PAUL’S GOSPEL DURING ACTS

Among those who attempt to divide aright the Word of truth today, there is no more confusion in any one branch than in the question of what Paul was preaching during Acts.

During Acts the Jew was first for the simple fact that salvation was yet of the Jews. Also, the

Jew was first because the gospel of the 12 was about kingdom and the kingdom is primarily of the Jews. The King was an heir of David's throne. All that is made plain in Acts.

The apostles were instructed concerning the promised kingdom at the beginning of Acts. Their gospel was also observed by Paul and he was to proclaim what he had seen. That he did.

There was a great revival at the first at Jerusalem and in all Judea. But that gradually died down and the Jewish nation in that part of the world did not come to repentance and receive their Messiah.

So, after the murder of Stephen by his fellow countrymen, Peter was called to preach in the house of Cornelius. Here was the first instance of Gentiles being grafted into the olive tree to provoke Israel to bear fruit. Just that one instance at the house of Cornelius was for all Judea, including Jerusalem. Yet we know the reaction among the Jews at Jerusalem who yelled “crucify Him.”

Now Paul appears on the scene. He preaches what he has seen. He failed in Damascus and Jerusalem because that was not his field. Just as the 12 were to preach to the Jews of Jerusalem and Judea, so Paul was to preach to the Jews of the dispersion in Asia Minor and Europe, even to Rome. And when the Jews opposed the gospel of the kingdom, then Paul would go to the Gentiles and graft them into the kingdom to provoke the Jews to jealousy. See Romans 10 and 11.

Now when Paul turned to the Gentiles after Acts 28, he preached what was revealed to him. This preaching to the Gentiles was revealed to him just as definitely as was that vision Peter saw on the housetop when he was to do the same thing.

And all to the same purpose.

Now you can see why Paul's preaching never was against the preaching of the 12. All had the coming king and kingdom as their theme.

Peter never said that Paul's gospel was wrong, nor did Paul ever say the same of Peter. The Acts 15 council at Jerusalem recognized the fact that Paul was bringing Gentiles into the kingdom by grace and gave their blessing to his preaching.

Any attempts to array Peter against Paul is attempting to discredit the Bible. They worked in perfect harmony during Acts. The trouble that did arise was not doctrinal, but on account of the racial prejudices of the Jews and their antipathy to the Gentile believers. They could not quite understand why the Gentiles could have a part in their kingdom for nothing while they themselves [The Jews} were still obliged to obey the law.

Paul mentions his twofold ministry in Acts 26:16 and he hastens to add that he had completed all this up to that time. The Lord said to Paul; ¹⁶ But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Acts 26:16 (KJV)

You will find many references where Paul mentions things connected with the King and His return. Even to the Athenians (Ac 17:31) he announces the judgment of the nations prior to the setting up of the kingdom (Mat. 25:31-46).

PAUL’S GOSPEL AFTER ACTS

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been HID in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ

1. During Acts Paul himself was looking for the coming of the Lord and His kingdom here on earth, and that is what he preached. But after Acts Paul learned about a kingdom that was to be in heavenly places. Then he proclaimed it (Eph 1:20-21).

2. During Acts Paul mentioned 4 or more baptisms. After Acts he allows only one (Eph 4:5; Col 2:12, 20; 3:3).

3. During the Acts period, Paul and his hearers were looking forward to the blessings that had been promised to Abraham. These had to do with a people and a land. Paul also allowed that Gentiles might partake of Israel’s spiritual blessings by grace (without becoming Jews and observing the law).

After Acts, the promises to Abraham are left behind and it is pointed out that every blessing that is spiritual in Christ in the heavenlies is in the reach of anybody regardless of race, etc. (See Eph 1:3.) This is a great change in point of view.

4. During Acts Paul preached only the hope of Israel, the King and coming kingdom with the necessity of resurrection in realizing that hope. But after that, he is not bound for the hope of Israel (Ac 28:20) but rather he is a prisoner “for ye Gentiles” (Eph 3:1).

5. During Acts Paul observed the laws concerning meat and drink (fasts and feasts), holy days or Jewish festivals, and moons by which the Passover and other festivals were regulated, and Sabbaths which were a part of the covenant with the Jews. But after Acts, these all pass away, becoming irrelevant. (cf. Col 2:16).

6. During Acts the Jew was first in receiving the gospel, first in reward or punishment in the judgment of believers.

But after Acts 28:28 there is no priority for the Jew. (Read carefully Eph 2:13-19.)

7. During Acts Paul was looking for the personal return (Gr. parousia) of the Lord to the earth and the setting up of the kingdom (1Co 15 and 1Th 4).

But After Acts Paul looked for the manifestation in heaven (Gk. epiphaneia) which comes before the advent, and he then proclaimed it as the hope of those who would believe it. (See Ph’p 3:20; Col 3:4; Titus 2:13)

8. After Acts Paul no longer spoke of those who had the law and those who had not the law. A change has taken place and in the dispensation of “the mystery.” As such the believers are now “seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (“far above” the law. Eph 2:6).

9. Up to Acts 28:23 Paul was still expounding the kingdom as set forth by Moses and the prophets. But in Acts 28:31 he began expounding a kingdom which Moses and the prophets knew nothing about, a kingdom which had to do with the principalities and powers in the heavenlies.

10. After Acts Paul taught that there were gifts from the ascended Christ (cf. Eph 4:11), and no longer gifts of the Spirit.

11. After Acts Paul no longer expounded the mysteries of the Word, but he revealed a mystery [the great secret] “that had been hid in God from ages and generations.” Paul was allotted a special “dispensation of the grace of God” in this task of revealing these added heavenly truths concerning the church that he called “the body of Christ.”