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Two miracles, having dispensational teaching, are found in the Acts; one, the healing
of the lame man by Peter (Acts 3: and 4:), the other the blinding of a Jew followed by
the conversion of a Gentile (Acts 13:). Peter follows the miracle of healing with two
prophetic applications, one in 3: 17-24, the other in 3: 25 - 4: 12.
In the third
chapter, the times of refreshing and the times of restitution are named, while in the fourth
chapter, the healing of the lame man is further expanded in the words "neither is there
salvation (literally `the healing') in any other" (4: 12). This miracle sets forth in symbol
the intent and purpose of Peter's ministry.
In Acts 13: Paul also performs a miracle, but this is one of judgment and
foreshadows his ministry. A Jew, who withstood the preaching of the gospel to the
Gentiles, is smitten with blindness, while a Gentile bearing the same name as "Paul" is
saved, a typical foreshadowing of what actually took place as recorded in
Acts 28: 17-31. In Acts 13: 38 Paul warns the Jew of the danger that threatened,
introducing the warning with the words "Be it known unto you therefore", he uses the
same words in Acts 28: 28, when that judgment had fallen, "be it known unto you
therefore". Turning to the ministry of Paul himself which occupies chapters 13:-28:,
we discover that it falls into two parts. At Acts 20:, in Paul's speech to the elders of
Ephesus (verses 20-21, 25-27) we are conscious that a change is coming, and in
verses 22-24, Paul makes it clear that a new sphere of ministry, associated with bonds
and afflictions is awaiting him. As we read on, we discover in the next chapter, that
owing to a riot in Jerusalem, Paul is taken into custody by the Roman soldiers, and in
Acts 23: 11, in the night following his trial before the council, Paul is encouraged by a
vision in which he is assured he must testify of the Lord in Rome.
In Acts 26: 16 Paul makes it clear that he had received of the Lord a twofold
ministry.
This is indicated by the word "both".
This is indicated by the subdivision of his ministry into "those things which thou hast
seen" and "those things in which I will appear unto thee".
The transition is further indicated by the words "unto whom NOW I send thee", and it is
to this point of time that the apostle refers when he uses the past tense of the verb
in Acts 18: 28 "was sent".
After the dismissal of Israel in the last chapter (28:) and the suspension of their
hope, we find the apostle occupying two whole years in his own hired house at Rome,
and there, as "the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles" (Eph. 3: 1), he declares he
received the "dispensation of the mystery" which forms the basic theme of the epistles
written by Paul the prisoner, namely Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and II Timothy.
This outline of the book of Acts would be totally inadequate did it stand alone, but as
a full exposition of the book has been given in these pages over the last ten years, and as
both space and time are too precious to spend in unnecessary repetition, we submit this
summary trusting that where it should be necessary to supplement the hints given here,