If Acts 28 is the dispensational boundary, which it is, we must expect these miraculous gifts to be in full exercise … right Up To The End of the record of the Acts period. The miraculous gifts were abundant during the entire Acts period.

Just turn to Acts 28, the last chapter, with this in view. We learn from the opening verses, that a viper (snake, serpent) fastened on the hand of Paul, who shook it into the fire and felt no harm. That Paul ought to have “swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly” should have been evident from the attitude of the Melita islanders (Acts 28:3-6). Here was one item specified in Mark 16, as persisted to the end of the Acts. This miracle led to another, and a case of dysentery (a bloody flux) was instantly healed (Acts 28:8).

I trust that by now no further proof is needed to demonstrate that Acts 28 is the dispensational boundary. Recall that formerly during Acts a handkerchief or an apron from the body of the Apostle Paul had been sufficient to bring miraculous cure (cf. Acts 19:11-12). But after Acts 28 we note the Complete Absence of Miracles in Paul’s POST-ACTS Prison Epistles. Also after the dispensational boundary of Acts 28 is passed, we find Paul’s prophetic word of 1Cor. 13:8 concerning the end of miraculous verbal sign gifts of Acts 2 and 1Cor, 12-14 is fulfilled, ending the verbal sign-gifts of tongues, interpretation, and knowledge.

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” 1 Cor. 13:8 (KJV).

All the miraculous provisions of the Acts period have passed, including ‘healing at the hands of Jesus twelve Apostles.’

Thereafter, Paul was no longer able to bring healing to anyone. Consider how after Acts 28:28 we find Paul mourning that one valued fellow servant was ‘sick unto death’ (cf. Phili. 2:26). Another was “left at Miletum sick” (2 Tim. 4:20), and we note that Paul’s son in the faith, Timothy, was urged to “take a little wine for his stomach’s sake” and for his “often infirmities” (1 Tim. 5:23). The miraculous signs of Mark 16:17-18 no longer followed them that believed… after Acts 28:28.

Certainly any fair-minded reader will have received sufficient evidence herein to give serious thought regarding the claim that Acts 28 constitutes a Dispensational Divide from Israel’s program … when Paul then ushered in today’s ‘dispensation of the Mystery’ concerning the Gentile church that Paul called “the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12). That evidence is;

• The special place that the Nation Israel occupied during the Acts period… when Paul was sent to “the Jew first” (Rom. 1:16, 2:9-10)

as compared with…  

• The absence of the ‘Nation Israel’ in Paul’s Post-Acts Prison Epistles that TODAY apply to ALL mankind of ALL races, totally without any racial superiority.

Having noted the ‘dispensational divide’ of Acts 28, we must heed Paul’s admonition to continue to;

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV).

Only in this way of noting and dividing that which applied to Israel … from that which applies to the Gentile “body of Christ” today, can we “discern the things that differ” (cf. Phili. 1:10). Thereby we unveil the riches of “the Mystery” of the church of today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2) … having been kept secret since the world began until it was revealed to Paul for us today.

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [Gk. secret], which was kept secret since the world began, ²⁶ But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to ALL Nations for the obedience of faith: ²⁷ To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” Romans 16:25-27 (a postscript, KJV)