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It is clear therefore, that what the Lord actually said to Paul is not recorded in
Acts 9:, and it will be found that this is also true of Acts 22: Chapter 22: records
the words of Ananias (verses 13-15), and we also learn that Paul was to be a witness of
all that he had seen and heard, but it is to Acts 26: that we must turn to learn for the
first time what the Lord actually said to Paul at his conversion and commission.
The new features contained in this record are found in the words "Both", "I will
appear unto thee", and "Now I send thee" in verses 16 and 17, and in the summary of
doctrine contained in verse 18:
"To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them
which are sanctified, by faith that is in Me."
The close association between these words and the doctrine of the epistles to the
Ephesians and Colossians will be obvious.
In contrast with this new commission, recorded here for the first time, is the old
commission to which the Apostle returns in verses 20-23. In these verses he preaches
"repentance", and proclaiming "none other things than those which the prophets and
Moses did say should come", which obviously could not refer to the Mystery hid in God.
We have already seen from Acts 20: 24 that Paul had received some commission
from the Lord that was intimately associated with "bonds", and now, having appealed to
Cæsar, the Apostle is at liberty to reveal the fact that from the beginning he had known
that his commission was two-fold:
(1)
Witnessing to Israel and the Gentiles the things which he had seen and heard, while
(2)
Awaiting a future appearing of the Lord, when the terms of the new ministry associated
with prison would be made known to him.
At last the fresh appearing had taken place, and the terms of the new commission
given. Verse 18 anticipates, in a condensed form, the doctrine that is more fully
expressed in Ephesians and Colossians (see Eph. 1: 7, 13, 14, 18, and Col. 1: 12, 13).
The word "both" necessitates a two-fold witness. Just as a believing and intelligent
reading of John 16: 12-14 compels us to seek for a subsequent revelation after the Spirit
of Truth had come, so equally a believing and intelligent reading of Acts 26: 16-18
compels us to seek for that subsequent revelation of truth that was given after Paul had
become the prisoner of the Lord for the Gentiles. This revelation is found in those
epistles that bear the stamp of prison, namely: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and
II Timothy. These epistles contain the revelation of the Mystery, and give dispensational
grounds for the Gentiles' right to the blessings summarized in Acts 26: 18.
(Acts of the Apostles32, pp.99-105).
The condition of the Gentiles at this time is indicated in Eph. 4: 18; 5: 8 and 6: 12.