The presence of the Angels in the new testament and their purpose

How many times have angels interacted directly with humans in the New Testament? What was the purpose of each visit?

There are more than twenty interactions that humans have had with the angels listed in both Gospel accounts and the rest of the New Testament. The following list of angelic apparitions is listed in chronological order.

The first New Testament interaction with an angel occurs at Zechariah in the temple in Jerusalem. He is told that his wife Elizabeth will have a son whose name will be John (John the Baptist). John will have the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb and will live like a Nazirite (Luke 1:11 - 20, 26 - 38).

Gabriel (who belongs to a class of angels called Archangels) is sent to a virgin named Mary to inform her that she will miraculously conceive the Savior who will be called Jesus (Luke 1:26 - 38).

Surprisingly, Joseph receives at least three visits separated by angels. He received one concerning marriage with Mary and two (a little later) which revolve around the protection of Jesus from Herod (Matthew 1:18 - 20, 2:12 - 13, 19 - 21).

An angel announces to the shepherds of Bethlehem that Jesus was born. They are also told where to find the newborn King and Savior of humanity. The righteous spirits also praise God for the unique miracle of the birth of Christ to a virgin (Luke 2: 9 - 15).

The New Testament also records a group of angels who serve Jesus after his temptation by Satan the devil (Matthew 4:11).

Occasionally an angel stirred the water in Bethesda's pool. The first person who entered the pool after shaking the water would be cured of their illnesses (John 5: 1 - 4).

God sent a spiritual messenger to Jesus to strengthen him before his suffering and death. The Bible states, immediately after Christ urged the disciples to pray that they would not fall into temptation, "Then an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him" (Luke 22:43).

An angel appears twice near the tomb of Jesus declaring, to Mary, Mary Magdalene and others, that the Lord has already risen from the dead (Matthew 28: 1 - 2, 5 - 6, Mark 16: 5 - 6). He also tells them to share his resurrection with other disciples and that he will meet them in Galilee (Matthew 28: 2 - 7).

Two angels, who look like men, appear to the eleven disciples on the Mount of Olives immediately after Jesus' ascension to heaven. They inform them that Christ will return to earth in the same way he left (Acts 1:10 - 11).

Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem arrest the twelve apostles and put them in prison. God sends the angel of the Lord to free them from prison. After the disciples are released, they are encouraged to boldly continue to preach the gospel (Acts 5:17 - 21).

An angelic being appears to Philip the Evangelist and orders him to go to Gaza. During his journey he meets an Ethiopian eunuch, explains the Gospel to him and finally baptizes him (Acts 8:26 - 38).

An angelic being appears to a Roman centurion named Cornelius, in a vision, which informs him to look for the apostle Peter. Cornelius and his family are baptized, becoming the first non-Jewish converts to Christianity (Acts 10: 3 - 7, 30 - 32).

After Peter is thrown into prison by Herod Agrippa, God sends an angel to free him and lead him to safety (Acts 12: 1 - 10).

An angel appears to Paul in a dream while sailing as a prisoner in Rome. He is told that he will not die on the journey, but rather will appear before Caesar. The messenger also states that Paul's prayer that everyone on board the ship is saved is guaranteed (Acts 27:23 - 24).

One of the greatest New Testament interactions with an angel occurs when one is sent to the apostle John. He goes to the apostle, who has been exiled to the island of Patmos, to reveal prophecies to him that will eventually become the book of Revelation (Revelation 1: 1).

The apostle John, in a vision, takes a prophetic booklet from the hand of an angel. The spirit says to him: "Take it and eat it, and it will make your stomach bitter, but in the mouth it will be sweet as honey" (Revelation 10: 8 - 9, HBFV).

An angel tells John to take a cane and measure the temple of God (Revelation 11: 1 - 2).

An angel reveals to John the true meaning of a woman, riding on a scarlet beast, who has on his forehead "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Revelation 17).

The last time an interaction with angels is recorded in the New Testament is when John is informed that all the prophecies he has seen are faithful and will come true. John is also warned not to worship angelic spirits but only God (Revelation 22: 6 - 11).