ACTS 2-12: PREPARATION FOR THE UNFOLDING OF THE TRUTH OF THE MYSTERY

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Acts 8-12: A TRANSITION PERIOD IN PREPARATION FOR PAUL'S MISSION

GENTILES ADDED TO THE CHURCH

After the year of exposure of the fall of Israel, the testimony of the Spirit "branches out into the free action of the Spirit of God, independent of, but not separated from, the twelve and Jerusalem as the centre" (J. N. Darby).  Samaritans were brought into blessing, as well as an Ethiopian proselyte (a son of Ham), etc. (Acts 8), a token of the Spirit's sovereignty in grace.  A special vessel of grace (1 Tim. 1:13-16) was formed for future work with seeing the Lord in glory, Who said, "why persecutest thou me?"  This view of the Lord gave character to the apostleship and ministry of Paul, who unfolded the heavenly glory and our union with the Head in heaven.  Thus Paul immediately preached Christ as the Son of God (Acts 9), the character in which He is the foundation of the Church (Matt. 16:16-18).  Formally, however, he did not enter upon his special mission until the time of Acts 13.

Next, through Peter's continued ministry, Eneas and Dorcas experience the Spirit's power (Acts 9) away from Jerusalem.  Then the Spirit added Gentiles to the Church (Acts 10,11) with the lesson that God declared the Gentiles suited to hear the gospel and believe.  The free action of the Spirit brought in more Gentiles (Acts 11:20,21), though in sending Barnabas from Jerusalem the connection with that center was kept up.  The Spirit's action was also manifested in prophecy (Acts 11:27-30).

In Acts 12 we see the ministry of angels for the heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14).  As Paul's conversion reminds us of the future conversion of Israel, in answer to the Lord's prayer, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do," so Peter's deliverance reminds us of that future deliverance of the Jewish remnant.

Acts 8-12 is transitional and preparatory for a new mission about to begin from the Gentile assembly at Antioch--without dependence on Jerusalem or the 12 [other Jewish] apostles for its validity.

Dispensational Truth, Volume 1, page 144-145, R. A. Huebner