Acts 13 introduces the
Spirit's testimony in Paul's mission, beginning formally at Antioch,
based on the fact that the Church, which is the Body of Christ (Eph
1:22,23), was formed by the baptism in the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13), at
Pentecost, once for all. All added since that baptism in the
Spirit receive the same "Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13;
Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; John 14:16,26; 16:7). Such are "in
Christ" and so there were those "who also were in Christ before me"
(Rom.16:7). Paul's mission included the unfolding of the truth
of the mystery of Christ and the Church, as well as the gospel of
the glory. As the Jews refused the Spirit's testimony to
Christ in glory, so they refused the Spirit's testimony of grace to
the Gentiles.
"The Holy Ghost now
calls, through prophets, for the separation of Barnabas and Saul for
the work to which he had called them, and they are sent forth by the
Holy Ghost. It is a new kind of apostle. The first thing
we find is a figure of the total blinding of the Jews who resist the
Holy Ghost, and the eyes of Gentiles opened to believe.
Notwithstanding this, Paul (for he is now called Paul) according to
the Lord's mind goes always first to the Jews, and afterwards to the
Greeks. John Mark leaves them. After having preached
round, they choose elders for the churches, of whom we here read
first among Gentiles. He then returns to Antioch, and there we
find what the laying on of hands had been: that is, they had been
recommended to the grace of God for the work which they had now
fulfilled. 'And there they abode a long time with the
disciples.'
"The church having
now been freely established on heavenly principles outside
Jerusalem, Satan seeks to introduce confusion by bringing in the law
upon them; and God, to maintain unity, causes the matter to be
referred to Jerusalem, so that the apostles there, and the church,
should themselves declare the Gentiles free.... They dismiss Judas
and Silas; then we get another thing, Paul gathering fellow-laborers
around himself .... Now, we get the direct guidance of the Holy
Ghost in the carrying out of his ministry; but that direct guidance
as not excluding his drawing conclusions from divine intimations
sent to him. Then we have Paul pursuing his ministry--kept of
God everywhere--the very demons forced to own him--and as competent
as the other apostles to confer the Holy Ghost: free ministry, under
the guidance of God's Spirit, still going on." (Collected
Writings of J. N. Darby 19:29).
Dispensational Truth, Volume 1, page 144-145,
R. A. Huebner |