." The authority and wisdom of Jesus' words left a profound impact on His listeners.

Miracles performed by Jesus also elicited astonishment. In Mark 2:12, after Jesus heals a paralytic, the crowd reacts: "Immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'" The miraculous acts of Jesus served as a testament to His divine authority and power, leaving witnesses in awe.

Astonishment in the Early Church

The early church continued to experience and evoke astonishment through the work of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:7, during the event of Pentecost, the crowd is described as "amazed and perplexed" when they hear the apostles speaking in various languages. This astonishment serves as a sign of the Spirit's presence and the fulfillment of God's promises.

The apostles' boldness and the miraculous signs that accompanied their ministry also led to astonishment among the people. In Acts 3:10, after Peter heals a lame beggar, the people "recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

Theological Implications

Astonishment in the biblical narrative often serves to highlight the divine nature of God's actions and the authority of His messengers. It underscores the reality that God's ways and works are beyond human comprehension and expectation. The response of astonishment is not merely an emotional reaction but a recognition of the divine breaking into the ordinary, calling for a response of faith, worship, and transformation.

In summary, while the term "astonishingly" may not appear verbatim in the Bible, the concept of astonishment is deeply woven into the fabric of the biblical account, illustrating the profound impact of God's presence and power in the world.6382. pele -- a wonder
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a wonder NASB Word Usage astonishingly
(1), wonderful (2), wonders (9). marvelous thing, wonderful. ...
/hebrew/6382.htm - 6k

The with Christ Series
... and the price, which, in view of the fact that this is the authorized edition, upon
which royalties are paid to the author, was already astonishingly low, has ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/the with christ series.htm

Then Maximian Returned into Gaul; and after Having Made Some Stay ...
... himself. Constantine was presently informed of those events, and, by marches
astonishingly rapid, he flew back with his army. Maximian ...
/.../chap xxix then maximian returned.htm

ecce Iterum Crispinus!'
... They are old, but astonishingly tall, and look gaunt, wretched, and half-starved.
They are dressed only in white sheepskins and sandals. ...
/.../chapter xliii ecce iterum crispinus.htm

The Imperfection of Human Knowledge
... I.1. To begin with the great Creator himself. How astonishingly little do
we know of God! " How small a part of his nature do we know! ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 69 the imperfection of.htm

Summary.
... The editor's brief judgment is that Constantine, for his time, made an astonishingly
temperate, wise, and, on the whole, benevolent use of absolute power, and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/the life of constantine/section 8 summary.htm

New York to California
... enduring all the hardships of pioneering life they succeeded at last to put a solid
foundation of a new and permanent civilization astonishingly wonderful not ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter vii new york to.htm

Malachi
... Coming from one to whom correct ritual meant so much, his utterance touching heathen
worship is not only refreshingly, but astonishingly bold. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/malachi.htm

Extracts No. X.
... I discover its force, its clearness, and its irresistibility; and although the truth
it unfolds is so august, so momentous, so astonishingly and inexpressibly ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no x.htm

Close of the Colonial Era --The German Churches --The Beginnings ...
... [118] The astonishingly sudden and complete extinction of the French politico-religious
empire in Canada and the West made possible, and at no remote time ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xii close of the.htm

The African Rome
... there, and in Africa more than elsewhere. The population of Carthage was
astonishingly mixed. The hybrid character of this country ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/ii the african rome.htm

Astonishingly (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Astonishingly (1 Occurrence). Lamentations 1:9
Her filthiness was in her skirts; she didn't remember her ...
/a/astonishingly.htm - 6k

Astonishing (6 Occurrences)

/a/astonishing.htm - 8k

Astonishment (51 Occurrences)

/a/astonishment.htm - 24k

Evolution
... the struggle for life. Weismannian evolution posits an astonishingly complex
germinal starting-point. DeVriesian evolution is built ...
/e/evolution.htm - 39k

Pastoral
... every sentence that.... the Pastorals are astonishingly superior" (Moffatt,
The Historical New Testament, 556). Godet, quoted by ...
/p/pastoral.htm - 39k

Epistles (2 Occurrences)
... every sentence that.... the Pastorals are astonishingly superior" (Moffatt,
The Historical New Testament, 556). Godet, quoted by ...
/e/epistles.htm - 80k

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