Scripture declares of Matthias, `He was numbered with the eleven' (Acts

1:26).  Our `great and good' friends declare he was not.  Paul says, in 1

Corinthians 15:5, `He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve'.  So Paul

himself believed that Matthias was one of the `twelve'.  Our friends must

therefore set about correcting Paul also.  Then, further, when Matthias had

been appointed, nothing further is recorded until the descent of the Spirit

on the day of Pentecost.  Do these great and good leaders dare to teach that

the Spirit of God also needed a little of their correction! for exactly the

same words `with the eleven' occur after as before Pentecost (Acts 2:14).

These inspired men suffered persecution and even death for their

testimony, yet never once is there the slightest indication that they had

made a mistake.  Shall Peter be allowed to strike Ananias and Sapphira dead

for `lying to the Holy Ghost', and shall Peter himself perpetuate a fraud,

remain unrepentant and indifferent to his colossal blunder, and not come

forward at the appointment of Saul of Tarsus to make amends?  One passage of

Scripture sums up the attitude of mind of all those who by reason of their

undispensational views are continually finding fault with the apostles and

their ministry:

`Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own

tradition ... making the Word of God of none effect through your

tradition' (Mark 7:9 -13).

A -- Will you help me to understand what you mean by the `Twofold

ministry of Paul'?

B -- Yes, most willingly, for the due appreciation of Paul's later

ministry is an entrance into great blessing.  You are already acquainted with

the conversion and commission of Paul as given in Acts 9, and so we will pass

on to the critical moment in his ministry as given in Acts 20:17 -38.  Paul

addresses the elders of the church at Ephesus in a strange way:

`Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I

have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility

of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the

lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was

profitable unto you' (20:18 -20).

`Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood

of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel

of God' (20:26,27).

A -- It sounds very much like a farewell sermon.

B -- That is exactly what it is, for the apostle says:

`And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching

the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more' (20:25).

A -- What had happened to make the apostle so confident about this?

B -- Listen: