The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 165

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TEE GOSPEL MESSAGE IN AN TWO H 159 laymen of varied talent who have a knowledge of the word of God and who know the power of His grace, to consider the needs of the nnwarned cities. Time is rapidly passing, and there is mnch to be done. Every agency mnst be set in operation, that present opportunities may be wisely improved. Paul's labors at Antioch, in association with Barnabas, strengthened him in his conviction that the Lord had called him to do a special work for the Gentile world. At the time of PauPs conversion, the Lord had declared that he was to be made a minister to the Gentiles, ^'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 angel that appeared to Ananias, had said of Paul, ^'He is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. And Paul himself, later in his Christian experience, while praying in the temple at Jerusalem, had been visited by an angel from heaven, who bade him, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. ' ' ' Thus the Lord had given Paul his commission to enter the broad missionary field of the Gentile world. To prepare him for this extensive and difficult work, God had brought him into close connection with Himself, and had opened before his enraptured vision views of the beauty and glory of heaven. To him had been given the ministry of making known ^Hhe mystery," which had been ^'kept secret since the world began, ' ' ' — ^ ' the mystery of His will, " " ' ' which «Acts 26:18. «Acts9:15. ^Acts 22:21. ' Eom. 16 : 25. ' Eph. 1 : 9. 11 — Acts