world, so Paul, the servants of Christ, no longer free and therefore unable to speak openly

to the multitude, made known to the saints secrets that were hid in God from before the

foundation of the world.

We therefore appreciate the aptness with which Isa. 6: 9, 10 was quoted by the

Apostle at this great moment of Israel's rejection.

We do not believe that the reader who has pondered these things will need any

argument by us to justify our sub-heading:

Israel, as in Matt. 13:, did not hear. The Gentiles, who, up till then, had been kept

outside ("Go not", "Aliens", "Strangers"), now become the object of grace.

At the moment when the Apostle could utter the words, "The salvation of God is sent

to the Gentiles", then, the dispensation of the mystery began, and, then, Israel became

lo-ammi, "Not My people".

When this day of matchless grace shall close, with every member of the Body safely

brought into living relation with the exalted Head, then the thread of prophetic truth shall

once more be taken up by God. Israel will look upon Him Whom they pierced, the Day

of the Lord will set in, the purpose of the kingdom, including that of Gentile dominion,

will finish its course, all Israel shall be saved, and the two aspects of the kingdom be

realized, on the earth, and in the heavenly city.

There are further items of truth in Acts 28: that must be dealt with before we have

covered the ground of its teaching: these we reserve for the next, and concluding, article

of this series.