During the Acts Period and After

THE RADICAL CHANGE IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL

The time had come for a radical change in God’s dealing with His chosen nation, the house of Israel. Now He becomes directly involved with the other nations (Gentiles).The continued rejection of the gospel preached by Jesus and the twelve Apostles eventually led Christ from Heaven to call Saul (Paul) to proclaim a gospel which was diferent.

It marks a new departure, a fresh unfolding of God's ways. It is useless to seek for this revelation in any previous portion of God's Word. No prophets mention it. Our Lord said nothing of it.Even the Circumcision apostles, in their later ministries, give no hint of the glorious event which Paul is about to foretell.

Does it not strike you as a bit unusual for Paul to the called to preach “the gospel” if the twelve were already preaching it.

Romans 16:25 (KVJ)  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

WHY DID PAUL CALL IT HIS GOSPEL

Paul’s message incorporates faith and grace and negates the emphasis on works and reward.

Yes, the epistles of Paul give us more enlightenment than the gospel taught by the 12 Apostles. If Paul’s gospel is identical to that proclaimed by Peter, James, and John, is it not rather presumptuous on the part of Paul to come along after them, and call it his gospel? We find as we read Paul’s gospel account, there is more to the gospel than that taught by the 12 Apostles.

Jesus Himself, the exalted One, severed, separated Paul from His people and His brethren for a special service among the nations, and appeared to him repeatedly from Heaven to instruct him about the things that were not revealed before. We learn of the “secret administration of the grace of God,” which was revealed to Paul for us, and which had been hid from the ages in God, and therefore could not be found anywhere before the appropriate time (Eph. 3:1-9).

The Kingdom gospel for the circumcision waned weaker and weaker throughout the Acts period. The time had come for God to reveal a plan which would now include both believing Gentiles and Jews into  a relationship with Him which was hidden since the world began. This was put into effect because the Israelites had rejected the Kingdom offer. Thereupon, God would call a man who would disclose this hidden secret.

Romans11:25 (KJV) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

Israel became blind as a result of their continued rejection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Him as King of the Millennium Kingdom.

Environment and Calling of Paul (Saul)

Saul, who later was named Paul, was born in Tarsus, the principal city of Cilicia and thus had the right of Roman citizenship (Acts 21:39; 22:25-29). Born in approximately 1 A. D. (Acts 7:58; Philemon 9). He was born to Hebrew parents, of the race of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5). Though born in Tarsus he had been schooled in Jerusalem. He must therefore, have been yet a boy when was relocated, in all probability for the sake of his education, to the holy city of his fathers. His training was in accord with the Hebrew Scriptures and the strictest sect of the Pharisees (Acts 26:4, 5; Phil. 3:15). He was taught by Gamaliel, son of Simeon, who was the great grandson of the renowned Hillel (Acts 22:3). Saul is first mentioned at the stoning of Stephen, where he sanctioned his murder (Acts 7:58; 8:1).

Saul was called by Christ about two years after Pentecost, 32 A. D., while on his way to Damascus to persecute the saints (Acts 9:1-61).

The rulers at Jerusalem employed this one man, Saul, to stamp out of the land this heresy, that is beginning to gain ground among the common people. They give him authority, as he was the right man for the job. And off he goes on this errand of murder. Saul was drawing near to Damascus where he was determined to deal very harshly with the followers of Messiah. Suddenly, more than the brightness of the midday sun, a light from heaven flashes around him.

Saul's conversion 37 AD

Acts 9:3 (KJV) And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth,…

God does not strike him dead, although he has committed sin worthy of death. Proud arrogant Saul lay prostrate in the dust. He now had all that vanity knocked out of him, no longer full of self-esteem and self-worth and sees himself as nothing.

Acts 9:4 (KJV)… and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Think of the proud, religious Pharisee being led by the hand into Damascus. There he meets Ananias who said to him, “The God of our fathers fixes upon you beforehand to know His will, and to be acquainted with the Just One, and to hear the voice of His mouth, that you shall be His witness to all men of what you have seen and hear” (Acts 22:14,15). Do we not perceive in these impressive words the foreknowledge of God, so in keeping with His great design for all mankind? And, notwithstanding his guilt, Christ further said to Paul, “Go! For I shall be delegating you afar to the nations” (Acts 22:21). Thus, in a very marked way, we see the apostle as one extricated from the people and from the nation of Israel, to be God’s herald and a teacher of the gentiles (nations) in knowledge and truth.

The conversion of Saul is one of the most incredible events of Christianity. It demonstrates the power of God’s grace and mercy. Before his conversion he was a fierce adversary of the church. He had the fervor to wipe out those who would leave the Jewish faith and follow the Savior. His conduct called not for mercy, but for swift, severe, judgment by God. His heart was full of threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus (Acts 9:1-2). He was proud and self assured that he was doing the right thing.

The call of Saul is an incredible exhibition of God’s grace on record in the sacred Scriptures. Never before was favor granted to one who deserved nothing but the utmost condemnation. Saul’s calloused, defiant, rebellious heart is captivated by this display of remarkable mercy and grace, and responds to this overwhelming favor shown by Christ with faith and love toward Him.

Initial Phase of Paul's conversion

 It was in Damascus that he was received into the church by Ananias, and here to the astonishment of all his hearers, he proclaimed the Lord Jesus, in the local synagogues, as the Messiah and Son of God declaring Him to be the Son of God ( Acts 9: 10- 21)

Acts 9:20 (KJV) And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Act 9:21 But all that heard him were amazed ....
Act 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

This marked the beginning of his progressive ministry. Right from the start Paul was hated by the Jewish leadership. The Jews sought to kill him. This is the first of many times that the Jews sought to kill him because he taught the risen Christ.

In the dead of night his disciples lowered him in a container down the wall in Damascus  to escape the murderous mob.

Then he likely wentto Arabia to be taught by Jesus Christ from Heaven.

Gal 1:17  Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 tells us that he was caught up to the third heaven and was taught in vision  by Christ Jesus in Arabia.

With the persecution and dispersion of disciples from Jerusalem, Antioch in Assyria becomes a new center of the gospel for the Jews and also for the gentiles (Acts 11:19-24). Thereafter he returned to Damascus and after 3 yearswent to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26). But the disciples were afraid of him because of his earlier persecution of the church's but Barnabas befriends him (Acts 9:26-27 gave a good report about him and he continued in Jerusalem for a while. But once again the Jewish sect (Grecians) sought to kill him. So he departed to Caesarea and then to Tarsus.

Barnabas, a good man full of the Holy Spirit, was sent on a special mission to Antioch preaching the Lord Jesus (Acts .11:22-24).

As the work grew under Barnabas's hands, he felt the need of help, went himself to Tarsus to seek Saul, and succeeded in bringing him to Antioch (Acts 11:26). In Antioch for one year the church grew under the stewardship of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:Act 11:26  And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

In Acts 13:2-3 we are told that the Holy Spirit separated Barnabas and Saul for a special work to which they were called. This marked the beginning of the missionary journeys that would now take place. Their brethren after fasting and prayer, laid their hands on them, and so they departed.

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