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"And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem . . . . . bonds and afflictions
abide me, but none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so
that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
The twofold witness of the Apostle is categorically stated by the Lord Jesus in
Acts 26: 16:
"I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness
BOTH of these things which thou hast seen (Acts 22: 14, 15) and of those things in the
which I will appear unto thee."
The testimony here is unmistakable. "Both" must refer to two things. It cannot be
used of one only. "These things" are set over against another group called `those things'.
"I have appeared" is placed in contrast with `I will appear', and the whole commission is
concluded with a reference to the Gentiles in the present "Unto whom NOW I am
sending thee" (as an apostle apostello).
This `prison ministry to the Gentiles constitutes the final witness of Paul, and leads us
to I Tim. 2: 6, 7:
"To be testified in due time, whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle (I
speak the truth in Christ, and lie not); a teacher of the GENTILES in faith and verity."
Here is a witness which is upon oath--so solemn, so important, so opposed is the
testimony here given.
The translation `to be testified in due time' is too tame a rendering to represent the
Apostle's intention. The A.V. margin draws attention to the fact that the original does
not use the verb `to testify' but the noun `a testimony', and the words translated `in due
time' are in the original kairois idiois `seasons peculiar' or `its own season'. We meet
the same terms in Titus 1: 3, where we read:
"Paul a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ (according to the faith of God's
elect; and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal
life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began, but hath in due times
(kairois idios) manifested His word through preaching, which is committed unto me
according to the commandment of God our Saviour)."
Again in II Tim. 1:, Paul writes:
"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony (the witness still going on) of our
Lord, nor of me His prisoner . . . . . according to His own purpose and grace which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest . . . . .
whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles"
(II Tim. 1: 8-11).
Both the passage in Titus and the one here go back to a promise and a purpose made
`before the world began', literally `before age times', and which finds the time of its
testimony NOW, and the instrument of its revelation Paul in his threefold office: