Our titled question is one that is very important in noting how the Bible has set apart todays’ Gentile “dispensation of the grace of God,” heightening its significance toward God fulfilling “the mystery of His will” as seen in the Ephesian 1:10 “dispensation of the fullness of times.” Today’s dispensation provides the “in heaven.” element of Ephesian 1:10.

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” Ephesians 1:10 (KJV)

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory. Colossians 3:4 (KJV)

We are herein concerned with When “The Dispensation of The Grace of God” first Began.

• Most Fundamentalist and religionists say the church of 'today' began with Pentecost. But as we will see this cannot be at all. Pentecost began the Acts period during which Paul was instructed to go to “the Jew first,” with the message of the Christ and the cross, knowing nothing of “the body of Christ” at that time.
• Then there are the two predominant kinds of dispensationalist. Some say the church of today began with Paul’s first recorded preaching in Acts 13, while others say the church of today began with Acts 28:28 when Paul turned from Israel to the Gentiles, as instructed by God. So, there has long been a dispute among dispensationalist as to WHEN the present Post-Acts Ephesian Gentile “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:1-2) concerning “the mystery [Gk. musterion, secret]” (Eph. 3:3-10) concerning the Gentile “church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a) first began. It is notable that these Bible phrases are each taken from Ephesians, Paul’s 1^st Post-Acts prison epistle declaring formerly unknown truth.

Herein I expect to make plain that the dispensational divide between Israel as God’s focus during Acts, and the Gentile “body of Christ” as God’s focus beginning with the major declaration of Acts 28:26-28.

“²⁶ Saying, Go unto this people [Israel], and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: ²⁷ For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. ²⁸ Be it known therefore unto you [Israel], that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. Acts 28:26-28 (KJV)

Of course we know that in every dispensation offers salvation and God’s grace in some measure all of which are founded upon the ultimate cross-work of Christ. Yet, during today’s Gentile “Dispensation of The Grace of God” is salvation offered totally apart from any of Israel’s ‘Law and performance requisites,’ … simply by faith alone in Christ alone.

In as much as the “middle wall of partition” and “the enmity contained in ordinances” were abolished at Calvary’s Cross, one could say that the Post-Acts dispensation of the “great mystery” of Eph 5:32, even as the ‘dispensation of the kingdom of Israel,’ are both ultimately rooted in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

But this does not meet the intention of this question; “When does a specific dispensation begin?”  In answer, we must consider that there are certain features that are foretold that must synchronize before a dispensation can begin. The features of today’s dispensation of the “great Mystery” (Eph. 5:32) are of such unique character that they cannot be missed or ignored. These features below are clearly found in Ephesians, written after Acts 28:28 when Paul was a prisoner in Rome.

“How that by revelation he [Christ] made known unto me [Paul] the Mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, ⁴ Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the Mystery of Christ)” Ephesians 3:3-4 (KJV)

“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:” Ephesians 3:9 (KJV)

“This is a GREAT Mystery: but I speak concerning Christ And The Church.” Ephesians 5:32 (KJV)

Most serious Bible students should know these below features are in connection with the dispensation of the “great Mystery.” (Eph. 5:32).

1. Israel must have become Lo-ammi, i.e., “not my people” and with that God will, at least temporarily, ‘cease to be their God’ (Hosea 1:3).

Did this take place at Acts 13? No! It occurred with Acts 28:28.

2. Paul needed to and did receive “the dispensation of the grace of God” by revelation when he became the “Prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles” (Eph. 3:1-13).

Did this take place at Acts 13? No! It occurred after Acts 28:28.

There can be but one answer to these questions. They did not take place until the events recorded in Acts 28 became history.

A dispensation is a ‘stewardship.’ A stewardship implies a “steward” or agent who receives a commission to implement the terms applicable to that dispensation.

• A dispensation begins typically when its steward receives a command such as; “Go…. tell this people” (Isa. 6:9).
• Paul was called in Acts 9 but waited until the words of the Lord were recorded, “unto whom I now send thee” (Acts 26:17).

For the moment it is immaterial whether Paul himself knew wholly or in part, the contents of this new Post-Acts dispensation before the time came for its announcement. What is important is to discover WHEN he and his message were “sent,” and this can be discovered by reading these late Acts period verses, Acts 26:16-17 and Acts 28:28, seen below.

“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I [the Lord] have appeared unto thee For This Purpose, To Make Thee [Paul] 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;

¹⁷ Delivering thee [Paul, out] from the people [Israel], and from the Gentiles [proselytes of Israel], unto whom now I send thee,” Acts 26:16-17 (KJV)

“Be it known therefore unto you [Paul], that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” Acts 28:28 (KJV)

In His earthly ministry Jesus had said “salvation is of the Jews,” (John 4:22). This, was true from the gospels on until Acts 28:28, as a time when Gentiles had to come to God through Israel’s program according to “the Law” in order to be accepted.

We know the events of Acts 13 occurred while Paul was going “to the Jew first” and this continued through the entire Acts period. Yet, it was not so after Acts 28:28, with the proclamation of “the dispensation of the grace of God” for all men alike, as seen in Post-Acts Eph. 3:2.

Yes, Paul’s Acts period epistles, especially Romans and Galatians, explain the grace blessings of the cross  for believing Jews and Gentiles alike both before and after Acts 28:28. Paul’s explanation therein concern Reconciliation, Redemption, and “Justification by faith,” laying a firm foundation applicable to all the saved believers of all races in all ages.