Paul was saved and called to be the dispenser of this new relationship called "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph 3:1-2). The Gentiles and all believers in Paul's mystery-gospel, make up "the body of Christ." Paul is the Apostle (Gk. apostolos, sent one) chosen by God to bear the message of "the dispensation of the grace of God" to "the body of Christ," just as Moses was God's chosen dispenser of "the law" dispensation to Israel.

Now the dispensation had changed from "law" to "grace." This change can be seen in the mode of deliverance in the life of the Apostle Paul when comparing his earlier life experiences with his later life experiences. In the early Acts period, God was still offering the Kingdom to Israel via the twelve Apostles as Jesus announced it in the gospels "with signs following" (Mark 16:20). Paul was first used to bring the message of Jesus' divinity and the cross to the Jews, also with "signs following." "Cloths" were sent from Paul to others and they would be healed, "delivered" (Act 19:12) as s sign to confirm the validity of Paul's message. But a further change was coming.

Compare Paul's miracles in his early ministry with that we see in Paul's latter seven epistles (Ephesians – Philemon). These were written mostly after Acts 28:28 when God fully gave up the Jews for now – "turning to the Gentiles." In these last seven epistles we may note that Paul could not bring miraculous deliverance or healing to anyone, not even his own self. Paul sought to be delivered of his "thorn in the flesh" by the Lord, but the answer was not deliverance as Paul had hoped, rather Paul heard these words "my grace is sufficient."

Paul's experiences were further evidence that the time of miraculous "signs following" had ended. We read in Paul's epistles such comments as these. Paul recommended to Timothy "take a little wine for thy stomach sake" (1Tim 5:23); he writes also that he had "the physician, Luke", with Him (Col 4:14, 2Tim 4:11a).

We might ask, "What happened to change Paul's apparent display of God's delivering power?"

Why didn't the mighty Paul just heal his own self, or "his son in the faith," Timothy. How could he leave Trophimus "sick" at Miletum? 2 Tim. 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. This ceasing of healing deliverance requires us to take a closer look.